Commenting on the wider opening of primary schools to more pupils
from today, Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of
School and College Leaders, said:
“Our early impression is that the picture on the wider opening of
primary schools is very mixed, according to a range of factors,
such as different approaches by local authorities, constraints on
the space available in schools to accommodate eligible pupils
while implementing the safety protocols, and the availability of
staff. This means some schools will not open this week, and there
will be schools which are simply unable to bring in all the
eligible year groups, that is reception, Year 1 and Year 6.
“Many schools which are opening this week are bringing in staff
first in order to carry out training and preparation, and then
phasing in eligible year groups. Caution is the watchword, and
everybody is approaching this task with the safety of pupils and
staff as their absolute priority.
“The expected level of pupil attendance is also highly variable,
and we are hearing that it ranges anywhere between around 40 per
cent and 70 per cent of the eligible pupils. It is likely this
will increase as time goes on and more parents become confident
about sending their children to school.
“School leaders are also reporting that they are seeing an
increase in the number of key worker children who are attending
across all year groups. Schools have remained open to vulnerable
and key worker children throughout the lockdown period, and as
the lockdown eases, it is likely this will lead to greater demand
for places. This will be extremely challenging for primary
schools to accommodate, particularly small primary schools, in
addition to bringing in the eligible year groups.
“We are also hearing from leaders about the tremendous support
they are receiving from their staff, and we would like to extend
our thanks to everybody for the work they are doing at this
time.”
