205 East Riding children self-isolating after outbreaks in schools

A total of 205 children are currently self-isolating following coronavirus outbreaks in East Riding schools which continue to face “significant challenges” during lockdown, a council officer has said.

East Riding Council’s Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee heard today (Wednesday, January 20) that attendance levels currently averaged between 35 and 50 per cent daily.

But education and schools lead Deborah Myers told councillors attendance was 90 per cent in some due to changed guidance on which children can go, leaving them struggling to cope.

The officer added the council had told schools they could prioritise attendance so that social distancing measures can work but warned teachers were “absolutely exhausted”.

The updates come as councillors also heard summer exams were currently set to take place in schools but that results could be returned earlier than usual.

Ms Myers said:

“Schools have seen increased levels of attendance during this lockdown after their offer changed from a child care one during the first one to a learning one this time.

“We’ve suggested that schools can prioritise attendance for the most vulnerable children, followed by those with two key worker parents or one if they are from a single parent household.

“Key or critical workers are classed as those involved with the pandemic response or Brexit transition.

“In the last lockdown schools were told to limit class sizes to 15 pupils, but in some that would typically have 30 they’re getting 26 attending.

“Teachers are also having to prepare online learning for a small number of pupils.

“We believe the best place for a child is in school, but reductions in the numbers attending was a target to help reduce outbreaks, some are already having conversations about isolations.”

Ms Myers said around 600 electronic devices had been delivered to children with one smartphone or a shared computer in their household, with funding in place for a further 2,663.

She added learning courses offered by the BBC and others should be seen as complimenting and not a substitution for home learning.

The officer said:

“Remote learning doesn’t always mean online learning, in some cases it’s meant packs being delivered directly to pupils’ doors.

“One teacher went and knocked on a pupil’s door to make sure everything was alright when a student who had a tablet wasn’t engaging with lessons.

“But at the moment we’ve got a workforce that’s absolutely exhausted and worried, it’s about doing the best we can to support them.”