Teachers react as schools prepare to reopen to some year groups

But not all schools in the county will be equipped to do so, as settings across Somerset prepare to open for reception, year one, year six and year 10.

Somerset County Council says it has been working with providers in the area, but admits not all of them will be able to fulfill the PM’s requests.

Faye Purbrick, SCC’s cabinet member for education said: “We are 100 per cent behind our education leaders – they know their settings. Of course we understand parents will be hoping to return to work and some will be disappointed provision isn’t available yet to them. We will continue to support and work hard with education leaders to extend provision as soon as possible.”

Schools in Somerset have been providing education for children of key workers and vulnerable children throughout the current crisis and it’s expected that most will be able to extend this to some degree after half term.

Some of the changes being implemented to ensure it’s safe to reopen include: reducing pupil numbers; staggering start, end and break times; and prioritising vulnerable and the children of key workers.

Sarah Watson, headteacher of The Castle School in Taunton, said while she is pleased the virus spread is slow enough to allow more pupils back to school, great care is needed to ensure everyone’s great work during the lockdown is not ‘undone’.

The school will be live streaming lessons, with the option to play back later, applying academic monitoring, and having a limited number of pupils in at a time for more practical subjects, but the plan is subject to change as the situation develops.

She added: “Our strategy for year 10s, and we will aim to roll this out to all year groups, is threefold.

“Live-stream lessons that will be recorded for those students who cannot access it in real-time; academic mentoring, so that every year 10 student will have some face to face time with their tutor and parents/carers, although this does not have to be in school but can be online of course.

“Thirdly, we had already planned to have a limited number of students in for more practical subjects because of the difficulty in teaching these subjects online.

“Obviously this is an initial plan and we will keep it under review as things develop.”

Ms Watson is also CEO of The Castle Partnership Trust, which looks after other schools in the area, including Wellesley Park, in Wellington.

She added: “Carly Wilks, the headteacher at Wellesley Park, has done a fantastic job of undertaking a very careful risk assessment to prepare the school for opening. Mrs Wilkins has prepared a careful plan so that the children are in ‘bubbles’ while in school but of course, they are still mixing with other year groups when they go home to their families and I completely understand why parents and staff especially are concerned.”

One of the biggest criticisms of schools reopening is the obvious challenges schools face in trying to get toddlers to stick to social distancing rules.

Steve Gillan, headteacher of Thurlbear Primary School, says this challenge has been difficult, but he and his team have been working hard to figure it out.

He said: “Planning for four and five year olds to socially distance has been a real challenge, but we feel our organisation of Thurlbear will allow us to do this to best of our professional abilities.

“One of the things that makes me so proud of Thurlbear is the positive ethos that we have grown over the years I have been Head. All our staff have communicated and supported each other brilliantly during this pandemic.”

Mr Gillan said it has sometimes been difficult to plan ahead, with government guidance being issued and changed with little warning.

The school will also be implementing changes to class sizes and timings, and online education will continue.

In terms of anxious parents, Mr Gillan says he understands the concerns parents may have.

He added: “Apprehension is completely natural and I have personally contacted many of our families to speak to them about their feelings. Although I encourage them to return, this has to work for their own mental well-being and, so, needs to be done with care and real awareness of your community.

“Our school has been open every day for key workers, as well as through the holidays and we have also been open on Saturdays and Sundays.

“I applaud every single place of education for keeping their heads up and providing so effectively for their families when, at one point, the national press seemed to be taking a swipe at the very schools and professionals supporting the families of our marvellous key workers up and down the country.”

While locally Somerset’s educators have once again proved their dedication, union leaders are a national level are showing understandable concern.

Teachers’ Union NASUWT general secretary, Dr Patrick Roach, said: “The government has yet to reassure parents and teachers that opening schools will be safe and now appears to accept that many schools will not be able to reopen on that date. It has to recognise it has not won the trust and confidence of the profession.”