I want to take this opportunity to thank parents for helping us to ensure a really positive return to school in Plymouth.
Despite the very valid questions that some people had, most children returned in September and attendance has been really high across the city. After the really tough period that our children and young people have been through during lockdown, it was brilliant to see so many of them returning to school.
Lockdown has been tough for all sorts of reasons and as a parent myself I completely understand how difficult it has been supporting our children with their learning at home on top of other responsibilities.
I understand that there will be concerns as there has been an increase in the number of cases, and suspected cases, of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Plymouth in recent weeks which has resulted in a number of confirmed cases in schools. We can reduce the risk if we follow the guidance. You do not need to keep your child away from school; it will be as safe as it can be. There are symptoms you should look out for and if your child has any of these symptoms you should try to get a test and not send them to school. To help answer some of your questions we have put together some helpful information for parents on our website.
Things like schools opening safely happen because everyone does their best and I want to outline to you some of the things the Council has done and will continue to do. You need to know your child is safe and that their learning will be as good as it can be.
To get ready for opening we made sure we all understood all the guidance and how safe opening would happen in Plymouth. We worked with schools to have plans in place for everything from how many children would be in classrooms to how they would get their lunch, what happened if someone was ill and how home learning could be continued if needed.
Another significant challenge that many pupils have had to overcome just simply to get to school are the ongoing limitations with our public transport systems. We have been doing what we can to support them by working with bus companies to put in place a plan to help young people to get to school and be socially distanced and as safe as possible on the buses.
Where there have been issues with public transport, we have done our best to work with bus operators to resolve them quickly. This included making sure that busy bus stops were visited by our staff to make sure that young people are getting on and off buses as calmly as possible. Please help us by reminding your child to stay safe when in a public place. We’ll keep a close eye as well on spaces outside schools and I ask that you work with us and don’t gather in crowds near school entrances or allow children to play too closely outside school.
We are pleased to inform you that you will soon know about an offer of a weekly food parcel whilst your child is at home if they are eligible for free school meals (FSM). We are working with CATERed to agree the arrangements. CATERed work with the majority of schools in Plymouth but your child’s school will let you know what the details are if they are not part of the CATERed group. The government have announced that children remain eligible when at home and so you can expect to have a food parcel if you are entitled to FSM. We will announce soon how you will collect the parcel and how you let someone know that you need one.
We know that many parents are concerned about their child’s mental health or emotional health or well-being. We have many programmes to support young people and have secured the support of other agencies to make sure there is somewhere you can find help if you need it. The government also announced a new package of support for schools to help them to address concerns children and young people have. The Council are busy making sure that the support can be offered quickly and by qualified experts. If you do have a concern about the support your child gets in school, please email childrensservicesresponse@plymouth.gov.uk
We have made it a priority to understand what help pupils will need to catch up on lost learning. Working alongside schools and the Department for Education we want to make sure that no-one is left behind as they come back into learning. We’ll be working with schools to make sure that catch up goes where it’s needed and looking for ways to support pupils who need that extra bit of help.
The Council have also developed a new virtual service for young people called Skills4Plymouth. You can visit this service at www.skillslaunchpadplym.co.uk and get advice about job and training opportunities. You’ll also be able to find out about mental health support and even advice on finances and benefits. We’re working with employers and training organisations to make sure your child can prepare for a great job in the city. There are thousands of job opportunities and we have developed Skills4 Plymouth so that you and your family can visit one place to get the help you need.
Don’t forget if you have questions or want to feedback please contact us on childrensservicesresponse@plymouth.gov.uk. We’re here to help if we can.