Highland Council outlines detailed plans for pupils return to schools
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Highland Council's executive chief officer of education has written to all parents of school-aged children and young people to outline plans for pupils return to education after the festive break.
Nicky Grant said that in line with schools across the nation, the majority of pupils will not be returning to school until January 11, and then for the first week, at least, via remote learning.
Pupils of key workers and those who are vulnerable will be able to return to school on January 6, but only if they have been identified as fitting into this category.
The changes have been made after First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, announced changes to the way schools will return after the holidays due to the spread of a new strain of Covid-19.
Ms Grant said: "Our Highland communities have worked together to support each other in these uncertain times. There is no doubt that all our staff, children and young people will demonstrate their resilience and determination to succeed as we briefly return to the online learning model.
"Your support as parents/carers is invaluable and very much appreciated."
Her letter states:
There are three phases to the return to school next term:
1) Wednesday January 6 - Friday January 8
During January 6-8, all schools will only be open for the children of key workers and for children who are vulnerable.
We have asked schools to identify vulnerable children and young people and to make contact with the families where appropriate. You may already have had contact from your school about this.
If you are not sure if you are a key worker please contact your school for further advice or visit the Scottish Government website here.
Children and young people attending school during January 6 - 8 will be supervised by staff and should take with them enough to keep them busy throughout the day. Provision may be limited to in-school childcare and wellbeing support as the holiday has been extended until January 11, though of course children and young people can choose to do some school work if they want to.
School transport and catering will operate as normal for those children and young people who will be in school and normal school attendance times will apply.
School Early Learning Centre (ELC) settings, partner provider settings and childminders will also be open between January 6 and 15 for key worker children and children who are vulnerable.
Children in these categories attending ELC settings and out of school care will follow their normal attendance pattern.
In those ELC settings where 1140 hour roll out is due in January 2021, the formal start date for this will now be 18 January 2021. However, any key worker children attending these settings will not be charged for any hours up to 1140 hours from January 6 2021.
For all children and young people not identified as children of key workers or as vulnerable, the school holiday continues and they should not attend school.
Please note that if you are a key worker you are not obliged to send your child to school or to use childcare if you can make other arrangements and, indeed, you may prefer to keep them at home if you can.
2) Monday January 11 - Friday January 15
Between January 11 and 15 schools will switch from offering childcare and wellbeing support to offering learning and teaching for those children and young people in school - attendance in schools will still be restricted to necessary staff, vulnerable children and children of key workers.
Children in these categories in school will be supervised as they work on the online learning provided by their teachers.
During this time learning will also commence online for all other pupils not in school. Your school will be in touch prior to January 11 with the details of online learning.
Please be assured that from January 6-15 all children attending school will have access to their usual school transport and school meals provision. If your child will not be attending school but is usually in receipt of free school meals then you will receive vouchers.
3) Monday 18 January
From this date, the plan is that schools will be open as normal, with the same arrangements in place as were in place from October to December. If there is any change to this plan due to decisions made by the Scottish Government, we will let you know.
