Deputy Jeremy Maçon also moved to reassure concerned parents, staff and students that the wellbeing of all those in school was ‘paramount’ and that the situation, in light of the pandemic, would be kept under constant review.
As schools returned yesterday following an extended Christmas break, Deputy Maçon said: ‘Feedback shows that we have had a safe and successful return to school today.
‘Senior officials from the Children, Young People, Education and Skills Department have been in touch with every school to review their experience and to offer any further support required and I am pleased to report that it has been a positive start to the school term, with some schools reporting positive reactions from parents and carers and student and staff attendance at encouraging levels.’
He added that attendance data was likely to be published today and thanked those involved for ensuring the schools could reopen.
‘We know that this is a difficult time for our whole school community – teachers, school and college staff and especially our students, parents and carers. I know there were many students feeling excited to see their friends and teachers today and I also know that some were feeling a little bit nervous too, which is to be expected. I would like to reassure everyone that the department, head teachers, teachers, lecturers and school staff are doing all they can to ensure that students’ education is disrupted as little as possible and school life can continue as normally as it possibly can.’
