Big increases in the number of keyworker pupils at Kent schools during third lockdown

Schools in Kent are reporting huge increases in the numbers of pupils requesting a place in the current lockdown.

Statistics seen by My Kent Family's sister website KentOnline suggest 20,000 children went into school last week after schools closed, compared to just 5,000 last Spring.

David Whitehead, CEO Potential in Everyone Academy Trust

The country was put in to a national lockdown last week which forced all schools to close with only vulnerable and children of key workers able to attend.

Government guidance states:"We know that every school will have a different number of children of critical workers who need to attend. It is important that on-site provision is provided for these pupils, and there is no limit to numbers of these pupils who may attend and schools should not limit attendance of these groups.

"This is because we are reducing overall social contact across areas and the country rather than individually by each institution."

One school in Whitstable has seen more than six times the number of pupils this time round.

Jacqui Spinks, head of St Alphege CE Infant School, said:"We have on average around 40% of our children in school. This is a mix of vulnerable pupils and those of critical workers. This number fluctuates across the week as we have been flexible around our critical workers shift patterns.

"This is considerably higher than our numbers in March, where we only had around ten children accessing the school (6%) on average each day. This considerably reduced the risk to both our staff and our community. It is worth noting that the infection rate in Kent in March was considerably lower than it is now."

Ms Spinks said the change to the list of key workers is the reason for the increase.

She added: "Previously this was for people who were "critical to the Covid response" only. The latest guidance now contains nearly every job, including those who are working from home.

"They have also changed the guidance that both parents need to be key workers, to now needing to offer spaces to families regardless as to whether only one or both are key workers.

"Many of our parents chose to keep their children at home during the first lockdown, but I think now we are entering the third lockdown period, people are really struggling to balance their work commitments and remote learning, so they are opting to send them in this time around, regardless as to what their job roles are."

Asked if she feels parents sending their children in - even though they aren't vulnerable or the children of critical workers - are putting her staff under additional pressure and at extra risk of Covid, she said:"That is a difficult one.

"The more people we have gathered in the building will obviously increase the risk of the virus spreading. Again, it comes back to the government's handling of this pandemic. Our parents are only doing what the government is telling them is 'safe'."

Jenny Ashley-Jones, head teacher at Reculver Primary School in Herne Bay, said: "We have, on our busiest day, 27% of pupils.

"We've got a mixture of children of key workers and vulnerable children, who are either under social services or have got an educational healthcare plan.

"It's a lot because it means that in some classes we've got 20 children plus. Our average class sizes are usually between 25 and 30, so we're approaching an average class size with some.

"If you've got so many children in school, you've got a lot of community mixing as well as mixing of children whose parents are critical care workers. We aren't able to socially distance children in a classroom when we've got numbers that are so great. It's a real challenge at the moment."

During the first lockdown the school had 15 pupils a day on average. This time there are requests for 140 places.

Ms Ashley-Jones continued: "If you've got one working parent and one non-working parent, you're still able to access a place at school. There's something different about this lockdown - I don't know why - and they're accessing those places.

"We're trying to follow the guidance of the medical experts - who say we must not go out and mix - and balance that with the Department for Education who say we must have key workers in, which is difficult as they conflict.

"We're doing everything in our powers to keep things safe. It's a challenge."

Kent County Council carried out a survey of the 600 schools in the county. 490 responded and the average attendance was 12%. The highest was 44%. This comprised 18% attendance in primary schools, 2% in secondary and 33% in special schools.

Latest government guidance says schools should remain "open to vulnerable children and young people and the children of critical workers only".

Children who have to self isolate or are extremely clinically vulnerable should stay at home.

Critical workers are defined as people whose work helps the coronavirus or EU transition response including those who work in health and social care and only one parent in this role is enough for the children to be sent in.

Schools can ask for proof and parents should keep their children home if they can.

For the latest coronavirus news and advice, click here.

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