Final decision on Falkirk childrens’ return to school due next week

Robert Naylor told a meeting of Falkirk Council’s emergency executive: “The alternative is for all pupils to go back at the one time – so, for example, in Larbert High School that would mean 2000 pupils who haven’t been at school for four months all arriving at the same time.”

Mr Naylor believes it would be better to stick to plans that would allow P1 pupils and S1 to start on the first day to introduce them to the new school, having missed the usual transition experiences that are offered.

But while the director said this would be his preference, councillors agreed the service did not have enough guidance as yet from the Scottish Government to say for sure what will happen in Falkirk schools in August and will now meet next week to decide to make final decisions.

The council’s emergency executive had been expected to approve detailed plans for children returning to school when it met last week.

The report from Mr Naylor gave details of the arrangements for pupils returning to school in a ‘blended learning’ model, with children spending two days at school and the rest working from home.

But that changed very suddenly when the deputy first minister, John Swinney, announced in the Scottish Parliament that children are now expected to return to school full-time after the summer break –  provided levels of the virus remain low.

Mr Naylor told members that the Scottish Government had not yet provided any detailed guidance on details such as what social distancing would be expected or what safety measures would be needed.

He said it was now vital that they looked carefully at how pupils and staff could return safely.

In particular, there was a real problem about how pupils would actually get to school if transport – including school buses – was still subject to restrictions.

Mr Naylor also said it was vital that they engage with trade unions, including the teaching union EIS which has already expressed concern.

He promised that parents would be kept up-to-date with all developments.