Agenda item

The Director of Community and Children’s Services to be heard.

Members received a verbal update from the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

A number of activities within schools continue to be exercised following the pandemic, including air circulation, regular cleaning of surfaces and personal hygiene.

Schools no longer needed to include reference to Covid19 in their risk assessments.

Absence codes had been updated.

After this meeting, Covid19 would not feature as a stand-alone agenda item. With the after effects of the pandemic to form part of the existing regular reporting on staff and pupil wellbeing, steps to recovery and addressing learning loss etc.

Following a question, it was confirmed that if a child had Covid19 during exams, they would still be expected to take the exam with the usual special consideration process taking effect.

With regard to the impact on staffing, there had been pinch points in February/March 2022. The Easter Holiday helped reduce transmission. With more outdoor learning in the summer term, it was hoped there would be fewer outbreaks. It was now clear that Covid19 could be contracted on multiple occasions. Those suffering from ‘Long-Covid’ were being offered reduced teaching loads. There were staffing shortages more generally (non-Covid related).

RESOLVED, that the update be noted.