As some schools reopen from today ( 1 June ) West Bridgford Junior School will remain closed after unions and council show concerns over safety.
The below is part of a letter updating parents at the school on the situation:
‘As you know, we have all been working really hard over the last few weeks to ensure we are ready to open to wider groups of children from Year 6 (alongside the children in priority groups). We were ready to re-open and carefully thought through plans are in place.
‘However, late yesterday afternoon, the Local Authority issued a communication which brings into question whether schools should be opening on 1st June. This does not give us time to respond to the issues they have raised.
‘As a result, I am afraid we are not able to open next week for children other than our key worker children and those who are vulnerable (those in priority groups). I have made the decision (along with the support of the Senior Management Team and the Governing Body) to delay reopening to Year 6 children for at least another week.
Next week, following consultation and approval of documents, we will write to you again and confirm new arrangements.
The leadership team, staff and governors have worked hard in the last few weeks develop a plan that went beyond government guidance to create the safest possible environment for children and staff to return.
However, from 3.30pm on Thursday, communications from the local authority have been especially contradictory, culminating in the message below sent just before 4.00pm on Friday:
“The trade unions have stated that they have been reassured by my bulletin to you yesterday, in particular, the reminder to headteachers about the need for the right planning and arrangements to be robustly in place before schools open more widely. This would be after the school had undertaken comprehensive risk assessments and sought advice where needed.
“However, the trade unions remain seriously concerned about the readiness of any and all schools to open more widely next week and have particular concerns about the depth of consultation with staff in schools and themselves over the content of school risk assessments. In short, they do not feel that there has been a reasonable amount of time for schools to prepare their plans with all staff in the short time since the risk assessment guidance was issued to schools (19 May).
“The trade unions have made it clear that a failure to discuss these plans with them prior to the school opening to the targeted year groups is a major flaw. As a consequence, they will be advising their members that requirements in relation to consultation have not been met and, in their view, no school could open safely to more children at this point in time.”
They have also stated that they will communicate with each school opening next week with a view to escalating concerns to the Health and Safety Executive and to the press.”
Anybody involved in education is trying to do what is best for all those involved. Clearer and more timely messages would’ve been helpful. Because of these messages, it feels like the school is exposed and vulnerable; not a situation ideal for the staff and children’s return.
Governors, leaders, staff and I are very sorry for the inevitable distress and inconvenience that this will cause but we feel we have been given little choice because of the approach taken by the Local Authority and the Trade Unions.
You may be aware that all schools in Nottingham City have delayed opening, stating that it is not safe to open to further pupils. After receiving the correspondence from the Local Authority yesterday, many other school in Rushcliffe and across the County have now taken the decision to postpone opening.
