Agenda item

The Panel will consider a report setting out an overview of the reopening of schools at the end of the first week of the autumn term.

Contact: Jo-Anne Sanders – Service Director for Learning and Early Support.

The Panel received a report providing an update about the work undertaken in preparation for re-opening schools for the Autumn term, and the planning undertaken with school colleagues to enable a positive and safe return to education for children, young people and their families. It was reported that dialogue with schools about autumn term opening has taken place during the summer holiday period and builds upon the work of the Education and Learning Partnership Board, and the working groups established in May 2020 that ran weekly to the end of the school term.

During the Summer holidays, the Council has continued to meet as part of its Business Continuity planning to prepare for the return of schools, keeping in focus the Department for Education guidance as and when this has been updated. In addition, three focussed workshops have been run with council wide representation to consider the support schools, as well as families and children may need, with a further workshop planned to pick up any emerging issues as term gets underway.

It was reported that, in advance of term starting week commencing 7th September, schools were contacted by the Learning Service/HR Partners to check that plans were in place for a return for pupils, to offer support and to understand if there were any barriers to reopening. Further contact was made during the first week of term and there was a high level of confidence that all schools were fully open for pupils by Monday 14^th September (allowing for a range of usual transitioning arrangements that take place at the beginning of an academic year, including INSET days).

The weekly engagement with a representative group of Headteachers and Multi Academy Trust CEOs resumed prior to the beginning of term and feedback was largely positive about readiness for re-opening and the opportunity to welcome children back.

The report concluded that the reopening of all schools across Kirklees has been hugely positive for thousands of children and families, and overall attendance levels so far have been good. However, given the scale of the pandemic, many schools across the country will need to close ‘bubbles’ or ask certain people to self-isolate at some stage, which is already happening, including in Kirklees. The Council will continue to work in partnership with our schools as the academic year progresses.

Questions and comments were invited from Panel Members and the following issues were raised:

·         In response to a question concerning measures to ensure isolated children are not disadvantaged Jo-Anne Sanders referred to Government funding available to schools to support pupils and acknowledge that no one size fits all model is appropriate. Schools are looking at working in partnership to share good practice and resources to deliver effective remote and blended learning programmes. A focus on how pupils are monitored is also key to the success of the delivery of remote learning.

·         With regard to the issue of catch up funding, discussions have been undertaken with schools to support pupil led interventions. It was reported that the National Tutoring Programme has been rolled out with the Education Endowment Foundation.

·         With regard to the numbers of young people currently at home/ self isolating, it was reported that this equated to 1.5% of the total school cohort as at the end of w/c 23 September.

·         In response to the issue of parental anxiety, it was acknowledged that there had been excellent communications from schools and Kirklees Council.

·         With regard to digital inclusion, Members raised the issue of access to IT, particularly in socially and economically deprived areas. Jo-Anne Sanders provided an update in respect of the roll out of devices and wireless routers which had been initially targeted at vulnerable pupils. It was reported that a Strategic Group was in place and was working with schools and education settings to address this issue of digital inclusion and access, including looking at the associated financial considerations.

·         In response to a question concerning the welfare of school staff, Jo-Anne Sanders referred to the employee healthcare offer in place and the ongoing work with Trade Unions to support staff at this difficult time.

·         The Chair requested an update in respect of support provided to Colleges and University in Kirklees

RESOLVED –

1. The Panel noted and acknowledged the good work undertaken, in partnership with schools, to re-open safely.

2. That an update on the partnership work with Colleges and the University, to support pupils and assist business continuity, be submitted to a future Panel meeting.

3. That the Panel keep a watching brief on the longer term effect of Covid on educational outcomes including levels of family income and digital inclusion opportunities.