North Primary School headteacher Alan Garnett looks back on a busy week and discusses preparations for children returning to school in his weekly Gazette diary.

Saturday, February 20

IT has been a quiet half-term break. Only one family reported positive Covid cases and that was at the end of the week, so there was no need to inform parents and staff of a need to isolate.

My thoughts turn to the Prime Minister’s announcement due on the 22nd.

I email staff and governors, part of which read: “You will be aware that leaks indicate primaries will open in full on March 8 and unions have issued a joint statement urging a more cautious approach.

“You may also have read reports that infection rates among younger children is rising - unexpected and alarming news. However, last Thursday I was briefed on Essex data that differs from this national picture that I am sure you will find more reassuring.

“Using February 8 to 12 data, Clare Kershaw confirmed that the Eastern region bucks the national trend and Essex more so. So latest Essex figures for positive cases are as follows: 23-39 year olds - 152, 11 to 18 year olds - 62, 0 to ten year olds - 48.

“In other words, infection rates among our pupil age group is not high and these numbers are coming down. Those figures are very encouraging.”

Monday, February 22

WEEK eight of Lockdown 3.

School reopens with a few more children added to the bubbles.

Steady trickle through the morning of parents who have pre-ordered their free home learning resource packs which will hopefully see them through lockdown.

At 3.30pm in the House of Commons, the PM announces the ‘roadmap’ out of lockdown, confirming that all schools in England will open fully on March 8.

He uses the words “cautious” and “irreversible” and the phrase “data not dates” is used repeatedly. The promise of two week’s notice has been kept. It seems that there is nothing significantly different for primaries, but secondaries will have the logistical challenge of administering three lateral flow tests for all their students, who must also wear masks in lessons. Their return will have to be phased.

Unexpectedly, the DfE has published its guidance during office hours on the same day as the PM’s announcement, one day ahead of schedule. This is the first time I can recall over the past year that Government information has come out in a timely fashion. It is a lovely feeling.

Tuesday, February 23

SEND an email to the parents:

“I am sure you are keen to know our plans for March 8. We will be looking forward to welcoming all the children back on that date. The Government has updated its guidance and we are currently working through their main 64-page document and other associated guidance papers. We will be reviewing our school organisation plans accordingly. I will share those plans with you on Friday.”

Document read, along with its various links. Basically school will look much like it did in the autumn with class bubbles, staggered start, break and end of the day times, eating lunch in classrooms and segregated playground zones.

This time the clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) are not allowed to be in school before March 31, even if they want to, which may well present schools with staffing issues. We have five staff in that category. Protocols for positive cases will remain the same: Send the bubble home for ten days. The only real issue I have with the document is about after school clubs: These can start up again and bubbles can be mixed, which seems nonsensical. What is the point of going to extraordinary lengths during the day to limit contact between pupils, if they are then allowed to mix on a football pitch? The guidance makes it clear that student lateral flow testing and the wearing of face coverings in secondary schools will be voluntary. That is problematic.

After school meet with the senior leaders. General feeling of positivity about March 8, although we do wonder why the four home nations continue to follow different paths. We discuss operational matters including organising cover for the CEV staff. We will be contacting families with children who have not been attending because a household member is CEV in the hope that vaccines have been administered and parents will feel confident enough to send their children back to school.

Wednesday, February 24

GAVIN Williamson spends the day making announcements about “catch-up” plans: Money for summer schools and tutoring programmes. It is so frustrating that so much money will be spent on such short-sighted and unambitious plans; plans that will target some pupils, but not all. All children and young people have had a year of their education - pre-school, primary, secondary or tertiary - disrupted in the pandemic. Shouldn’t the plan be universal?

Clacton and Frinton Gazette:

Roadmap out of lockdown - Prime Minister Boris Johnson

Thursday, February 25

THE meeting with (Head of Public Health Essex) Mike Gogarty is really interesting. “We are not out of the woods yet,” is his clear message. Everybody must continue to follow all the rules, he says. He supports the schools reopening in full as there is a natural circuit breaker in the Easter holiday. I understand that, but that does make it sound like an experiment. What if infection rates start to rise again? I presume the schools will continue to remain fully open (irreversible), but next steps out of lockdown (March 29 and April 12) will be put on hold (data not dates).

Very different atmosphere when all the staff meet via Zoom after school. When we met on January 4 there was high anxiety. Today, the mood was positive with full focus on operational matters. Clearly, the biggest job will be to manage parent and children expectations: We are still in lockdown and infection rates are still high.

READ MORE:

Friday, February 26

SPEND the day updating the risk assessment in the light of the School Change team Meeting, writing a to-do list for issues that need to be addressed before March 8 and writing four emails to parents which I ping out through the day.

10.00am

I am writing to you today as promised. All staff held a zoom meeting after school yesterday, with governors in attendance, and plans have been finalised for the full re-opening of the school on Monday March 8th. We are looking forward to welcoming all the children back and meeting the few new arrivals who are now on roll but not been able to attend yet! I will be sending out more parentmails with the details on getting ready for that event. Please look out for those. In the meantime I will leave you with this message from Mike Gogarty, Head of Public Health Essex, who said yesterday, “We are not out of the woods yet.” He is happy for primary schools to re-open in full but reminds us all that we are still in lockdown and we, as a nation, are still a long way from beating covid and life returning to normal. With that in mind, school will look very similar to what it looked like last term. Look out for further parentmails.

12.00pm

Please remember only schools are coming out of lockdown. The rules for adults outside the home remain the same – no gatherings, essential journeys only. The school run carries the greatest potential risk to the spread of covid. Travelling to school – waiting in Victoria Chase, mingling in the playground, waiting in John Harper Street. The one way system will remain place for the school children. Please social distance. Only one adult per family on site. Follow a ‘grab and go’ policy – do not loiter in John Harper St or on the astro (unless you are waiting for another child) I would advise wearing a mask outside of school on the school run too. Please remember everything your child needs before setting off – to avoid unnecessary journeys to the school office with packed lunches and musical instruments. Thank you. Bottlenecks occurred around 8.40 and 3.10 so the staggered start times have been reviewed. They will remain the same for all age groups except Year 5. Year 5 will start at 8.30am and finish at 3.00pm. You will be reminded of these times. We will be introducing waiting zones on the playground and astro to make it clearer where children can be left in the mornings and to ensure that bubbles do not mix. This will be clearly marked. Finally, there is the additional risk of harm to pedestrians – i.e. your children - with cars using Victoria Chase and John Harper Street and parking illegally. Please act responsibly and within the law. Thank you.

1.00pm

I think it is important to remind you of the protocols when there is a positive case. Basically they are the same. So, please do not send your child to school if they are symptomatic. Isolate the household and get them tested. Inform the school of the test outcome and if it is negative the child (and siblings of course) can return to school. If positive, inform the school. Then it will be 10 days isolation for your household and 10 days isolation for the children and staff in that infected person’s bubble. The rest of the household do not need to isolate. I will try to make the next email a bit more cheerful .

2.00pm

Dear Parents and Carers, please share this message with your children

Dear Children.

Get the school uniform out - check it still fits – and get ready for the 8th. The arrangements for coats and bags and clothes will be the same as before. Children, make sure you only bring what you need to school – do not forget your water bottle, lunchbox and musical instruments (on the right day!). Bags and coats will be left in the same place as before to avoid crowding in cloakrooms. The teachers will remind you of when PE day is so that you come to school in the correct clothes. We also have two special days coming up. Monday 15th March. Come to school dressed as your favourite book character. Next week is World Book Day but we will not all be together for that. The teachers will be doing lots of work on favourite books before that 15th which will also help your parents with costume ideas if they need them. Friday 26th March. Easter Parade. Now, we can’t all squeeze into the hall as assemblies will still take place via Zoom but that should not stop you making and wearing to school your magical millinery masterpieces (translation: Easter bonnets and hats). So, get creative. I am sure the NSA will think of something to reward all those that take part. Looking forward to seeing you all on the 8th.