A short thread about being a parent as schools seek to open their doors. I’m an experienced school leader and mum of a child going to a fantastic international school in Italy. I’ve been reassured by their awesome work getting ready to welcome learners back after 6 months. /1

Numbers have started to go up in Italy as people return from travels and more socialising. Across the country, school staff are being tested as well as those returning from risk areas. It’s calm, there are plans in place for various scenarios. /2

However, as a parent, all the reassurance in the world doesn’t stop the feeling in the pit of your stomach that sending your child back to school is a massive leap of faith. In the school, other parents, everything. That fear is calmed by the great planning and leadership. /3

It’s also vital that you know the school will make the right decisions, at a human level, to keep everyone safe. It’s vital that parents are clear about what the school will do in all the scenarios and what the imperatives and red lines are. We know it will be a bumpy ride. /4

I have never felt more keenly the huge contract of faith, trust and partnership that is enshrined in schools being ‘in loco parentis’. There will be hard decisions, changes and tweaks as we travel through this, but together, we can do what’s best for our learners, our children./5

Excruciatingly hard decisions are having to be made by schools as I write. My heart and gratitude go out to them, as a colleague and a parent. This is not going to be easy, but we’ll get there. “Insieme ce la faremo”. (6/6)