Returning to School Parents’ Guide | March 2021 Update
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On Monday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced his ‘roadmap’ out of lockdown, with a four-step programme that could see normality return by the 21st of June. Part of this roadmap is about returning to school, confirming that all schools will reopen on Monday the 8th of March. So parents, teachers and pupils have just under two weeks to prepare for the return of face-to-face teaching. However, understandably many parents still have questions about what the return to school will look like in practice and how they can best prepare their children for the 8th of March.
Will my child have to have a COVID test before returning to school?
If they are at a primary school, then no. Primary school teachers and staff members will be given home testing kits to test themselves twice a week. However, there will be no testing of primary pupils.
If they are at a secondary school, then yes. Returning secondary school pupils will be tested three times on-site and once again at home in the first two weeks of returning to school. After that, they will be given home kits for twice-weekly testing. While the logistics of testing are not yet finalised, secondary school pupils will not be allowed to return to school until they have had a negative test result. So it is likely that the return to will be staggered over a few days.
Will my child have to wear a face-covering upon returning to school?
If they are at a primary school, then no. Primary school teachers and staff members have been advised to wear a face-covering in situations where social distancing between adults is not possible. For example, when moving through corridors or in small communal areas. Although primary school pupils will not have to wear one.
If they are at a secondary school, then yes. The government has changed its recommendation to include wearing face coverings in all indoor environments (including classrooms). They have said that this is likely to be a short-term recommendation and that the advice could change after the Easter holidays.
Will there be changes to the school day after returning to school?
This depends on the school. The government has encouraged schools to consider staggered start and end times to stop large groups of pupils congregating (as well as stop parents gathering at the school gates). The school could communicate any changes to you directly. However, if parents are still unsure, then they should contact the school themselves.
What happens if my child cannot return to school on the 8th of March?
If a child cannot return due to a medical reason, schools will be legally required to provide remote education. The exact format this will take will vary from school to school – some may upload work online, live-stream lessons, or record classes for students to watch later.
Once children return to school, what support will be provided to help them catch up?
Many parents are understandably anxious about potential gaps in their child’s learning due to the long-term disruption. While schools may set up their own individual intervention and catch-up programmes, two national schemes are worth being aware of.
Firstly, the government has allocated £1billion worth of funding to a catch-up programme, including a national tutoring scheme. The scheme offers tutoring and mentoring to pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds. The downside is that it can only be accessed by schools, not parents. However, as all state primary and secondary schools are eligible, it is worth contacting the school to determine what provision they have been given.
Secondly, the government has also recently announced plans for secondary schools to deliver face-to-face summer schools to help pupils catch up. It will be up to schools to decide how to use the allocated funds and all logistics. For example, how and if they run the summer schools, how long they will be, and which pupils will be invited to attend.
How can I support my child’s welfare around returning to school?
Many students will feel excited about going back to school, but many may also feel anxious, or both! Young Minds has some excellent resources for helping children make the transition. There is also the Mental Health Foundation, NSPCC Learning and Barnado’s Back To School Hub.
One of the best things parents can do is simply have regular check-ins with their child. Encourage honesty, open conversation about their thoughts, feelings and concerns. Parents must acknowledge how confusing and turbulent the past year has been for their child. The pandemic has had an enormous impact on all of our lives, so it may take some time to adjust.
Read more: Returning to School after Lockdown, a Parent’s Perspective.
How can I support my child academically with the return to school?
The first thing that families should do is make sure they re-establish good routines. Some students may have lacked structure with their remote learning and may need some support with readjusting to more significant boundaries and expectations. Parents should help ensure their children wake up and go to bed at reasonable times. Eating a healthy breakfast is crucial; take regular breaks from screen time, exercise once a day, and set time for working and relaxing. All of which will help pupils adopt a healthy and productive mindset.
If parents are worried about specific aspects of their child’s progress, then small group tutoring is an effective, safe and cost-effective way to help students to catch up. Our maths classes are designed for a range of ages and abilities and cover all aspects of the national curriculum for maths. Therefore, parents can find a class best-suited to their child. It’s less intimidating (or expensive) than a one-to-one tutorial, and it also allows students to develop key social skills and make friends.
About the author:
Kristina is an Oxford English graduate and qualified English teacher. She trained through the Teach First programme before working at one of the top independent schools in London. She is now a private tutor and freelance writer.
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