Blackpool schools get ready to welcome back Year one and six pupils to classrooms

The resort's schools were given the green light by the Government last month to open classrooms again and Blackpool Council is supporting schools re-opening but only “when individual schools feel that it is safe to do so.'

It comes despite the guidance from Lancashire County Council's (LCC) director of public health that schools should not open to more pupils remaining unchanged. Schools that fall within Lancashire County Council's area are not reopening yet.

Fylde Coast Academy Trust, which runs six primary schools across the resort including Unity Academy, Blackpool Gateway Academy and Mereside Primary, said year one and six pupils will be heading back

Year 6 students will head back to Blackpool Gateway Academy tomorrow with Year one pupils returning on Wednesday.

Acting head of school, Sue Robinson, wrote to parents and said: " I want to assure you that all guidelines will be followed and clear staff training will be in place ready for the children’s return to school. More details will be sent to everyone about any wider reopening once this first phase of return is underway."

Christ The King and St Cuthbert's Catholic Academies have also reopened their doors for pupils and have introduced a number of self-distancing measure including one-way routes and removing unnecessary furniture from the schools.

Despite pupils returning to classrooms, some of the resort's schools are not opening their doors yet.

Anchorsholme Academy said it is following the guidance from Lancashire County Council despite it initially getting ready to welcome children back.

A newsletter to parents said: "Apologies to the children and families of Year 1 and Year 6 for the proposed return to school date. As I am sure you will appreciate, there has been a mixture of advice and guidance. Our Trust made the decision to align with the advice given to all Lancashire schools."

LCC's Director of Public Health, Dr Sakthi Karunanithi, has warned against the reopening to Reception, Year one and Year six pupils because, in his professional view, two of the government's five coronavirus tests are not currently being met in the county.

He said: "The death rates are not sustainably decreasing in the county, and reports that the R value is above 1 in the North West should be an early warning sign. It is important to stress that the R value is only one part of the overall picture, it appears to be rising in most parts of Lancashire."

The views of Blackpool Council's director of Public Health, Dr Arif Rajpura, are different to Dr Karunanithi.

Dr Rajpura said: "Before expanding the numbers, schools will need to consider, amongst other things, changes in work practices including reducing social contact, enhancing hand and respiratory hygiene, as well as increasing cleaning regimes.

"The opening of schools is important in supporting children’s welfare and education, and also allowing those who are caring for children to resume their normal working lives.

"There is clear evidence that the risk to children from COVID-19 infection is lower than in the general population. It also now appears that children under the age of 12 are no more infectious than adults and might actually be less infectious.

"There is speculation around what is commonly known as the R number, but I would stress that in getting a clear picture of the local position it is important that we don’t solely focus on the R value and fully understand where transmission is occurring."