Teaching support staff overwhelmingly back early closure of schools

Thursday 10 December 2020

95% of teaching support staff polled by their union have said they believe that schools should close early, ahead of an emergency vote on the matter today.

Nearly 300 teaching assistants, key workers and administration staff were asked for their views by JSCA Prospect.

55% of them replied that schools should close now, 40% said they should close on Friday, a week before the official end of term, and just 5% said they should shut as planned on 18 December.

The issue of whether schools should shut their doors, send students home and revert to virtual learning, as they did during lockdown, is a contentious one, with Ministers insisting that the best place for children is at school. They argue that the risk of children transmitting the virus is far lower if they remain in the classroom, however they have allowed headteachers to have the final say.

However, with covid cases rising and more and more pupils and staff having to isolate at home, there are growing calls for the Government to shut schools prematurely. 

Unions have been unambiguous in their calls for an early closure, citing the stress caused by so many teachers being absent, the difficulty of teaching some pupils in the class and others remotely at the same time, and the risk that some pupils and teachers will have to isolate over Christmas. 

Deputy Rob Ward, a former teacher, has been successful in calling for an emergency States sitting today so that Members can decide whether to keep the schools open or closed. The debate began the this morning, with Ministers failing at an early juncture to stop it by opposing Deputy Ward’s fast-track procedure. Members overwhelming agreed to continue with the debate.

Before voting on the main issues, Members must first debate two amendments. The first, from Deputy Kevin Pamplin, asks that just secondary school pupils, from Year 8 and above, go home after this Monday. 

Many concerns. If closed must be staggered. Can’t all leave on same day. Schools must be able to take in children of parents who are working so no child is left alone due no childcare. And mental health support must be ramped up for all children due to loss of school counselling

— Deputy Kevin Pamplin (@KevinPamplin) December 9, 2020

The second, from Deputy Louise Doublet, includes extra provisions for nursery school children.

Children's Commissioner Deborah McMillan said this morning that she believed parental choice to be important, adding that "schools must remain open for those pupils of working parents unable to work from home, and pupils living in situations of vulnerability."

Meanwhile, Les Quennevais School wrote to parents and carers yesterday afternoon to inform them that as many as 24 staff were now unable to attend school.

Parental choice is important as you know your children best. However schools must remain open for those pupils of working parents unable to work from home, and pupils living in situations of vulnerability

— Deborah McMillan - Children's Commissioner (@ChildComJersey) December 10, 2020

As a result, Head Teacher Sarah Hague said all Year 10 students will "reluctantly need to work remotely from home due to the significantly reduced capacity in staffing."

She also said that all Year 9 students would be isolating until at least Monday 14 December due to a positive case of covid-19 in the year group.

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