Minutes:
Documents Considered:
· Report on the re-opening of schools in Powys for four weeks until 24th July, 2020.
Issues Discussed:
· Questions:
Did every school and every setting open for the four weeks |
All schools and all settings opened for the fourth week. The Council did consult with all headteachers and key partners such as the Unions about the proposals to take account of the well-being of staff and learners and the support received for the fourth week was overwhelming. The fourth week and the guidance being received from Welsh Government also assisted the Council in its preparations for September. |
The interaction with headteachers and unions is important. Could you expand on that and why there was such positivity within Powys when other authorities were not getting the same response. |
Regular engagement was undertaken with the unions, governors, elected members which was welcomed. The headteachers' union supported the proposals as well. |
Feedback from children is that they welcomed going back to school for the fourth week, and especially welcomed by those transitioning into secondary schools. Does the Council have the percentage figure for how many children attended school during the 4 week period. |
Week 1 - 73%; Week 2 - 74%; Week 3 – 78%;Week 4 - 78%. With regard to transitioning this related to all ages including those moving from early years to schools. |
Of the 22% of pupils that did not attend, what percentage of pupils were classed as shielded. |
This information is held by the schools and the information could be provided following the meeting. |
Could the Portfolio Holder and officers expand the detail about the October half term in terms of the predicted modelling. |
Normality going forward will contain an element of distance and blended learning and the authority needs to be prepared for this. Should there be a further spike in the pandemic, this is one reason for the recommendation by the Minister for an additional week in October, as the data when the recommendation was made that there could be a further spike around the half term period. The Interim Chief Education Officer advised the Committee that 3 contingency plans had been prepared for the Autumn term i.e. for a full lockdown, a partial reopening of schools, and a full reopening. Part of the contingency plans include blended learning. With the range of plans that have been prepared the Council believes it is prepared for the Autumn term. There was no outbreak or Covid-19 in any of the emergency childcare hubs and the plans for the emergency hubs were highly effective. |
There have been some comments from schools that some pupils seem to have lost confidence and appear to be fragile and around 50% were not engaging, so returning to school was a good thing to regain that confidence and start engaging again. Other comments supported the return to school and how this benefitted those transitioning to secondary school. The Council was praised for its approach and particularly around digital learning which has been successful.
Outcome:
Noted.
Supporting documents: