CE – position regarding wider opening of schools

Cheshire East Council has written to schools and parents to clarify the position regarding wider opening of Cheshire East Schools.

This follows the release of information on 5 June about the 'R-value' for the North West and the announcement by the secretary of state for education on Tuesday (9 June).

Cheshire and Merseyside directors of public health have also issued a joint statement regarding the 'R-value' and the phased reopening of schools.

It is their view that it was right to have paused to consider if there should be an expansion of the number of children coming back to school. However, they support progressing plans for a phased return of reception, years 1 and 6 if it is deemed safe to do so.

The council is asking schools and colleges to encourage children known to social workers and those with an education, health and care plan to attend and offer provision for children of key workers, where this is required.

Primary schools should also welcome back:

• Nursery and reception pupils from 15 June;
• Year 1 pupils from 22 June; and
• Year 6 pupils from 29 June, where the school still has enough space to do so with social distancing in place. This may vary between schools due to constraints of school buildings and staffing capacity.

The secretary of state for education announced that all remaining primary school pupils will not be able to attend before the summer. This is in line with the council's previous approach, where a full return of all year groups by the end of the summer term was not envisaged.

Secondary schools should also welcome back year 10 and year 12 (year 11 for alternative provision) pupils from 15 June 2020 for some face-to-face contact, with a maximum of 25 per cent from the year group at any one time.

Pupils of special schools will be encouraged to return to school based on a review of their individual risk assessment. Priority will be given to increasing places to children of key workers and children who have a social worker.

Special schools will consider a phased approach to support a wider opening to children and young people, which enables small groups to adjust to changes, where this is appropriate, from 15 June. Special schools will steadily increase pupil numbers, prioritising key transition groups.
For pupils not in school, the council is asking schools to ensure that children, who are due to transition between schools in September, are supported while they remain at home.

The council also asks schools to review their home-learning arrangements and support for wellbeing of children and young people. Schools should have regular contact with all children not invited back into school, to encourage and support learning and wellbeing.

Further information about arrangements for special schools, colleges and early years settings is available on the council's website.