North Yorkshire School Return Plans Outlined

Primary schools in North Yorkshire will reopen to all children from March 8, while students attending secondary and special schools and colleges will have a staggered return over that week to allow students to be tested at least once for coronavirus.

SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Students attending secondary school, college and special schools in North Yorkshire will be provided with quick swab tests in school before they fully return to the classroom in order to identify asymptomatic cases of coronavirus and provide additional reassure for pupils, parents and staff.

The tests are part of the measures being put in place for the reopening of schools from March 8th.

Staurt Carlton from North Yorkshire County Council says Secondary Schools will see a phased return from that date with different secondary schools returning on different days that week.

After three initial onsite tests, it is anticipated that students in Year 7 and above will be provided with home testing kits for coronavirus tests to be carried out at home twice a week. Further Government guidance is expected on this. Some secondary schools may begin testing prior to March 8.

The quick swab tests are voluntary and no young person will be tested without informed consent from their parent or carer. The swab tests are designed to limit the spread of the virus by helping identify asymptomatic cases, as almost a third of all positive coronavirus cases include people without symptoms.

Schools in North Yorkshire have been carrying out lateral flow swab testing since January term for secondary aged students who have continued to attend school either due to their parents being key workers, or because they are vulnerable students.

Louise Wallace, North Yorkshire’s Director of Public Health, said:

“The lateral flow tests are an additional means for schools to continue their work in keeping pupils and staff safe and to provide extra reassurance to staff, pupils and their families.”

 

Stuart Carlton Adds:

“Children and young people will not be given the coronavirus swab tests without the consent of their parents or carers. They are voluntary, and pupils will not be prevented from receiving face-to-face education if they are not tested, but the tests should provide families, pupils and staff with added reassurance as students return to school.

New Government guidance also recommends that students of secondary school-age and above wear face coverings in lessons, as well as communal spaces, but this will not apply in situations where wearing a face covering would impact on the ability to take part in exercise or strenuous activity, for example PE lessons. The Government will be reviewing this guidance, along with other measures, at Easter.

Staurt Carlton says all Secondary pupils in North Yorkshire should be back at school by March 15th.

“Parents will hear from their school over the coming days about the date that their child can return to school and schools will prioritise children in terms of vulnerable pupils, children of critical workers and then year groups. But all children should be back at school by March 15 at the very latest.”

PRIMARY SCHOOLS

The situation in Primary schools is much simpler.

All Primary Schools in North Yorkshire will return on Monday 8th March and primary pupils will not be tested.

Staurt Carlton says the situation is very similar to before the lockdown.

TRANSPORT

Home to school transport will also resume on March 8, with schools making their own individual arrangements for transporting students into school for swab testing. Wrap-around care - in the form of after-school and before-school clubs - are also expected to resume, with schools in talks with providers about resuming the childcare.