Key Updates on School Reopening Plans and COVID-19 Precautions

August 12th2020 Coming out of Lockdown at AHS

Introduction Thanks to all parents!!

Basics Budgets are still withheld from schools Staff are putting together potential orders for bids for Parent Council funding Staffing adverts have been repeatedly delayed, but believe these will go out today for 4 vacancies. 3 retired members of staff are willing to stay on medium term to support the school A minimum of one vacancy is expected to be filled. Probationer in technical has been approved Break and lunchtime opportunities will be curtailed with limited movement. No pupils allowed off-site during any part of school day

Basics The 2m social distancing will be maintained and rooms are being laid out with 2m spacing for each child current information is that around only 25% of pupils can be transported on any one day This reduces our capacity for class teaching and hence number of pupils in on any one day There will be an enhanced daily cleaning regime Sanitiser spray and wipes will be available in each classroom, Regular handwashing on arrival and leaving school will be enforced as well as for visits to the toilets, etc. This is more effective than sanitiser. Our model aims to provide some time for the teacher to maintain on-line learning provision.

Modelling Model entails 25% rota for pupils With potential to scale up to 50% if government funding for transport is forthcoming is designed to continue to allow some teacher-time for on-line learning, but this will be reduced. This blended learning approach will put additional pressure on teaching staff. We have agreed within school that pace and recovery of the senior phase curriculum has to be given an element of priority We understand that Scotland is still planning for some kind of exam diet in 2021, albeit that it may be later in the summer term. (TBC) Groupings will be House-based to allow an element of additionality in buses with siblings travelling together.

Model (repeating pattern of 2 weeks)

Notes Both Senior Phase and BGE split in Groups A and Group B, Reduce timetable to 6 periods for the Senior Phase. Each column appears once each day. Hence 3 x periods/ week of each column. (Blocking can be varied to change days bubbles land on) On the BGE days, periods are 55minutes. English and Maths is planned for both days with a rota over the 4 weeks to get some face to face contact with most subjects. The model builds in some time for teachers for on-line delivery. Model is based in 2 houses for Group A and 2 houses for Group B

Model can be scaled up to 50% (approx.)

i.e. All senior phase pupils in 3 days All BGE pupils in 1 2/3 days (approx.)

Mechanics of the model Senior Phase pupils largely go to normal classes/teachers on days they are in school. Enhanced cleaning regime will have to involve pupils helping to clean their desk space (keyboards, etc) Larger classes will either be further split/rota due to limited room capacities or relocated in venue/large rooms BGE classes will have a larger element of a base room with rotating teachers with extracting for practical classes One way system to be set up round school 2m chevrons to be set up at various points to encourage social distancing Staggered lunch not necessary for 25%, but would be needed for 50% More details to be discussed with Catering Manager, but likely to involve pupils being seated at all times. Toilets will require marked out queue lanes and a degree of self-monitoring with 2 pupils in at one time.

Q/A My questions are regarding the journey to school and a few others . I sadly cant commit to take my child to school but i wish i was in a position to do so. Thank for those who have answered saying the can take their child. Apologies for having to ask, but we were instructed to . Will the journey to and from school have limited passengers on the bus and how many? we are waiting for definitive information, from the transport office , but informal enquiries with Shiel Buses indicates roughly 25% of normal pupil numbers will be transported Will the children be monitored such as travelling on the bus and getting off and on the bus, walking along corridors, lunch breaks to make sure they are adhering to the 2-meter distance? there will be warning signs, marking, etc. and staff will do their best to monitor and enforce social distancing. Buses, ( I assume ) will have seats marked out for use and non-use. PE classes - how will this be done - close contact sports and the sharing of equipment ? Currently this is on hold. The only PE classes planned are certificate classes which will focus on theory. Health and wellbeing advice will continue as part of on-line learning

Q/A How many children will be in a classroom and will these classrooms be cleaned down each time they are used ? There will be an enhanced daily cleaning regime, but currently we are working on a model where senior phase children will move around and be expected to help with cleaning their workspace at start and finish of lessons Numbers in classrooms vary. Practical classes/science labs can take around 6 pupils. Bigger classrooms can take 9. The venue can take over 30, etc. If it s home school blended with days at School and if so will there still be teacher support for the days they are at home? This model allows staff some time to maintain on-line learning. We are trying to maximise this, as until we get all, or nearly all pupils back it s really hard to get continuity without a significant focus still on on-line learning. Will there be extra staff employed to clean down the school toilets, surfaces etc during school time ? We have been promised that there will be an enhanced cleaning regime during the day. We can t yet define exactly what this looks like, bit will involve the correct sanitisers and cleaning materials

Q/A Will they take packed lunches with them or will the canteen still be serving food? We believe that and have agreed with our Area Manager- that the safest model is for pupils is to take packed lunches and sit at socially spaced tables in the canteen and venue. We understand that parents of FSE pupils will continue to receive support Will school uniform, jackets bags etc have to be washed each time they come home and a new set be worn/ taken to school next day? we don t currently have a ruling on that. However, We would recommend that only pupils themselves handle their own schoolbags at home and in school. The more cleaning and washing parents can build in the better. Can pencil cases / water bottles be taken to school ? Yes, but no sharing. We anticipate sanitising wipes will be available at the water fountain to fill up bottles only. TBC Will break times be monitored my concern is will children still be allowed to leave the building and walk to the shop etc ? No children may leave the premises. Whether we allow children out of the building is still to be risk assessed

If a child is unwell /hurts themselves will medical help be given? First aid will be available and PPE will be used for such purposes Technical classes such as woodwork can they still teach this class as equipment is used ? This is still to be risk assessed and may not be available straight away. Music same as above - sharing of instruments ? Also awaiting a risk assessment, but reduced range of instruments being planned. Hostels: When will they reopen? In discussion with the Residence Manager, our model looks like it will work for the Hostel. Transport/ timetables would be useful for parents so they can plan ahead. Absolutely. Once model completed, parents will get this timetable of days for their child.

Will identified gaps in learning be filled to ensure S4-6 are prepared for exams? There will be a major focus on this and staff are discussing this on a daily basis Will tuition continue over the summer, especially for S4-6 pupils? Some staff may provide summer tasks, but we will not be in a position to continue teaching over the summer. For those who need to catch up, most of the work set will still be available on classrooms to work on Can the summer holidays start a week early instead of having a replacement week later on? Staff would welcome that!! However, the final week will focus on House activity (in place of sports day) and the celebration of success, so pupils will not have to work ! How can we make sure Pupil Voices are included in reopening discussions? Good question. But largely, we are working in such tight ( and changing!) parameters we don t want to raise any false hopes.

Are there any backward transition activities planned for new S1s i.e. opportunities to go back to primary school for a day/session to say goodbye and have closure. Currently and very strictly no until risk assessments and return to school models are redundant. Then we can see if pupils still want it. If the bus is classed as public transport could the kids just wear masks on the bus? Good question. But out of our hands. How do we avoid those who have worked hard through this term being held back by those who haven t engaged in the virtual schooling process ( if this has happened?) Another good question and teachers will work hard to mitigate this. Is there additional funding / staffing available from HC to help the school support both of the above ? School has no budget at all!

How can parents help their children? Keep them positive, reassure them, encourage them to keep engaging, keep them active. Just do what you do! Parents evenings. Will these be possible in the near future in some form, or will they be replaced with additional school reporting? Still waiting to hear. Head Teachers were asked not to ask staff to do reports after lockdown, for a variety of reasons. We would anticipate these returning sooner, rather than later, but the recovery phase will be complex and demand a significant workload from all staff. Currently rather than reports, staff are asked to give as much detailed feedback to pupils regarding their work and next steps as possible. Staffing? Currently awaiting adverts again. Believe these are now going out. However, likely to be depending on our retired staff for the medium term.

Connectivity This has been a major question this time round, although our earlier consultation/check-ins didn t seem to indicate it was a major issue. We ordered 6 or 7 of the MiFi devices, but quickly ran into difficulties as the Council had only ordered Vodafone/O2 devices. Not realising the west tends to need EE. Which had to be ordered from China..?? We recently issued a consultation by the council on this, but I think it confused rather than helped parents. If anyone else wants to order a MiFi device, please let me know, but we can only apologise for how long this is taking.

Next steps Submit reopening plan/proforma and model by Monday 22ndto HQ Wait for final transport statement Wait for meeting with catering manager Continue to liaise with Hostel re possible provision vs transport arrangements Submit reopening risk assessment by Friday 26thto HQ Finalise staffing for next term including all instructions to (MITIE) re one-way systems, labelling, 2m spacing, table layout etc. By end of term Staff continue to prepare for next term School communicates model formally with dates for which pupils return during week 1 + week 2 Almost definitely to be updated during last week of holidays Celebration of Success on last day of term!

Next term Await information from SQA re plans for 2021 Await information from Scot Gov re returning to normal and full timetable probably phased over term 1 depends on..etc. Continue to finalise staffing Finalise School Improvement Plan for end of September one focus - curriculum recovery

Final Question First day of new term should it have an S1/BGE/Transition priority focus before starting model ?