Melton area schools prepare for safe return of pupils

The government campaign to limit the spread of the virus led to schools closing back in March to all but the children of key workers.

But Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s new plan allows for the phased return of students, starting with those in Reception, Year 1 and Year 6.

And Mowbray Education Trust (MET), which manages Brownlow, Sherard and The Grove Primary Schools in Melton plus Ab Kettleby Primary and Somerby Primary Schools, confirmed today (Friday) that it would start taking most pupils back in school from Monday June 1.

Safety is being prioritised for both students and staff with rooms being set out to promote social distancing, increasing the number of hand sanitisers available and marking out floors.

Other steps are also being taken, including making appropriate arrangements for lunch, changing movement around the various buildings, rewriting the school day and timetable plans plus reviewing the numbers of staff who can return safely to work.

Trust CEO, Christine Stansfield, told the Melton Times: “We are looking forward to welcoming back as many of our children as we can from June 1, but with a focus on safety.

“It has been a very challenging few weeks and we are desperate to be working with our children at the earliest opportunity.

“All of this has taken time and in prioritising the safety of the children, we are moving carefully.

“We are hopeful that we will be able to meet the demand for places for children in Years R, 1 and 6, and we will continue to provide places for the children of key workers, as we have done since schools closed on March 23.”

The government have also announced a desire that Year 10 students would get some time in school before the end of the summer term.

This would affect Melton’s John Ferneley College, which is also part of the MET family of schools.

Mrs Stansfield said: “We are still waiting for more detail about Year 10 currently.

“Since this announcement we have been working on our plans to reopen.

“The Trust Board will also assess the model for Year 10 time in school, prioritising safety at this point also.”

And she added: “I am so grateful to our parents for the ways they have supported us in these difficult times and know that they would want us to prioritise the safety of all of our children above all else.”

Preparations are also in hand for the safe return of children to primary schools at Croxton Kerrial, Wymondham and Waltham, which are all managed by the Diocese of Leicester Academies Trust.

Julie Hopkins, who is executive head teacher for all of those schools, told the Melton Times: “I am working closely with my heads of school, staff, the CEO of our trust, Russell Andrews, and other partners to ensure we have a collaborative approach to addressing the complexities of all the recent government documentation regarding the possible re-opening of schools in June.

“It is essential we understand the needs of each school community as well as the implications for each school at a local level in order to ensure that the health, safety and well-being of staff and children are central to our planning.

“There are many layers to this process and I am thankful to have wonderful colleagues who are committed to the vision of our trust to enable all children and staff to flourish.”