North East schools should reopen 'when it is safe' not when Government say so!
It's comforting to hear that Schools across the North East plan to open when its safe and not when the Government tells them to. I personally believe that the Councils need to support schools individually with the arrangements that work well for them, staff and students with the main priority always being safety.
Having supported the National Education Unions 5 KEY tests for schools to reopen it appears to be a sensible and managed approach to me, something that no school or Council should have issue with. In the letter I signed to the Education Secretary it said the below 5 key safety tests were critical.
Test 1 : Much lower numbers of Covid-19 cases
The new case count must be much lower than it is now, with a sustained downward trend and confidence that new cases are known and counted promptly. And the Government must have extensive arrangements for testing and contact tracing to keep it that way.
Test 2 : A national plan for social distancing
The Government must have a national plan including parameters for both appropriate physical distancing and levels of social mixing in schools, as well as for appropriate PPE, which will be locally negotiated at school-by-school and local authority level.
Test 3 : Testing, testing, testing!
Comprehensive access to regular testing for children and staff to ensure our schools and colleges don’t become hot spots for Covid-19.
Test 4 : Whole school strategy
Protocols to be put in place to test a whole school or college when a case occurs and for isolation to be strictly followed.
Test 5 : Protection for the vulnerable
Vulnerable staff, and staff who live with vulnerable people, must work from home, fulfilling their professional duties to the extent that is possible. Plans must be specifically address the protection of vulnerable parents, grandparents and carers.
Westminster have got this sadly wrong in many ways and our children or teaching/support staff cannot be another. That is why resource to combat the 10yrs of austerity needs to be provided to schools to allow them to adapt and protect all staff and students. We cannot have them trying to make do with the reduced money they have.
Robust, resourced safety measures are most definitely needed and should be supported by all.
I want to see normality and schools return as soon as its safe to do so, nobody wants children to miss out on education, I will fully support anyway I can with the safe reopening of schools.
Scott
Cllr Scott Dickinson
Deputy Leader
Northumberland Labour Group
Shadow Cabinet Member for Children’s Services
