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Plans for ‘tiered approach’ to lockdown school openings

Plans for ‘tiered approach’ to lockdown school openings

School leaders say they are in talks with the government about contingency planning for allowing schools to stay open in areas with Covid-19 outbreaks

25th August 2020, 1:23pm

John Roberts

The Government Is Said To Be Working On A Tiered Approach To Keeping Schools .

The Department for Education is in talks with school leaders over creating a “tiered” approach to keeping schools open in the event of spikes of Covid-19.

The Association of School and College Leaders has revealed it has been involved in discussions with the government to try to avoid most children in affected areas having to return to learning from home in the event of an outbreak.

ASCL’s general secretary Geoff Barton has welcomed the department carrying out this contingency planning but said it was frustrating that it has taken so long to happen with schools reopening now “imminent”.

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It comes as reports suggest the DfE is looking at allowing secondary schools to remain open on a rota basis in areas with a local lockdown because of Covid-19.

Mr Barton said: “We are in discussions with the Department for Education about proposals for a tiered approach to local lockdowns which sets out a number of options over the operation of schools in the event of restrictions caused by coronavirus spikes.

“We welcome this contingency planning and have been calling for this to happen. It is important that there are more options than simply returning to a situation where most children have to return to learning from home, and which best provide continuity of education.

“This is the purpose of the exercise which is being undertaken. However, we are frustrated that it has taken so long to reach this point given that the reopening of schools is imminent.”

Earlier today, the DfE did not rule out the idea that secondary schools will be reopened on a rota basis in the event of a spike of Covid-19 cases in their area.

ASCL has previously criticised the government for an apparent lack of a plan B on the reopening of schools from next month.

The heads’ union had also called for more guidance to be given to schools and communities on when local outbreaks of Covid-19 should result in school closures.