Mont à l’Abbé to close early due to staff shortage

Monday 14 December 2020

Jersey’s special educational needs school is to close its doors early due to a shortage of staff, after a staff member and student both tested positive for covid-19.

On Friday, the Government announced that three classes at Mont à l’Abbé had been forced to isolate after a staff member tested positive for the virus.

This morning, officials confirmed that a student had subsequently tested positive on Saturday. 

They said the school has since been deep cleaned and will open as normal today and tomorrow to all unaffected year groups. However, they noted that “due to a shortage of staff”, the school will finish term early and close on Wednesday. 

Meanwhile, a member of staff testing positive at Haute Vallée School has led to a year group being asked to work from home today due to a resulting staff shortage. 

Pictured: Hundreds of students and staff from different schools across the island are isolating due to teachers and students testing positive.

Two year groups from Hautlieu that were already isolating have been told to continue today after a student was confirmed as having covid on Sunday. 

Parents of two class bubbles and after school activity clubs at Grouville have been instructed to isolate at home while the track and trace process is complete due to a Grouville staff member testing positive on Sunday. 

Parents of a class at Plat Douet school have also been told to keep their children at home as a precautionary measure  after a staff member and student were confirmed as having the virus yesterday. 

A Victoria College class bubble has been told to stay at home after a student tested positive, while whole year groups at Bel Royal, St. Martin’s School and are isolating due to a pupils having the illness. 

A Grainville student was confirmed as having contracted the virus on Saturday, and is isolating at home. Their year group remains in school, however, and only direct contacts are isolating.

Reform Jersey Deputy Rob Ward made a bid last week to get schools closed early amid concerns about staff wellbeing. 95% of teaching support staff polled by union JCSA backed the proposal, but States Members ultimately voted against it move on Thursday.