The Director of Community and Children’s
Services to be heard.
Minutes:
The Director of Community and Children’s
Services was heard relative to the COVID-19 update. The following
points were noted:
On 14 June 2021, it was announced
that the current protective measures would continue until at least
19 July. This would coincide with the end of the academic
year.
Recent Public Health England (PHE)
data suggested that approximately one in 250 schools had live cases
but that this was increasing. Test kits were due to be delivered
from 29 June, and information on delivery schedules and refreshed
guidance was available on the school or college document sharing
platform. Several of the academies were currently experiencing
increasing numbers of pupils and teachers absent due to testing
positive or being required to self-isolate.
As a result, the Government had
published an updated contingency framework for schools and
education settings. This set out the additional control measures
that may be implemented if there were local COVID-19 outbreaks,
including the temporary reintroduction of face coverings and
increased testing.
PHE had recently published a report
on the impact of COVID-19 on London’s children and young
people. This found that lockdown measures had significant impacts
on young people, including mental health, obesity, parental
conflict and anxiety, poverty, safeguarding concerns, and social
isolation vulnerability and risk. These findings were mirrored in
the findings of the City Family of Schools, as reported at the
previous Board meetings. Members were once again thanked for the
additional support to address mental health and wellbeing of pupils
at these schools.
On 8 June guidance was released
related to appeals to the assessment and awarding process for 2021.
All students would have the right to appeal but these applications
must be submitted by 16 August 2021.