Information for parents and carers

Arrangements for full-time return of all pupils - April 2021

The Scottish Government has announced that the full reopening of secondary schools will take place following the Easter break, which for Argyll and Bute schools is Monday 19 April, unless new scientific evidence requires reconsideration. Updated detailed guidance from the Scottish Government was published on 24 March and we will be updating our risk assessments and procedures in line with that guidance.

From 19 April all secondary pupils will return to fulltime in-school learning.  Your child’s school will communicate directly with you on individual arrangements that will ensure the safety and wellbeing of our children and young people and staff in schools. This will include communication regarding the asymptomatic testing programme that all school staff and secondary aged learners are encouraged to participate in.

Schools will contact parents/carers no later than Thursday 1 April with further details of the arrangements. 

Face coverings will be required to be worn at all times by all pupils and staff in secondary schools.  There will be a continued emphasis placed on good ventilation and the use of outdoor learning.

Transport

Pupils who travel by school transport will continue to be able to do so.  If it is necessary to alter arrangements for any pupils, parents/carers will be informed no later than Thursday 1 April.

School Meals

School meals will be available for all pupils in school at lunchtime, and those entitled will receive free school meals.  Direct payments to parents/carers of secondary pupils entitled to free school meals will stop from 18 April.

Additional In-Service days

To support schools with the alternative certification model, the Scottish Government has allocated secondary schools an additional 2 in-service days. In Argyll and Bute it has been agreed that one of these dates will be 27 May with an existing planned in-service day on 28 May. Schools have the discretion to allocate the second in-service day on a date that best suits the needs of the school and this will be communicated directly by individual schools.

Arrangements for pupils and teachers returning to school - March 2021

 

Remote Learning - Information and Guidance for Parents/Carers

Face coverings guidance in secondary schools- 19th February 2021

Common cold and COVID-19 symptoms - advice for parents and carers

How to access Coronavirus testing in Argyll and Bute

Working Safely in Schools Guidance - updated 1 Oct 2020

FAQs for schools (26th August) - advice from NHS Highland and Public Health Scotland on testing; children, staff or households showing symptoms or testing positive; contact tracing, and general advice for parents / carers

Questions and answers for parents and carers of young people returning to school

Check school term dates for 2020/21 here

School transport

Information for parents and carers of children using school and public transport to travel to and from school:

School transport information - 4th August 2020

This includes information for pupils travelling by bus, taxi, train, ferry and plane, on the use of face coverings, physical distancing, hand cleaning/ sanitising and other specific information for each mode of travel