As the leader of a five-school primary multi-academy trust and a teacher for over 30 years it is fair to say that I have not experienced anything close to what we have gone through over the past six months.
None of us have, of course, and this is a first for everyone going into school this Autumn regardless of level of seniority and level of experience in the profession.
The commentary around schools ‘re-opening’ from September was a little misleading. Throughout the lockdown period, all of our schools within the Trust remained open providing education facilities and support to those children whose parents are key workers.
Like other Trusts, we prepared diligently for the phased return of Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 pupils from early June, and this duly happened. We also continued home learning for those children who did not return and remained at home.
As is the case during ‘normal’ times, the protection of pupils, colleagues and their families has been the single most important priority for us – but this has taken us all into unchartered new territory, and has been an education in itself.
Initially, in preparing to welcome back larger numbers of pupils in June there was clearly a lot to consider to ensure a safe environment for everyone. We enhanced our rigorous risk assessments to reflect Covid-19 and how we re-open our schools in a safe manner.
This included, but was not limited to, issues such as staffing, class sizes, social distancing, PPE, cleaning, catering, first aid, fire safety, dealing with waste, reporting incidents and behaviour.
Bubble
Each returning child – and we had 330 at the highest point – was allocated a ‘social bubble’ with a teacher and teaching assistant overseeing that bubble. All schools ensured that their staff were familiar with all new procedures and protocols.
Those children in school received a focused curriculum which included the core subjects, foundation subjects as well as PSHE and PE. For those children who did not return to school, our teachers provided work and had regular conversations with children and their families.
It was also wonderful to have children participating in ‘Classroom Teams’ video calls and interacting with their teachers and peers as well as completing their online and paper packs.
Then, in preparing for the return of all year groups in September, we had to revisit everything with central government guidance ever changing and external perspectives often adding confusion.
The Trust, and all our schools, have developed a robust risk assessment that has been personalised for each school.
All of our schools have prepared their environments; updated their health and safety arrangements to ensure that social distancing can be adhered to; revised their cleaning arrangements; purchased PPE and additional cleaning products; and ensured that their staff are familiar with all new procedures and protocols such as increased hand washing and cleaning.
We can honestly say we have left – and will continue to leave – no stone unturned in our pursuit of health and safety.
Conversations
We have continually reviewed and reflected on this guidance and met with our Trustees regularly to agree a course of action. We have also been grateful to be able to take part in a variety of external meetings to discuss the way forward.
Through conversations with the DfE, Cambridgeshire Local Authority, Confederation of School Trusts and other multi-academy trust leaders and school headteachers we have been able to share ideas about organisation, policies and procedures, which has been both reassuring and thought provoking.
Over the summer holidays all this work continued and we updated parents and carers across our five schools on our plans for September.
From the logistical challenges of staggered start and finish times, different breaks, lunchtime and toilet use arrangements and managing social bubbles, to quarantining, use of bikes and scooters and parental social distancing there has been lots of information to try to get across via newsletters and explanatory videos.
Assemblies
At the same time there are things we will all miss which are just not possible at the current time – large gatherings, such as assemblies, in particular.
From the children’s perspective, yes it is a different environment to one they are used to (and there is lots for us adults to continue thinking about) but the main thing is that the children are back within our schools.
As we look ahead to the 2020-21 school year we feel as ready as we can possibly be and, while this is something we are excited about, protecting all is paramount.
We desperately missed the ‘buzz’ of day-to-day school life as we know it, but on that first day back – Monday, September 7th – it was heart-warming and very emotional to hear the joy of children playing in the playground again and the chatter within classrooms.
Expectations
We continue to set high expectations in terms of school operations, curriculum, behaviour and pastoral support, and assessment and accountability.
At the same, we will also react to whatever comes next, and provide whatever support is needed for our children now they are back as well as continuity of education in the case of a local outbreak.
We are aware that some staff and children are anxious about everyone returning and we are doing our best to alleviate their anxiety and fears by continuing to listen and offer assistance where needed. We are looking forward with huge positivity and optimism.
Finally, I wish to reserve special praise for our staff for their unwavering commitment throughout the period of lockdown. It has been an extremely difficult and challenging time for everyone but their hard work, resilience and ongoing good humour has been quite remarkable.
What has also been remarkable is the messages of support we have had from parents and families. Our children have been absolutely fantastic and we are so very proud of them all.
What we did and how
- The protection of pupils, colleagues and their families has been the single most important priority for us – but this has taken us all into unchartered new territory.
- We have developed and enhanced our rigorous risk assessments to reflect Covid-19 and how we re-open our schools in a safe manner.
- This included, but was not limited to, issues such as staffing, class sizes, social distancing, PPE, cleaning, catering, first aid, fire safety, dealing with waste, reporting incidents and behaviour.
- From staggered start and finish times, different breaks, lunchtime and toilet use arrangements and managing social bubbles, to quarantining, use of bikes and scooters and parental social distancing there has been lots of information to try to get across.
- On our first day back it was heartwarming and very emotional to hear the joy of children playing in the playground again and the chatter within classrooms.
- We continue to set high expectations in terms of school operations, curriculum, behaviour and pastoral support, and assessment and accountability.
Lesley Birch is executive principal/CEO of Cambridge Primary Education Trust.
