Earlier this week I spoke with headteachers of primary schools throughout the constituency about the pressures they and their staff are facing because of the third lockdown. The latest period of lockdown is wearing on us all, particularly teachers who are working round the clock – teaching vulnerable children and children of key workers face to face and then going home to prepare virtual lessons for children who have returned to homeschooling.
The message that schools are closed is therefore not technically true. Unlike the first period of lockdown, far more parents who are still eligible to send their children to school are choosing to do so. The rules are now that if one parent has key worker status their child can attend school physically, and the schools I spoke to were still seeing a very high percentage of pupils attending each day. It is understandable that pressures of homeschooling and managing childcare while working from home is leading parents to take advantage of the new guidance, but the message from the heads I spoke to was to please reconsider if you are able to. Teachers are overwhelmed and this may lead to schools having to make their own decisions about restricting pupil numbers. Parents must really think about whether they send their children to school.
There had also been varying degrees of success among the heads in ordering electronic devices to enable more students to work from home. I’m very pleased that Laura Mayes, Wiltshire Council cabinet member for children’s services, could join the call and give details of the council’s involvement – which includes reimbursing schools directly for devices. I am very grateful for the council’s stance on this, and remain impressed with their dedication to supporting schools. More information is available here.
Those on the call also expressed some concern about the Secretary of State for Education’s recommendation that parents contact Ofsted if their child’s school is not offering appropriate home learning. In Wiltshire we are very lucky that schools are going above and beyond and, while I do agree that there must be mechanisms in place to identify schools that are not delivering what is expected, I would encourage any parents to discuss their concerns directly with the school in the first instance.
The latest period of lockdown is affecting us all and I am aware that morale among teachers is particularly low. I would like to recognise all school staff for the important work they are doing to ensure children are educated and safeguarded, especially as many will now effectively be working two jobs. They have my sincere thanks and appreciation.