90% of students back in the classroom in Hampshire

Attendence at schools in Hampshire for the autumn term has been described as exceptionally good following lockdown.

The number of pupils that have returned to the classroom is above the national average.

91% of primary students are back learning and 92% in secondary education.

The national averages are 86% and 88% respectively.

Hampshire County Council says many absences are explained by some students needing to continue to shield because they have a serious medical condition or a pupil has one of the more usual childhood illnesses.

Councillor Roz Chadd, the Executive Member for Education and Skills at Hampshire County Council, said:

“As a parent myself, I can fully understand that there may have been anxiety about the return to school following lockdown and the school summer holidays. It is fantastic to hear that any apprehension seems to have rapidly dispersed leading to such a high number going back to school at the beginning of the autumn term.

“I’m most especially pleased, to hear from schools, that any impact on pupils’ health and wellbeing, including their mental health, appears to be minimal. Pupils have settled in well and have quickly adapted to the new arrangements in place at school to prevent the spread of infection. More importantly, children have been telling me how happy they are to be back in the classroom with their class mates and teachers, not to mention how good it is for them to be with their friends again.”

Some of the safety procedures no in place include:

-Placing children in distinct ‘bubbles’ (groups) to be maintained throughout the school day

• Operating a one-way system around the school site

• Staggering the start and end of the school day

-Staggering break times

• Building time for frequent handwashing in the daily timetable

• Additionally, providing hand sanitiser in strategic areas of the building

• Frequent reminders to Catch It, Bin It, Kill It

• Additional cleaning of school buildings