YEAR 6 pupils were welcomed back to Settle and Kirkby Malham primary schools on June 1, with provision being made to hopefully bring back Early Years and Year 1 a fortnight later.

The Federation’s headteacher Richard Wright, said the schools have stayed open during lockdown for all their key workers providing free breakfast, after school and meal services to cater for over 30 key workers and vulnerable children.

“We have also been open during holiday times - including two half term breaks and the Easter Holiday service. There has been no charge to parents as we want to do our bit to help the key workers who have been doing amazing jobs in very difficult circumstances,” he added.

Both school sites saw their Year 6 pupils return from June 1 in accordance with government guidelines on social distancing and reduced cohort sizes.

Mr Wright said: “To date all is working well and both staff and children have risen to the challenge of making the most of things despite the restricted access and reduced provision on offer. Our Key worker provision also continues. Parent feedback for this has been very positive.

“Moving forward we will have additional classes prepared for re-opening post June 15 but this is dependant on the R rate being below 1 and there not being signs of a second wave.

“The government has stipulated that classes in Early Years and Year 1 should be ready to open but social distancing for these children is not a realistic possibility and it is important parents understand this.

“Great care will be taken to ensure that any provision we offer is as safe as it can be and meets governor approval but any re-opening will not be completely risk free.

“Government guidelines for reopening schools has been revised over 40 times since first publication and this has made our preparations all the more harder when faced with the tight timescale provided.

Conflicting views from SAGE also cause concern and anxiety within the community. Our primary focus is the well-being of the children and staff and schools need to be able to trust the information that is being given to them to allow them to make the best decisions for their school communities.

“We are keen to see a return to normality as we are aware that a number of our families are really struggling, despite our best efforts, with home learning, but we need to take a cautious approach and very small steps with health and safety of pupils and staff being of paramount importance.

“Each school faces its own unique circumstances such as staffing levels, premises restrictions and specific community need but all are doing the best they can with the set of cards they are being dealt with. Each governing body will do the very best they can with the resources they have available.”