Peterborough area school leaders planning for all pupils to return in September

Schools officials across Cambridgeshire County and Peterborough City Councils say they are working with primary and secondary schools and academy trusts, following the government’s announcement that all year groups should be set to return in September.

The majority of the region’s schools are already open to selected years groups in reception, year 1, 6, 10 and 12 having successfully implemented their social ‘bubbles’.

They will now need to spend the summer figuring out how they can adapt their plans to cater for more children within their buildings, now that social distancing has been downgraded from a safe distance of two metres to a minimum of one.

Guidance from the Department of Education is expected within the next few weeks, but schools are already working through detailed risk assessments, ensuring pupils can return to environments where every aspect of their safety and wellbeing has been fully considered. Up until now there had been an elemnt of parental choice on whether to allow their children to return if concerned about potential infection of vulnerable family members. The government has now said the return in September will be compulsory, with fines reintroduced for parents failing to ensure their children attend school, in order to fully kick start learning for disadvantaged children as well as getting all parents back to work.

Jonathan Lewis, Director of Education for Cambridgeshire County and Peterborough City Councils, said: “Throughout the whole lockdown period we have consistently had more schools open for vulnerable and keyworker children than the national average, and we are currently catering for as many Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 children as we can safely manage.

“Our schools have shown great resilience and resourcefulness throughout this crisis and by now are well versed in knowing how to adapt their buildings and teaching practices to accommodate our children and young people. We will work with them right through the summer and each school will be sure to keep parents updated with their plans.”

He added: “I know personally just how much our school leaders and staff are looking forward to being able to welcome back their pupils.”