BREAKING: Jersey schools to reopen to years 6, 10 and 12 from 8 June.

Other primary years *may* follow from 22 June, other secondary years under review.

Highlands to reopen to years 12 and 13.

Nurseries, childminders and nannies can resume.

(press conf highlights to follow)

•Education minister calls it “gradual reopening” of school
•Medical Officer of Health says it’s safe to do so
•Health/wellbeing risk of being off school now greater than risk of Covid-19 at school
•”It’s been a long ten weeks for everyone”

•Smaller classes will become ‘bubbles’ that don’t mix with other children while at school
•Officials will keep medical advice under review before opening any more years
•New framework for those decision includes input from unions and children’s commissioner

•No symptomatic children or staff to go to school
•Two metre distancing will apply in corridors etc when children aren’t in their own bubbles
•Staggered break and lunchtimes to reduce chance of mingling
•PPE available if somebody becomes symptomatic

•Findings of survey of 2,100 children shows there’s a lot of anxiety among youngsters, one in three expressed one concern or another
•Survey also shows some worry about domestic violence, alcohol use and overcrowding at home
•Wellbeing package will be offered to children

•Primary schools aiming to open more years from 22 June, secondary school less clear at the mo
•Individual schools to work up their specific plans on what reopening looks like in practise
•”The safety of children, staff and families remain my priority”

Media questions now...
•Ed Min says parents too worried to send children back will be allowed some discretion “for those shielding”
•Head of Inclusion working on targeting wellbeing support
•Worried parents should speak to education department, no one will be made to go back

•No details available on plans to test children for coronavirus, but say they’ll find out
•Education Director General says worried teachers also won’t be “forced” back to work
•Pace of reopening led by medical advice, Medical Officer says “the risk to children is very low”

•Medical Officer says there’s been an increase in child in-patient mental health cases at hospital
•Aim is to move to one metre distancing as soon as deemed sensible
•Wearing of masks at school not recommended but won’t be stopped if somebody wants to

•Year 6 going back first is about preparing them for move from primary to secondary, year 10 about preparing for exams year
•Parents will get letter from their respective headteacher about reopening
•Children encouraged to speak to Youth Service/teachers with any concerns

•Curriculum will be “a bit different” when they go back to make it more of “a positive experience” on their return
•No plans to change term dates, summer holiday will be there as normal
•Teachers will use their own “good judgement” in reintroducing normal curriculum

•Children will be encouraged to walk and cycle to school, where possible
•New FAQ to be added to website to answer main questions
•Hope is children, even young children, will get used to physical distancing at school

•Nurseries can have a maximum of 8 in their bubbles when they reopen (ie if they can staff two bubbles and have space they could have 16 and so on)
•Medical Officer doesn’t expect school reopening to make “tangible difference” to spread of virus

•”We see this as a safe return to school based on health advice”
•Physical distancing in bubbles will apply to years 6, 10 and 12, but not to nurseries and early years when they go back

Ends