Webpage offers advice for children going back to school

Schools in East Sussex are due to resume on Friday, September 4.

But what can pupils and parents expect when they head through the school gates.

East Sussex County Council has a webpage to help prepare and support children.

Schools across the county have been supported by East Sussex County Council to put in place measures to help ensure children and staff stay as safe as possible.

Throughout the pandemic, East Sussex schools remained open for children of key workers and those who are vulnerable, and welcomed additional pupils back from June 1.

Some of the measures in place include a redesigned curriculum, revised timetables, hand sanitiser stations, reorganisation of school furniture, increased cleaning and safety markings inside and outside school buildings. These are all measures being adopted by primary and secondary schools.

With 88 per cent of parents who responded to a recent residents’ survey saying they would be confident in sending their children back to school, the county council wants to make sure all families feel reassured by the preparations.

Cllr Bob Standley, lead member for education and inclusion, special educational needs and disabilities (ISEND) said: “I appreciate parents and carers’ concerns about their children returning to school in September, but they can be confident that every step is being taken to keep pupils and staff as safe as possible.

“While teachers have done a fantastic job of providing home learning throughout lockdown, the impact of this crisis on the learning and wellbeing of all pupils is profound, and it is crucial that children can return for the new academic year and get back on track with their learning.”

With every school facing different challenges due to the size and set up of their sites, the county council has been in regular contact with headteachers and senior leaders sharing the latest Government guidance and offering support for recovery planning and risk assessments.

Dr Rachel Atkinson, consultant community paediatrician and designated medical officer with East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, said she has been reassured by the results of research into how COVID-19 affects children.

She said: “Research shows that children are very much less affected by the COVID-19, very unlikely indeed to become seriously unwell if they do carry the virus, and even those with very complex health needs have NOT appeared to have been affected to a significantly greater extent than is usual with other viruses.

“At the current time the evidence is also showing that children are also not super-spreaders. Quite the opposite, it seems that the role children play in passing on the virus is limited.”

Dr Atkinson added: “Although there is still much research to do, this is good news for children being back in school, and for feeling sure that schools are safe places for them to be.”

On East Sussex County Council’s website it says to reduce the risk of infection with Coronavirus, from autumn 2020: children and staff who are ill must stay at home, regular hand washing will be part of the school routine, respiratory hygiene will be emphasised - ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’, cleaning in schools should be more frequent and thorough, if a pupil or staff member displays symptoms they will be sent home and a test must be booked (through the NHS track and trace), staff or pupils in close contact with an infected person must self-isolate.

It adds that contact should be minimised between pupils and staff in school wherever possible.

It advises that pupils and staff do not have to wear masks or face coverings in school.

Each school will have to adhere to social distancing rules but due to the different sizes of schools they will have different ways of achieving this. Many schools will put the children into ‘bubbles’, students will stay in their bubbles and will not be allowed to mix with others.

Schools may also stagger start and finishing times to avoid big groups of parents and children waiting in the playground or at the school gates.

Classrooms may also have forward facing desks, so that the children aren’t facing one another.

As for class sizes during the pandemic each bubble had no more than 15 students but the Government announced in June that these restrictions on class sizes would be lifted and many classes will return to full capacity of up to 30 children.

Older children are being advised to avoid contact with younger pupils as well.

The council is asking for people to consider alternative ways of getting to and from school, such as walking or cycling where this is a safe option.

For those that travel by school bus, minibus or taxi you should wash your hands before and after boarding and you will be asked to sit with others in your bubble or your year group where possible.

If you can, please keep your distance between students not in your bubble, as well as other passengers and if you are able to they ask that you wear a face covering.

For child that travel to school by public bus (either buying their own ticket or given a pass by the council) parents should visit the bus operator’s website to check the times and routes that will be available.

On public transport, face coverings are required for everyone aged 11 and over, in line with government policy.

During this uncertain time it is understandable that children and teenagers may be feeling anxious.

NSPCC reported that it had received almost 7,000 counselling sessions about coronavirus.

It said: “Since the start of January Childline has delivered 6,938 counselling sessions to children and young people who have got in touch about Coronavirus (COVID-19).”

It added that the main concerns that children and young people have been talking about are the same as before lockdown. But there’s been an increase in the proportion of counselling sessions which are about mental health and wellbeing.

The NSPCC helpline is 0808 800 5000, or visit www.nspcc.org.ukInformation can also be found at sussexcamhs.nhs.uk/help-support/young-peopleFor young people aged between 14 and 21 at sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/irockFor more informaion on the measures in place, visit eastsussex.gov.uk/educationandlearning/schools/backtoschool/

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