ISLE OF WIGHT ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL COUNCILS County Officer: Jill Webster 01983 721483 1, Springvale Cottages, [email protected] Main Rd., www.iwalc.org Chillerton. www.facebook.com/iwalcnews Isle of Wight. Twitter:@iwalcnews PO30 3EP Responses from IWALC Members to a follow-up request for ‘non-political’ opinions on the proposed return for Schools on June 1st 2020. My comments as before, these are facts, not in any way political, to exclude my view would be political. This highlights why I will not get involved in Zoom meetings with our MP. The recent Government line on getting children back to school has been issued without proper consultation with BMA and teachers' unions. Education for our children is important but no more so than their health and safety, the health of their extended families and of their teachers and support staff. Parents will not send their children back to school until they feel that they, their children, the teachers, staff and extended families are safe. Full advice for how to operate schools with adequate distancing and hygiene has yet to be issued and must be in consultation not by edict. We, as a country were poorly prepared after ten years of austerity, and because of decisions which depleted our NHS, hollowed out the IWC and inadequately funded social care. At the same time, our reserves of PPE were also deliberately run down. Our M.P. should be congratulating the many islanders who gave time, money and expertise to make much needed scrubs for hospital and care home staff. The WHO advice to 'test, test and test' was sound advice on March 12th, but was not followed. Now we have to rebuild a proper testing system before we can all know what is going on and make reasoned judgements. Although many people of the Island willingly signed up to the much vaunted, but unapproved, IW Covid 19 app, it turns out, sadly, to have been just a useless distraction. Steve Cowley (Shalfleet and Yarmouth) Spoken to several people now regarding opening schools, most were in favour. I hope this helps. David Adams (Nettlestone & Seaview) As I understand it the council has already said it won't fine parents if they feel the situation is unsafe for their child(ren), and as long as that is the case I think it is fine for the 1st June. However, I think it would be preferable to have the human tracking and tracing in place in case the individuals involved do not have the app (for whatever reason). Liz Wills (Rookley) My take on this is that it is the parents’ choice whether or not to return their children to school before the normal end of term in July. Everybody’s situation is unique. I would, however, support schools re-opening and to keep open during the ‘summer holidays’. This, I feel would go some way to alleviate the gap in their schooling this year. Sherlie Burridge (Niton & Whitwell Parish Council) You have my thoughts on this I am still leaning towards its to early to send them back as some pupils as don't understand social distancing and as we appear to be testing now and the numbers are increasing we should wait a while to keep everybody safe. Peter Whiteman (Chillerton & Gatcombe Parish Council) Given that we are all still supposed to be isolating and the nature of children to gather together I think 1st June is too soon. However well they stagger dropping off and collecting there will still be parents gathering at the school gates. Whilst out walking for my exercise, the children I have seen out on their own don't appear to have been practising social distancing at all, will they do it at school? If teachers feel able to keep their pupils apart then by all means go back, but whatever happens I think the summer holiday should be cancelled to give them a chance to catch up on what they have missed. As it is a legal requirement to send children to school should this be suspended for a time and left up to the individual parent? The public don't seem to be taking it very seriously now, I've had two requests for accommodation for this week! Sue Horton (Lake Parish Council) I will declare an interest, being a member of the Governing Body at Broadlea which has of course been open for children of key workers and vulnerable children. throughout. It is a difficult situation because the interests of children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds has to be balanced against the wider public health issues, particularly the possibility of a second spike of infections. I know that at Broadlea the Head Teacher and staff have worked tirelessly to provide the most safe environment possible. I think the greatest danger will be that children who have the virus but display no symptoms pass it on to other children who then infect other members of their households. I would therefore like to see more swab tests routinely made available to schools. The Government is now telling us it has ramped up testing capacity yet rarely appears to get near to the maximum capacity on a daily basis. Parents who are concerned about the dangers of schools reopening, particularly those who have vulnerable people living in their households also need to be reminded that it is not compulsory for their children to return to school and that if they choose to keep their children at home no sanctions will be imposed.. On a wider point about controlling the spread of the virus, it is not helpful when there appears to be one rule for Government insiders and another one for the rest of us. I hope this is helpful. Regards, Bob Blezzard (Lake Parish Council) I do not agree with re opening schools on 1st June having read all the information on the subject. I see now there is concern of children contracting the Kowasaki virus as has happened elsewhere. Information should now be released on this subject to councillors before reopening schools. Regards, Malcolm East (Brighstone Parish Council) I am being lobbied about schools and as a former teacher advisor myself I do wonder about the logic as to why they would think that they can keep children separated in spaces that are not designed for this purpose! Perhaps the minister is harping back to their own school days where classrooms were larger than current modern days. I’ve had at least two teachers contact me expressing concerns about their own welfare and that of other people who they interact with at home some elderly. Personally, if I was going to do this, I will be sending year 6 who need support in transition from primary to secondary and have better conniving understanding of social distancing. Their proposal makes no sense as it stands and whilst we need to go back to school, we cannot put anyone at risk. The most logical and reasonable thing to do was to go back in September after the summer holidays. Many schools are providing home tutoring and doing from what I can see a reasonable job. I can say that if I had a child at school, they would not be going back until September. I would want to be sure that I could protect the lives of those most at risk. Karl Love (East Cowes TC) Not sure if IWALC is looking for a “parish council” view, and I am aware that there are a range of opinions on this matter amongst us, but if they are looking for individual responses then my position is as follows. If my children were of the appropriate ages to be able to go back to school next week then I would certainly be sending them. As it is, they are one year too old (Yr 7) and one too young (Y9) to be in the age groups which are going to be returning to school, so they will continue to learn from home for the rest of the term. Ed Hopper (Fishbourne Parish Council) You will have a split vote from Fishbourne I am sure and possibly many other Councils will be in a similar position. I think schools should go back in a controlled manner. The data available to date would also indicate that it’s a low risk area. I downloaded the latest data published by the National Statistics Office which runs to 20th April. I think something like 26,000 people died of Covid-19 in this period - 86% were 65 or older. Of the 14% under 65 the two areas most infected were taxi drivers and chauffeurs, and security guards and related occupations - 139 deaths. Teachers no deaths. This is not conclusive evidence but it certainly points towards the fact that schools were not a hot spot for infections and that occupations that grouped adults together were the most hit, like the above and lorry, van, and bus drivers and care workers. Quite happy for this to be circulated to whomever, it’s one of the few bits of evidence of who is at risk - hopefully the next month’s data will be available soon. Best wishes, Malcolm Hector (Fishbourne Parish Council) COLLECTIVE RESPONSES FROM COWES TOWN COUNCIL IN REGARD TO CHILDREN GOING BACK TO SCHOOL ON 1 JUNE 2020 “My personal views are that schools should reopen ASAP in line with government recommendations. I feel quite strongly that what has been apparent in the private sector for some time should be extended to the public sector immediately as the children at perceived basic level will be not different to those in any educational area.” “Whilst I agree that schools need to reopen, I strongly disagree with the 1st June.