Covid-19 Briefing for Pupils, Parents and Carers

15 March 2021 at 10:19:07

5 Important Steps

• Adults wear a face covering at drop off/pick up
• Stick to one adult at drop off/pick up
• Adults keep 2 metres apart
• Avoid car sharing
• Self-isolate if anyone in your household has symptoms

After the confirmation of a single positive Covid-19 case at a Lewis school last week, we can now reassure parents, carers and pupils that there have been no further cases linked to this or any other schools or nurseries across the Western Isles.

All Comhairle schools and nurseries continue to operate as safely and hygienically as possible and they all fully comply with local and national guidance about keeping schools and their staff and pupils safe. More information about actions and measures in place across schools and nurseries is included later in this briefing.   

School Transport Update - Lewis & Harris

We have been appreciative of the patience and understanding of parents and pupils that were affected by the school transport disruption that was caused this week by positive Covid-19 cases and requirements for bus drivers to self-isolate. We would also like to thank transportation staff and bus operators who worked very hard this week to reinstate as many services as possible across the network.

With drivers beginning to return from self-isolation periods and more services being reinstated, we currently expect that all primary school transport services across the Western Isles will operate as normal from 15th March 2021.

Most secondary school bus services will run at normal times but there may be some small changes to services to match in with temporary timetables that will be in place for the part-time phased return of S1-6 between 15th and 26th March 2021. Any pupils affected by changes will be informed by their school, otherwise parents and pupils should consider that services will run as normal.

Phase Two of Return to Schools

The Scottish Government has confirmed that the next phase of the return to schools will include the following groups from Monday 15th March 2021.

• All remaining primary school pupils, meaning a full return to normal attendance for all P1-7 pupils.
• A part-time return for secondary pupils that will prioritise S4-6 but will include some time in school for all S1-6 pupils between 15th and 26th March 2021.

All Comhairle schools will close for Easter holidays on Friday 26th March 2021 and will re-open for the new term on Monday 12th April 2021.

Phase Two: Primary Schools

After the successful return of nurseries and P1-3 pupils from 22nd February, our primary schools will welcome back all remaining pupils from 15th March 2021.

All adults in primary schools are required to maintain 2m physical distancing between each other but there is no requirement for pupils to be distanced in primary schools.

We ask that all adults entering school grounds wear a face covering at all times and remain 2m distanced from all other adults and children from different households.

Strict restrictions on visitors to school buildings will remain in place.  Parents must not enter school buildings and should stay at least 2m away from members of staff.

Phase Two: Secondary Schools

For our secondary schools, phase two is more complex and will involve a part-time return of pupils between 15th and 26th March 2021. Schools are required to prioritise S4-6 undertaking national qualifications for face-to-face lessons but will also aim to provide limited in-school time for pupils in S1-3 as well.

Access to online and remote learning will continue to be available on the days pupils are not attending at school. They may be some changes to the nature of this due to the need for teachers to also be working with pupils in school as well as maintaining remote learning.

Face coverings must be worn by all pupils and staff in secondary schools at all times, unless exempt, and there will be strict 2m distancing required between pupils and between staff.

Comhairle schools and their leadership teams have undertaken a major exercise to develop temporary timetables that will provide in-school time for all secondary pupils whilst maintaining enough space to allow 2m distancing.

Due to the very different nature and size of our four secondary schools, each of them need to have a unique plan in place for the period up to 26th March. Each school will provide detailed information to parents, carers and pupils about their local arrangements for part-time attendance.

It is important to state that the purpose of the return of S1-3 for some attendance is to support wellbeing, provide the opportunity for contact with peers and re-engage with school. Realistic and proportionate expectations must be maintained about the content of learning expected on these attendance days.

Nicolson Institute

S4-6 pupils will be able to attend on two days per week and access college classes as determined by the college. S3 pupils will attend one day per week and S1-2 will be in school for one day across the two week period. Pupils will follow their timetables with a slight amendment for S1.

Sir E Scott School

S4-6 pupils will attend on three days per week with amended timetables. S1-3 will be able to attend on two days per week on days that S4-6 are not attending.

Sgoil Lionacleit

Each week, pupils in S4-6 will attend on three days. S3 will attend on one day and S1-2 will attend on another. The timetable will repeat across the two weeks.

Castlebay School

S4-6 pupils will attend on four days per week with amended timetables. S1-3 will be able to attend on one day per week on the day that S4-6 are not attending.

Expectation of Phase Three

Subject to continued suppression of the virus in Scotland, the government expects to be able to confirm that 2m distancing rules between pupils in secondary schools will be able to be removed and all S1-6 pupils will be able to return to full-time school attendance from Monday 12th April 2021.

Additional In-Service Days - Secondary Schools

The Scottish Government has announced that an additional two in-service days are being provided for secondary schools to allow staff to prepare and work on assessment materials for this year's SQA national qualifications. These two days will provide important time for school staff to ensure that all professional work is completed for the awarding of qualifications in 2021.

The dates for the two additional in-service days in Comhairle schools are yet to be confirmed but they will be in term four and will be notified to parents as soon as possible.

Recording Attendance and Absence

When all primary school pupils return to full-time attendance, all rules about recording pupil attendance and absence starts again.

Any absences from P1-7 must be notified to the school office in the normal way with a reason provided for the absence.

Where an absence is linked to a confirmed Covid-19 case or a requirement by public health to self-isolate, school will record this accordingly and home-learning materials may be provided.

Any absences relating to a choice not to attend school will be recorded as an unauthorised absence and no school work will be provided. 

For pupils in S1-6, attendance data will be recorded for the days they are scheduled to be in school.

Provision for key worker children and vulnerable pupils

Between 15th and 26th March 2021, eligible children of key workers and identified vulnerable pupils in S1-6 will be able to attend at a hub-type provision within their school on days that they are not already scheduled to attend as part of the phased return. Individual schools will provide information to parents about their specific temporary hub provisions.

Registered key workers must only use the provision when there is absolutely no other childcare option available and strictly only when physically attending at work. Where there are two parents/carers involved in the care of the child, both must be required to attend at work as key workers.

Use of Face Coverings in Schools

The use of face coverings in schools and nurseries form a very important part of the Covid-19 control measures in place. Unless a medical exemption has been confirmed, the following face covering requirements apply.

Nurseries and Primary Schools

• Children do not need to wear a face covering.
• All adults must wear a face covering out-with classrooms/playrooms.
• Parents must wear a face covering when on school or nursery grounds.
• All pupils over the age of five must wear a face covering on school transport.

Secondary Schools

• All S1-6 pupils must wear a face covering in school at all times.
• All staff must wear face coverings at all times
• Face coverings must be worn at all times on school transport
• Parents must wear a face covering on school grounds.

Face coverings must be properly fitted and reusable coverings must be regularly washed.

Physical Distancing in Schools

In primary schools, there is a requirement for all adults to maintain 2m physical distancing from each other and from pupils, wherever possible but there are no distancing requirements between pupils.

In secondary schools, there must now be 2m physical distancing maintained between pupils and between adults. It is permitted to relax 2m distancing rules for pupils when outdoors for the purposes of learning.

Safety on School Transport

As well as all passengers over the age of five having to wear a face covering at all times on school transport, a requirement to maintain at least one metre physical distancing is in place for passengers not from the same household. Operators have developed safe seating plans and passengers must observe these.

School transport vehicles are frequently cleaned and ventilation should be operated fully when in place. Hand sanitisation points are available and should be used. 

LFD Home Testing for Pupils

Lateral Flow Device (LFD) Home Testing for Covid-19 is available now for all pupils in S4-6 that are attending in school. The testing programme is entirely voluntary but we strongly encourage pupils to participate.

Consent forms and testing kits are available from school offices and pupils participating in the programme undertake tests at home two times per week. Pupils under 16 years of age require parental consent to participate and there is no penalty for not taking part.

From 12th April 2021, the home testing programme is going to be extended to S1-3 pupils and, as with S4-6, the programme is voluntary and requires consent to take part.

More information about LFD Home Testing is available from your school office.  

Other Safety Measures in Schools

ELC settings and schools continue to make sure that all measures are being taken to ensure schools are as safe as possible. Risk assessments have been updated to take account of the latest Government and Public Health advice. This includes:

• strict hygiene and cleaning routines;
• frequent hand-washing or sanitisation;
• wearing of face coverings, as required;
• 2m physical distancing;
• increased ventilation and air circulation;
• maintenance of consistent pupil bubbles (groups), where possible;
• restrictions on higher risk curricular activities;
• zero tolerance of Covid-19 symptoms
• strict restrictions on visitors to school buildings;
• access to frequent LFD home testing for staff and senior pupils.

If you would like to find out more information about what your school is doing to keep pupils and staff safe, please contact the School Office.

Online and Remote Learning

For S1-6 pupil, remote learning will continue to be made available on days when they are not attending at school.

Schools will be making every effort to maintain the range and content of online and remote learning but there may need to be essential changes to allow teachers to balance the learning for pupils in school and for those continuing to learn at home.

We would appreciate the understanding of pupils and parents over the next two weeks as schools work to make provision for learners, both at home and in school.

Easter Study Support Programme

e-Sgoil has been working with its national partners to offer a comprehensive Easter Study Support Programme   covering over 60 SQA courses. It will run from 6th to 16th April 2021.  The sessions will provide support for key aspects of courses and hints and tips for achieving success with assessments.

Help for Children Worried About Returning to School

Parent Club   has provided information about returning to school to support parents and children. It includes advice and guidance for children and their families who are worried or concerned about going back to school. 

The Parent Club website also contains lots of other information and support that parents may find useful.

All schools fully close for the Easter Break on Friday 26th March and re-open for the new term on 12th April. There will be no provision for key workers over the holiday period.