A message from Paul Wagstaff,
Director of Education & Skills
25 February, 2021
Dear colleagues,
Now that the formal announcement has been made about the return to school, we are pleased that more detailed guidance has also been published around this. There are still a number of questions upon which we are seeking clarification, but I do encourage you to make contact with our team through ESWelfareGroup@westsussex.gov.uk if there are any particular issues or questions you have relating to this.
The roadmap is clear with the intention of schools planning for the full return from 8 March. The DfE has confirmed that testing in secondary schools can begin prior to the 8 March, however this is a matter for each school to consider based on your own individual circumstances.
I am aware that some schools have been asking for an additional closure on Friday 5 March in order to prepare for the return. This is not something that I am able to support or something that the DfE is likely to provide. The HR Team are working through the guidance documents and will update their advice through WSS4S accordingly.
I would like to provide the following updates, which I hope you will find helpful.
Risk assessment updates
In line with the changes to national guidance on the return to schools incorporating the testing of students etc., we would ask colleagues to revise the existing risk assessments currently held by the school. The DfE has produced its own risk assessment tool which is included in their guidance on the return.
However, we do suggest that, as colleagues have their own established tools, our advice is to revisit or review the current risk assessment, rather than establish a fresh and new assessment. I attach a revised version of the model risk assessment produced previously which incorporates additional considerations in relation to the recent guidance and I am immensely grateful to Amanda Rablin for the work of the Health and Safety Team on this. I do ask that colleagues share the risk assessment with staff and Health and Safety Representatives in school. There will be some staff who are anxious about the return and it is important that they understand what is planned to ensure that their safety and wellbeing is being considered and planned through the systems of control and thinking taking place.
Home testing kits
Home testing kits are being delivered for secondary schools in preparation for a start date of 15 March. If colleagues need any further information on this, please contact ESWelfareGroup@westsussex.gov.uk
Holiday Activity and Food Programme (HAF)
I have indicated that the local authority has been provided additional grant funding to support the provision of activities and food for children of school age who are eligible for a FSM. The programme has been nationally planned to offer four days of activity and lunch during the Easter break, 16 days during the summer holiday period and four days at Christmas.
In West Sussex, we have planned the Easter four days to avoid using our schools, as the planning of this was based on a sense that the activities could still be virtual and that our schools would need a break. The programme is very clear in that the funding cannot be used to provide food vouchers for families and we acknowledge that there will be the need for good communications, recognising that some have come to expect the provision of vouchers due to previous national initiatives.
Our Easter provision is focused through our network of libraries and community hubs to ensure accessibility to all localities and the activities are focused on healthy eating and nutrition linked with literature. Activities, both online and through activity packs including the provision of books, seeds and recipes, will not only provide a range of materials and resources to children but also promote the use of recipes and links to children’s literature and literacy. The detail will be communicated in the next couple of weeks to enable us to target those families who qualify and I do ask you to work with us to ensure that parents are appropriately informed before the break.
We are beginning to look at engaging external providers including schools, sports and voluntary groups to provide for the 16 days in the summer holiday. We are having an initial scoping exercise with some representative organisations in the coming weeks and will be wishing to engage with our schools in more detail on plans for the summer once the Easter break is over. Our key focus for the summer will be around outdoor and sport and physical activity, with opportunities for children to work collaboratively and build their confidence and social skills, which will be so important after a long period of lockdown.
Public Health Surgeries
Please see the dates for the planned Public Health and Education surgeries which we invite you to attend through the below event links:
02/03/21 at 1pm: For schools with secondary age pupils (including special schools) https://schools.westsussex.gov.uk/Event/134635
16/03/21 at 1pm: For schools with primary or nursery age pupils (including special schools) https://schools.westsussex.gov.uk/Event/134633
30/03/21 at 1pm: For schools with secondary age pupils (including special schools) https://schools.westsussex.gov.uk/Event/134639
Guidance on Assessment 2021 – for school leaders and assessment co-ordinators
Following the current situation which will see, yet again, a year where national assessments at each key stages will be slightly adrift of ‘business as usual’, regional assessment leads have produced the attached guidance on managing assessment as children return to school and work through the summer term.
Best wishes
Paul
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