Moray Council education recovery plans focus on re-opening

Following the announcement by the Deputy First Minister, John Swinney MSP, on Tuesday 23 June that schools in Scotland can fully re-open if the rate of covid-19 infections continues on a downward trend, Moray Council education officials have confirmed they’re now planning for full-time education to resume in August.

Plans drawn up to support blended learning, with pupils spending some time in school and some home learning, will now act as a contingency should lockdown restrictions, such as physical distancing, remain in place.

Parents of children entering or continuing in their early learning and childcare settings will receive communication directly from their centre with specific details on their re-opening.

Head of Education, Vivienne Cross, said: “There’s no doubt that the change to our education delivery has been extreme and I’m immensely proud of how our pupils, parents, carers and staff have all risen to the challenge of finding a new way of learning.

“None of us would wish children to be away from school for any additional period of time, however we must be assured that it is safe for them and our staff to return.

“Schools have developed their recovery plans and these will continue to be finalised as a contingency for August should full-time schooling not return at the start of term. These plans have been drawn up giving consideration to the constraints faced by many schools in terms of staffing, buildings and transport and has been a massive logistical undertaking.

“We’ll let staff, pupils, parents and carers know what these measures will look like as soon as possible and continue to communicate any updates throughout the summer break.”