Here is a summary of the key points for parents, carers and students (as things stands currently):
All students are expected to return to school in September
The government has outlined the importance of student attendance in school and the impact that time away from school has had on student learning and progress. As a result, parents and carers are no longer allowed to ‘opt-in’ to send their child to school.
Schools will operate differently
Schools have been asked to adopt a system of controls to minimise the risk of Covid-19 transmission. These include:
• Creating a process to ensure that anyone that has Covid-19 symptoms or lives with someone with symptoms does not come into school, and that the individual contacts the NHS track and trace system.
• Ensuring everyone washes their hands regularly and promotes the ‘catch it, kill it, bin it’ approach for good respiratory hygiene.
• Better cleaning of surfaces.
• Minimising contact between individuals - this will vary from school to school but may include:
- Placing students in groups that will stay the same for most of the day.
- Staggering the start and end of the day and break and lunch.
- Asking secondary students to socially distance where possible.
- Seating students so that they are all facing forwards.
Remote learning will still form part of a school’s planning
Schools are expected to ensure that remote learning is available to support students who need to be educated at home for some of the time or in the case of a local lockdown.
Assessments for 2021 are still going ahead
The guidance, at present, is that all key assessments in both primary and secondary schools will go ahead in 2020-2021. This includes:
• The phonics screening check.
• The Key Stage 1 tests and teacher assessments.
• The Year 4 multiplication tables check.
• The Key Stage 2 tests and teacher assessments.
• GCSE & A level exams.
Ofqual is currently consulting on how they might change GCSE and A level exam content to take into account the lost learning time, but at the moment no decisions have been made. It is advised that students continue with their learning as exams are still planned to take place in summer 2021.
Going back to school may feel daunting, especially as some children will have been out of school for almost 24 weeks. This is a huge amount of time away from the school community and preparing to go back to school will take time and preparation. Your child’s school should be clear about its plans for the full re-opening in September and should share this information with you.
If you have any questions or would like more information on how to support your child during the summer please do not hesitate to contact the AKEB by emailing [email protected].
