Coronavirus: How Peterborough’s schools have risen to unprecedented challenge

Greatest hit are those children expecting to take their SATS, GCSEs and A-Levels, but the learning of all ages has been affected.

Peterborough City Council is already in talks with CEOs and headteachers on how to get children back into learning once the crisis is over.

Jonathan Lewis, director for education, said: “Schools are really stepping up with many now open to support the most vulnerable and children of key workers all through the holiday periods and even bank holidays.

“They’re making sure children who were due to take exams won’t suffer as these will be teacher assessed this year, which means they’ll still get grades and be able to progress.

“Schools are working on distance learning support for parents who have children at home, and in many ways they are keeping in touch with parents and the children.

“Lots of volunteers, including former teachers, are now coming in to help, or are available if school staff are ill themselves.

“The local authority is working really closely to support them on this. I have had meetings with heads about how children can be supported long term to pick up on their learning that they might’ve missed out on when schools go back.

“As you will have seen or heard, we’ve developed and are promoting the Home Learning Hub for parents, and twice daily updates are sent to the schools with new info and advice from the Department for Education and elsewhere.”

Peterborough City Council’s education team has developed info packs for schools about how to operate in the new circumstances, and these were sent out the week before schools had to close.

The team of education advisors are available online or on the phone to help schools, and also parents, particularly helping those people who need to source school or early years provision for vulnerable children or key workers.

Mr Lewis added: “The SATS Key Stage 1 and 2 will sadly not be happening for this year and there will be no league tables published this year reflecting the performances of the children, regardless of the eventual results that they may get.

“We’re pleased to see roughly three-quarters of Peterborough’s schools are still open and about 400 children and parents are taking part in voluntary learning and the provision of vital child care support is also still available.

“Despite the crisis, many teachers are still working very hard for their children, and in the summer holidays they will need a rest to prepare for the time after this emergency has passed.

“We want to work with the schools and the parents so that we can plan for an effective ‘catch-up’ process.

“Some children are already having home learning and we have been sending out computer packs and learning materials for them; but we have to be clear on the support we can give.

“We’ve tried to give them what they need for their education, the BBC have already started Home Schooling TV sessions and the council has lots of educational activities on its website.

“The leaders of our schools are under enormous pressure above and beyond what we could’ve asked of them as there is no precedent for this crisis that any of us have to measure against.

“I’m very proud of the way the staff are reacting to the emergency – most of them miss their kids very much and are looking forward to seeing them again when it is safe and appropriate to do so.”

If you have any queries in relation to free school meals entitlement contact the education welfare benefits team by emailing [email protected] or calling 01223 703200.

Robert Alexander, Local Democracy Reporting Service