Published Tuesday 16 June 2020 at 10:23
The borough’s Director of Public Health has issued new guidance today advising head teachers to go-ahead with the planned further re-opening of schools next week.
Professor Dominic Harrison said he would review his advice on a weekly basis to re-open schools and education settings to more pupils based on scientific evidence.
He has written to heads advising that BwD schools should begin the planned phased return from 22nd June.
The government says that children from Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 can now be welcomed back. For secondary schools and colleges, the government is keen for teachers to have some face-to-face contact with specified year groups.
The advice also applies to early years settings such as nurseries and childminders.
Mr Harrison advised to delay re-opening to more pupils at the start of the month because two of the government’s five coronavirus tests were not being met.
Prof Dominic Harrison said:
A reduction in the rate of confirmed coronavirus infections combined with our support for the local implementation of the national NHS Test and Trace Programme means that enough progress has now been made to allow further re-opening.
I recognise that each school is different, and a number of factors will need to be considered, including the ability to introduce measures to encourage social distancing. The Council will continue to work closely with schools to provide advice and support.
Mr Harrison added:
The decision to welcome back more pupils to Blackburn with Darwen’s schools, remains with head teachers, governors and taking into account individual circumstances. I would ask that parents check with their own school around specific arrangements.
Cllr Julie Gunn, Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education, said:
We recognise these are exceptional times, and we know parents remain concerned.
Schools have been doing what they can to help reassure parents and have been coming up with creative ways to do that, including producing videos to show parents and pupils how school will look and what measures have been put in place. I would encourage schools to do this where they can do.
Times remain difficult and challenging and we will continue to do what we can working with schools to reassure pupils and parents.
Cllr Gunn added:
I would like to thank all our school and education leaders for the work undertaken regarding the extension of school openings. Our schools have remained open throughout this crisis to vulnerable children and key worker children and I am really humbled by how our staff have responded to this ever evolving situation.
Our education teams will continue to work with our schools to ensure the safety of our school communities remain at the heart of all decisions.
All of the latest government guidance is available from the gov.uk website.