TQEA PRINCIPAL INTRODUCES NEW MEASURES TO MAKE USE OF ALL ACADEMY BUILDINGS AND AREAS TO KEEP STUDENTS IN YEAR-GROUP 'BUBBLES'

TRUST ON 'CONCERNS' FROM ACADEMIC, SOCIAL AND WELFARE PERSPECTIVES ON DAMAGING IMPACT OF PROLONGED ABSENCE FROM CLASSROOM

A HEAD has told Atherstone pupils returning to the classroom full-time this week that nothing matters more than ensuring they get an exceptional education in a "safe, happy and thriving" learning environment.

Students at The Queen Elizabeth Academy are joining thousands across the district who are back for lessons after the big shut down during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Government acknowledges some families in England have concerns about sending their children for the first time since March but warns that non-attendance at the beginning of the autumn term risks putting a "huge dent in their future life chances".

And the academy supports the view that prolonged absence of nearly six months from lessons is "concerning" academically, socially and for some children from a welfare and safety perspective and because the long-term impact of a deep recession is "very damaging to families".

Neil Harding, principal of the town's biggest school, has reassured parents that everything possible is being done to protect pupils and staff when the new term begins for the majority on Friday.

Along with all local schools, rigorous risk assessments have been carried out and a myriad of new measures introduced – with the key element being a strong emphasis on ensuring pupils from different "bubbles" do not mix through staggered arrivals.

And sticking to those bubbles throughout the day means every part of the school will be used with year 8 lessons on the ground floor in a zone which incorporates the hall, hall servery, dance studio and grassy area at the side of the academy; lessons for years 9 and 11 will be on the first floor in a zone which includes the outdoor servery hatch, sheltered eating areas and the astro turf; and years 7 and 10 will have lesson on the second floor which also incorporates the canteen and the playground.

Mr Harding tweeted: "We have missed our students and parents.

"We are excited to welcome our amazing students back to the academy to receive an excellent education in a safe environment. "We are following the safe, steady and gradual approach that our trust CEO Debbie Clinton has promised to ensure that our community returns and operates in a sensible and orderly manner. "We are also satisfied that our plans meet the government ambition of maintaining the full broad and balanced curriculum. "As principal, I am passionate about every child at TQEA receiving an exceptional education in a safe, happy and thriving learning environment." In a letter to parents to help mitigate further risk, they have been informed there will be no breakfast club at the moment but students will be able to purchase food at break and at lunch time. A normal timetable is planned, including break time and lunch time, in which pupils will receive the full range of subjects within their bubble. Class teachers will move between bubbles to teach your child and will remain in a two-metre exclusion zone at the front of the classroom at all time. The school intends to see practical subjects are taught although the curriculum will be modified to ensure theory work and demonstrations replace the usual practical aspects of a lesson in which children usually move about in the classroom. The school directive adds: "To meet the government's directive of ensuring distancing, wherever possible, students will move in a one-way system in their bubbles in single file. "While students are permitted to sit next to one another, no students will be sat facing each other or sat in an adjacent position." In England, secondary schools will have the ''discretion'' to require face coverings in communal areas, where social distancing is not possible. The academy has decided to adopt a policy of encouraging students and staff to wear masks or coverings in corridors and other indoor communal areas. None are permitted in lessons New starters and final years are returning to TQEA today. Years 8 to 110 will go back tomorrow. In the parents' letter, the school spelt out a 10-point plan of implementation to follow in the "interests of community safety":

• Academy risk assessments;
• Hand sanitiser and wipes which must be used when any individual enters a classroom;
• Increased cleaning routines;
• Hand washing routines throughout the day;
• Desks all facing in one direction in the classroom;
• Lidded bins to operate the "catch it, bin it, kill it" protocol;
• One way, single file system in corridors;
• Ventilated rooms;
• Screens to zone off "bubbles" to ensure that no "bubbles" are broken; and
• PPE for staff to use if they need to care for a child in an emergency and need to be within two metres.

The academy has informed local transport and bus companies of its entry and exit times, so that they can give support in ensuring their services meet the needs of the children. In comments on social media from Warwickshire County Council, the education authority has broached the subject of pupils "safely walking or cycling to school". In addition it has posted a video which gives "lots of tips and what to expect on home to school transport". The statement reads: "Things might be a bit different not only at schools but also in transport arrangements getting young people to and from school. "But all pupils, in all year groups, are expected to return to school full-time from the beginning of the autumn term 2020."