Letter from Sheffield Council chiefs reveals how city schools will look in September

Andrew Jones, Sheffield City Council’s director of education and skills, and Greg Fell, the director of Public Health in Sheffield, have written to all parents of schoolchildren in the city about plans for the new academic year.

Both said school life will continue to be ‘very different’.

In his letter to parents, Mr Fell asked them to support “new ways of working in schools”, which include the measures outlined above to “help manage risk and reduce the contact that children and young people have”.

He wrote: “As a city, there is still a long way to go and lots to consider, and this will be the case for some time.

"This means we have to live and function with the COVID-19 virus, whilst trying to keep a degree of normality especially at home around children and young people.”

Mr Fell said he understood parents’ concerns about children returning to school and child care settings and will “continue to review the situation regularly” regarding the full reopening. He previously recommended schools in Sheffield delayed reopening for some pupils after not being satisfied the Government’s five tests to lift the initial lockdown had been met.

Mr Fell wrote: "We have the careful balance of opening up our education and childcare settings to provide much-needed learning and education, alongside the benefits of children and young people spending time with their friends, whilst managing and reducing the risk of virus transmission.

“As a city we can do this effectively and carefully."

He also asked parents to consider their school routines ahead of September and asked “where possible” for pupils to walk or cycle to school, travel within a family unit or ‘bubble’ via car, rather than lift-sharing, and wear face coverings on public transport unless they are exempt.

"You may also want to allow extra time in the morning as we all ease back into the school routine,” he continued.

"Lots of us have been out of routine, including children, for some time and it will be a big shock to the system for us all.”

Mr Jones said schooled ‘need to pause for a well-earned break’ and to prepare for September.

He wrote: “Before the start of the new academic year we will write to you to provide you with an update and to advise on how we can continue to do all that we can to minimise risk and reduce virus transmission.

“We are committed locally to schools and settings opening in September and will be working hard over the coming weeks to carefully plan and put things in place.”

Mr Fell urged parents to “keep Sheffield open” ahead of the start of the new academic year by continuing to follow the Government guidelines to control the spread of the virus.