Secondary pupils in Plymouth advised to wear masks when schools reopen fully
The recommendation is to use face-coverings until the Easter break
Secondary school children in Plymouth are being advised to wear face masks when face-to-face teaching resumes for all pupils next week, councillors heard.
The recommendation to use face-coverings until the Easter break is included in guidance issued by the Government.
Plymouth Council senior policy adviser Caroline Marr said: “At the moment there is a recommendation for pupils in secondary schools to be wearing face masks in every environment.”
She said some pupils had been in schools during the lockdown, but the full reopening from Monday, March 8, meant scaling up measures.
Councillors heard that advice would be available for parents and children who were worried about going back, and the council’s approach was support rather than sanctions.
The Government has announced all secondary or college pupils will initially be tested three times at their institution, then move to twice-weekly testing at home.
It has also announced free twice-weekly testing using rapid lateral flow tests for all families and households with primary, secondary school and college aged children and young people, including childcare and support bubbles. Twice-weekly testing will be offered to adults working in the wider school community, including bus drivers and after-school club leaders.
Councillors in Plymouth were given an update on the plans for the full reopening of schools at a meeting of the city council’s education committee on Wednesday afternoon.
Ms Marr said the evidence showed there was a low risk to children and young people from Covid-19, and no strong evidence that they were driving large-scale community transmission of the virus, so the Government felt it was safe for them to go back.
Labour councillor Johnny Morris, who represents Southway, asked how schools would be supported as they were unable to enforce mask-wearing. He said head teachers locally were “confused and they are worried about what they can and cannot do.”
Education director Ming Zhang said there was a growing confidence among school leaders about reopening. The local authority had set up a working group and was providing advice and risk assessments.
The strong recommendation from the Government’s education department was to use social-distancing and mask-wearing. He said there were regular meetings with school leaders to keep them up to date with the latest advice.
Mr Zhang said each case was different, and parents facing genuine difficulties with the return to school would be supported, rather than face sanctions.
Director of children’s services Alison Botham said: “Both nationally and locally, the emphasis will be on supporting as many children getting back into full-time education as quickly as possible.”
She said that the number of children returning to school in September was high, and attendance during lockdown by vulnerable children and those of key workers was above the national average.
Councillors asked about enforcement of school uniform policy, and Labour Cabinet member for children and young people Jemima Laing said families would welcome leniency.