Published on Friday 29 May 2020
All schools in the BCP Council area have been open for keyworker and vulnerable children throughout the Covid-19 lockdown.
From Monday 1 June they will be welcoming back children in reception and years one and six.
Cllr Sandra Moore, Portfolio Holder for Families and Children, said:
"All schools are already open in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole for the children of key workers and vulnerable group pupils. We have been encouraging vulnerable families to send their children to school as we believe that this is the safest place for them in the widest sense and like the schools, we do not want to see children’s learning compromised.
"All Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole early years settings, primary and secondary schools have been risk assessing their sites in relation to the need for social distancing and been in contact with parents about the measures they will put in place for keeping staff and pupils safe.
"From Monday, there will be a widening of the primary offer to parents with pupils in reception and years one and six and all Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole pupils in those groups will be on site, where it is safe for that to be the case and unless individual parents have chosen otherwise, as will vulnerable group and key worker children over the summer term. The Prime Minister and the Department for Education agree that this offer will vary in size and timing dependent on the size of the school and each school has already been in touch with the relevant parents to explain their offer and how to access it. The Government has put its intention to open all of primary phase by July under review as they recognise the need for safe distancing.
"Secondary schools will be in touch with parents by 15 June about what their face to face contact with years 10 and 12 will be like for the remainder of the summer term. Early years providers are reviewing their guidance and will be in touch with parents/carers as soon as they are able to do so.
"No guidance has been specifically produced for middle schools as yet; in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area both middle and secondary schools are looking at how they will support pupils in transition years and in year 10 more closely. When we have more guidance, we will update our advice.
"Whilst some primaries will need to offer a phased return due to the requirements of social distancing, at the moment the Council is unaware of any primary school that does not plan to open more widely from next week.
"The Government has decided that parents should be ‘strongly encouraged’ to have their children attend. However, parents will not be fined if they chose for their children not to attend school."
Across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole there are 96 state-funded schools, comprising 65 primary, 24 secondary and five special schools.