Message from the Director of Education re COVID19 and Related Matters
Message Sent to all Schools. Please Forward to Your Chair of Governors
Dear Headteacher/Principal,
I hope you are well in these challenging times and coping with the swathe of announcements and changes in COVID related matters impacting on schools. Many more pupils are attending primary schools in particular and this is presenting a range of challenges including site management and staff safety as well as the provision of education to children in school and at home at the same time. In Secondary schools, some schools are really struggling to get COVID testing regimes up and running due to the staffing requirements and also the lack of clear guidance on funding being provided. Each special school and AP site are opening in different ways as the expectation that these schools should open as normal to all pupils in many cases is just not practical or safe (according to risk assessments). And of course at the same time there are staff and pupils with COVID self-isolating with high infection rates in the local community (attached is the latest update from public health). I am raising these issues at least on a weekly basis with the DfE and in other fora.
a) Staff Testing in Primary Schools – It was announced by Gavin Williamson that from next week primary schools would be supplied with testing kits for staff to use for home testing. This is not yet on the DfE website but I have been informed at a national meeting yesterday that training videos are currently being prepared for staff. Please check on the DfE website for further information when it is published. The advice up to now is that school staff should be tested once or twice a week (every 3 to 5 days).
b) Risk Assessment Template Updated – Please find attached a primary and a secondary assessment risk template which has been updated taking into account changes in guidance. Included are two separate documents identifying the changes which we hope are helpful.
c) Next Headteacher Briefing – This will take place next week on January 19th from 10am to 11:30am with public health in attendance who will provide an update on the local situation, local testing and vaccinations. There will also be a review of some of the key government announcements related to COVID19 and other related issues. We will also provide an update on alternatives to Approach and restraint training for schools from the working group which has reviewed this.
d) Remote Learning - The DfE have asked that all schools should publish their remote learning offer https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/952113/Review_Your_Remote_Education_Provision_framework_Schools.docx on their websites by 25th January and have provided an optional template for this (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/providing-remote-education-information-to-parents-template . It is important to read the guidance on remote learning carefully as this does not necessarily mean providing continuous online direct teaching – perhaps this is an obvious point but it may be that some parents may be expecting this. Please also note that the DfE are offering more IT devices to schools and free broadband/internet provision through various providers for disadvantaged and vulnerable pupils.
e) OFSTED & Remote Learning - Ofsted is in discussions with the DfE about monitoring remote learning and how this will be a part of their visits this term. Ofsted visits though will be virtual so the current plan is that they will not visit school sites. Ofsted have published guidance on remote learning which you may find very useful - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/whats-working-well-in-remote-education/whats-working-well-in-remote-education . All Ofsted visits to Enfield schools have gone well so far and indeed have been more about listening to what schools have been doing to provide learning and support pupils.
f) Free School Meals update – there has been much in the media regarding the quality of food parcels provided to families. The company Edenred will be recommencing the national scheme reportedly on Monday. We will update you if there is a change in national policy but fortunately we have few complaints locally. Government policy still recommends food parcels but many schools are using a range of voucher schemes.
g) LA/Headteacher reps meeting - Please find attached the notes from our meeting last week. We have decided to meet weekly at the moment on Friday mornings – please let us or your representatives know of any issues you wish to raise.
h) Families in Hardship – You are probably aware that some families are suffering extreme hardship at the moment. If you know families that are struggling please ask them to contact the council as below or you can refer them yourselves - `If you are struggling with financial hardship you can contact Enfield Council for help by visiting www.enfield.gov.uk/financialhardship. If you are in crisis now and cannot afford food or basic essentials, please ring 020 8379 1000 and press option 7.’
i) Children involved in the Criminal Justice System – The Youth Offending Service are asking secondary schools to consider accommodating attendance of vulnerable young people involved in criminal justice system as the current DfE definition does not make a provision for these vulnerable children. In the first lockdown in Enfield, we have extended the definition of vulnerable children to include those assessed as high risk of harm or re-offending to be able to attend the school. The Youth Offending Service has compiled a list of vulnerable children that would really benefit to attend the school that they will distribute to you individually by the end of this week to make you aware who they will be encouraging to attend school from next week during the lockdown. We are not talking hundreds of children and of course this is subject to the individual’s school’s being open Covid permitting.
If you have any questions or concerns, please direct them to the Deputy Head of Service: Nicholas Cordwell, email: nicholas.cordwell@enfield.gov.uk
I very much hope that the rest of the week goes well for you and that you are able to get some exercise over the weekend for your overall health and well being.
Best wishes and stay safe.
Peter Nathan
Director of Education
People Department
Enfield Council
Direct line: 020 83795492
Mob: 07813 995030