Agenda item

To receive reports from Peter Nathan, Director of Education. This includes:

·         COVID 19 and the reopening of schools

·         Sample risk assessment guidance for primary schools

·         Information on weekly COVID cases in schools

                                                                                                            (7:10-7:50)

Peter Nathan, Director of Education introduced his report.

NOTED:

1.    Schools have been impacted since March 2020; schools have never really closed throughout this period. Initially it was the children of key workers and vulnerable children going into schools and then this was expanded in June to certain year groups. However, a lot of children did not go to school from, March until the beginning of term in September.

2.    There has been a lot of work undertaken in this time including: meeting with schools and trade unions, the introduction of home learning and work on risk assessments.

3.    From September 2020 all children came back to school. Many schools had staggered starts for the first couple of weeks of term reintroducing children back into school. Prior to this Headteachers had undertaken lots of work such as undertaking risk assessments covering every aspect of school life. The risk assessment is a live document with learning all the time. An example was given of mock exams undertaken in a hall, pupils were 2 metres apart and all wearing masks. However due to inadequate ventilation as an older school hall there were a number of cases of Covid.

4.    The Director of Education and the Executive Director, People meet with headteachers weekly and with unions fortnightly to discuss the issues arising.

5.    Schools now use ‘bubbles’ to prevent the whole school being sent home if there is a case. This is a complicated system for schools and there are a range of issues that need to be considered. If there has been a positive case the bubble has to isolate for 14 days.

6.    There were not too many cases to start with, then there was a spate of cases in schools. The DFE helpline that was set up struggled to cope with the volumes. Schools contact the local authority if they have cases, if they have multiple cases, they contact the London coronavirus response cell. These issues also occur out of school hours meaning headteachers have lots to do in the evenings.

7.    There have been issues of some schools closing for one or two weeks this is usually in collaboration with the education department and public health.

8.    The Cabinet Member for Children’s Services receives a weekly report on the key issues.

9.    Currently as we approach the end of term there is quite a high level of cases being seen in schools. Children are generally asymptomatic with very few cases of children getting ill. This is also generally the same with teachers and support staff. The reason some school close is because there is not enough staff to manage the school effectively of safely.

10.Four schools were off at the beginning of this week and there are number of schools on the brink and several have moved to home learning. Secondary schools are more effected than primary schools at present.

Comments, questions and queries:

·         The work being undertaken in challenging circumstances was acknowledged. Is the support that is needed from the DfE being received? Officers advised there is a weekly meeting with the DfE and issues from discussion with schools these directly back to the DfE. A huge range of issues have been raised with the DfE such as IT, finance, seeking clarification on guidance. The local authority does not cover for the DfE financially

·         Parental responsibility, an example was provided of a parent sending a child to school when they had a positive Covid test. How do we prevent this happening in the future? Officers advised that with the Director of Public Health, letters have been sent for the school’s website to remind parents of their responsibilities and provide data on the numbers of cases. If a parent is contacted by Track and Trace, Track and Trace has a legal authority to insist that you self-isolate. Schools do not have this legal authority.

·         Disrupted education, this is unpredictable and varies between schools. Can local authorities take a view of exams should Enfield schools suffer disproportionally? Officers advise that this is a political question currently there are due to be exams in England. Whilst the local authority can have a view they cannot act unilaterally. Many secondary schools are academies and schools have their own power on what they choose to do. Many headteachers feel that the exams should go ahead. It is recognised that there is unfairness, with remote learning certain disadvantaged young people are not engaging as much. Enfield is currently awaiting guidance on the exams in the summer to see what will be provided in terms of help. This is guidance and not mandatory. If there are exams schools will have to do them.

·         Looking at infection rates across North London are there flexible plans for the end of term? Officers advised that there was an announcement from government suggesting that Friday is used as an inset day. Some schools are using this, some other schools are closing early due to staffing reasons. Quite a few secondary schools have had a lot of cases recently so have moved to remote learning. A variety of approaches are being taken.

·         Remote working:- How difficult is this for disadvantaged families. What support has the government and the council provided and what are we seeing as a result of this? Officers advise that the disadvantaged have become more disadvantaged this has been evidenced by Ofsted. The government set up a system in the summer to provide Chromebooks to vulnerable young people and those disadvantaged children who schools had identified as not having access to a device. There was a small supply of dongles. The Chromebook offer was extended, unfortunately there has been shortages. Schools can request Chromebooks, although they often do not get the amount they requested, there are specific rules and key criteria around this. A further issue is that good access to the internet is needed and many families do not have this. Another issue is motivation and the ability of a family to support a child. Live lessons are useful.

·         Responsibility and duty of care by the Council. When Covid first hit the unions said that a lot of staff did not want to go to schools over worries on Covid. What is current position and what duty of care do we have to local authority-maintained schools? Officers advised that many staff want to be in school. As a duty of care if vulnerable staff want to return an individual risk assessment will be undertaken. If a member of staff is very concerned the headteacher will talk this through with them. There have not been many issues since September, the key thing is communication with trade unions, staff members and the HR in schools to resolve any issues. The council follows the guidance from government and have developed stringent risk assessments covering every aspect of school life and constantly remind headteachers and staff that they must follow these rules, if there are any lessons to be learned these will be shared with schools through hubs and headteacher briefings

·         Page 53, if a Covid positive within the bubble the whole group must isolate. Clarification was provided if a positive test then must self-isolate but if a negative test the bubble won’t have to self-isolate. The person with symptoms must arrange a test as soon as possible.

·         Free school meals, what is the current position with regards to the Christmas period? Officers advised that families entitled to free school meals will be receiving vouchers for the Christmas period of £15 per week per child. This will also be the case for February half term. This is from the Winter Hardship fund provided by the government. Families will be receiving their money very shortly.

·         Following a query, it was clarified that a letter was sent to families from the Leader of the council on the Friday before October half term.

Officers were thanked for their report