In the latest move easing Jersey towards a return to normality, Senator Tracey Vallois said that all primary-school pupils would resume full-time education by 30 June, with secondary pupils all having ‘meaningful time’ in school before the summer holidays commence on
16 July.
Schools have been closed to most pupils since the spring term was brought to a premature end on 20 March as a result of the escalating coronavirus pandemic. Just vulnerable children and the children of key workers have been attending, with Years 6, 10 and 12 returning earlier this month.
But with effect from Monday, all primary year groups will return to school in a staggered process, varying according to individual school circumstances. Within minutes of yesterday’s announcement schools had already started communicating their plans to parents.
The aim is for all primary pupils to be back in school on a full-time basis by the end of the month.
Secondary-school children will also start going back from Monday, with priority given to those who are preparing for transition to a higher year in September.
Secondary pupils in Years 11 and 13 who are preparing to leave school will also have the opportunity to return at a later stage before term ends, with details varying by school.
Private nurseries, childminders and nannies will also be able to welcome back more children, in accordance with public-health guidelines.
The minister confirmed that there would be no change before 16 July to the adapted attendance policy brought in earlier this month that means parents will not face sanctions if their concerns are so great that they do not wish their children to return.
‘The policy remains the same but I would like to encourage as many children as possible to return,’ she said. ‘I understand there will still be concerns about shielding, but we were delighted with the reassurances provided to parents and the attendance figures.
‘Ninety-three per cent of eligible pupils went back at the start of last week and that figure has grown even higher, and I would hope we would have 85 to 95% of all eligible pupils back during the next phase.’
Senator Vallois stressed that scientific advice had underpinned the decision, highlighting the ongoing risk of harm to children’s health and wellbeing from extending the period that they are out of school.
Public-health experts have also decided that because of the low risk of transmission of the Covid-19 virus, a two-metre physical distance and 20-person limit no longer need to be enforced in a school environment.
Primary pupils will no longer be required to maintain any formal distancing, while a distance of one metre is now recommended for those in a secondary environment.
The minister added: ‘I have asked head teachers and principals to communicate their plans directly to parents, carers, pupils and students, as they know their schools best, and I accept that each school will be different in how it manages this return.
‘I realise that some schools may have to do things differently and stagger the return on different dates, particularly secondary schools, where they have more students moving around classrooms.’
