Coronavirus (COVID-19): school re-opening arrangements for January 2021

Communication with families

Local authorities and schools should ensure arrangements are put in place to  communicate what the changes to the start of term from January 2021 means for individual families as soon as is practically possible, and continue to communicate regularly thereafter. Consideration should be given to matters such as the needs of separated parents (having regard to the appropriateness of both parents being provided with information), parents for whom English is an additional language and parents/carers with disabilities. The importance of complying with mitigations should also be reinforced with all members of the school community.

Guidance for early learning and childcare settings, schools and local authorities on communicating with and reporting to parents during COVID-19 and supporting parents and pupils with learning at home during COVID-19 is available on Education Scotland’s National Improvement Hub.

Information to support parents includes:

• a Parent Club COVID-19 microsite, which contains advice on working from home whilst caring for children, advice on helping children with remote and blended learning as well as links to advice and support resources for parents of children with additional support needs.
• Education Scotland’s Parentzone Scotland website includes advice for parents, families and practitioners on supporting children and young people’s learning during COVID-19.
• the National Parent Forum Nutshell guide on blended learning, published in August 2020. This joins further Nutshells on Supporting Learning at Home during “lockdown” and on online safety.
• Education Scotland’s Scotland Learns initiative provides newsletters and online resources for teachers and for parents/carers.

When children and young people are learning at home, schools and local authorities should ensure communication with families to maximise engagement in learning, offering any support or advice that may be needed. This may include, for example, local authorities working to ensure provision of devices and/or internet connectivity where necessary.

Young Scot have updated their guidance for children and young people to include information on the phased arrangements for the start of term in January 2021.This can be accessed through the Young Scot website: Going to School During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic | Young Scot.