Schools prepare to open to more pupils

Staffordshire County Council is working with primary schools to give them the support they need so they can open safely to nursery, reception, year one and year six pupils.

This support includes advice and guidance on social distancing, as well as packs of personal protective equipment (PPE) for all schools.

Each individual school will make the decision when to open, and will inform their parents accordingly. They will also be making decisions on what school years they can safely accommodate with appropriate social distancing, how many pupils per classroom, and how to stagger the start and end of the school day.

Priority will be given to Nursery children and reception year pupils (4 year olds), with larger schools potentially able to accommodate year 1 (5 year olds) and year 6 pupils (11 year olds).

County Councillor Philip White, Cabinet Member for Learning and Employability said:

“Our schools have been doing a fantastic job throughout this pandemic. Most of them have remained open to support vulnerable children and the children of key workers, and teachers have also been working hard to provide the best education possible for children at home. We have been in regular contact to ensure they are kept up to date and have everything they need to operate safely.

“Schools know what is best for their staff and pupils, so it is up to each individual school to make the decision about when and how they can open. Our health and safety teams are helping them to make those decisions by giving advice on social distancing measures, and we are also providing every school with a pack of personal protective equipment should someone fall ill.

“Our understanding is that the majority of schools will be open in some way, and will be talking to their parents about what will be happening over the coming days. We will continue to support them as much as possible to open in a way that ensures the safety of both pupils and staff.”