Schools are expecting a high turnout of children of key workers and vulnerable pupils onsite amid the national lockdown in England – with one school expecting hundreds to attend.
The Prime Minister announced that all pupils – except children of key workers and vulnerable pupils – would move to remote education until February half-term.
But school leaders are expecting a significant proportion of eligible pupils to attend class, prompting concerns about social distancing, staff shortages and the ability to balance remote education.
He said around a third of the cohort were expected to attend Oasis Academy South Bank, a secondary school in London, following the Government’s announcement to stay at home.
The Government guidance now says vulnerable children may include “pupils who may have difficulty engaging with remote education at home (for example due to a lack of devices or quiet space to study)”.
The absence of a good broadband connection, of any broadband connection, plus access to a decent device – rather than a cracked mobile phone – to peace and to space are still huge barriers to remote home learning for the most disadvantaged children.
— Steve Chalke (@SteveChalke) January 5, 2021
On the guidance, Mr Chalke told the PA news agency: “If you look at the criteria for vulnerable children, it has grown in several ways.”
He said: “So we are expecting more back this time because people trust us and trust the provision we’ve made. They trust us to make these spaces as Covid-19 safe as possible. And of course, parents aren’t in a position to be able to teach their children.
“Last time we had a lockdown it was the spring and the world was bright because it was the spring and you could take your children out.
“This time it’s freezing cold and you’re locked in and parents think well my child will be in a place where they’re actually learning, and with their peers and be safe.”
Julie McCulloch, director of policy at ASCL, told PA: “The kind of indication that we’re getting is that more key workers are asking to take up those places than happened in the first lockdown.
“Obviously, schools are wanting to do what they can for those children and the vulnerable children as well, but some concerns that we’re starting to hear from some of our members are about the number of pupils they might end up with onsite.
“Some are saying – particularly in the more deprived areas – if all the children took up their offer of a place they might end up with 50%, 60% or 70% of their students onsite.”
