A message from Fiona Robertson, the Executive Director Children, Young People and Partnerships

I’m writing to thank parents, carers and pupils who are helping keep local people safe and ultimately saving lives by complying with national coronavirus restrictions. I am sure you will appreciate the significant effort of all of our staff working in schools to do the same. However, I also need to stress we must remain vigilant as local cases of coronavirus are rising. As is the case across other areas in Scotland, this is, in part, because of transmission within local gatherings.

We continue to work alongside NHS Public Health and Police Scotland to protect local people. Please remember the restrictions in place on indoor gatherings in private homes. You should not meet anyone from outside your household inside your home or their home. This ban includes extended family members although you are permitted to provide care or support to a vulnerable person in their home and there are exemptions for childcare and tradespeople doing essential work. The rules on indoor gatherings apply to you and your family, including your young people over the age of 12, so we ask you to help them understand the rules and set an example for them too.

Where there are breaches of the legislation, Police Scotland will engage, explain the legislation and encourage compliance and will use enforcement action as a last resort.

We know that the overwhelming majority of people of all ages are following the rules and realise not meeting friends and family is hard, particularly on young people. However, to reduce the number of transmissions of the virus and keep schools open, all of us, young and old, need to do our bit by complying with the rules.

Thank you again for you and your family’s continued support.

Fiona Robertson

Executive Director Children, Young People and Partnerships

Previous posts

Monday 10th August-Further information for parents and carers about returning to school.

 

Wednesday 29th July-Return to school information from Midlothian Council

 

RESPONSE TO DEPUTE FIRST MINISTER’S STATEMENT – TUESDAY 23 JUNE 2020
You may be aware that John Swinney, the Depute First Minister has, this afternoon, made a statement in the Scottish Parliament about all children and young people returning to school on 12 August. The Depute First Minister indicated that the Scottish Government’s planning assumption is now to have all pupils returning to schools 12 August, if it is safe to do so. He has also indicated that this will be conditional and dependent upon scientific and health advice. Clearly, our schools are delighted at the prospect of welcoming all of our pupils back to school in August with the knowledge that it is safe to do so.
Midlothian Council’s local delivery plans to deliver a blended learning model will remain in place as a contingency and essential preparation in case they are needed. We would like to assure you that all Midlothian schools have a robust blended learning plan ready to be implemented should that be the requirement.
We are now urgently considering the implications of this announcement on our plans for August. It is clear that final decisions on a full return will not be confirmed until during the summer holidays. We are awaiting further specific guidance and will be in touch with you again as soon as we can. We continue to work on the assumption that staff will return to school on the 10 August 2020 and pupils will return on the 12 August 2020.
We appreciate that this is a fast changing situation and you will be keen to know what this means for your child/children. As this change has to be achieved safely, it inevitably remains conditional and dependent upon ongoing scientific and health advice, therefore we are committed to continuing to share information with you as soon as we can, including during the summer holidays.

 

Revised School Session Dates 2020/21

 

School Recovery Plan. Phase 1. Information for parents and carers.

 

Information from Midlothian Council for Parents and Carers-12th June

 

The Midlothian Promise

 

5 ways to wellbeing for young people.

 

5 ways to wellbeing for adults.

 

Information for Parents regarding dates for return in August-Tuesday 2nd June

 

Reporting to Parents

Scottish Government guidance states that ‘local authorities and schools will be planning how they communicate with parents and families about their child’s progress during Term 4 and many early learning practitioners will wish to share information on children’s development. This will require a different format to those that may have been taken before’.

If you have not already received a progress report for your child this session, you should expect by the end of this term to receive a revised, simplified version of the school’s usual format.

The report will focus on:

· The child’s strengths and achievements
· Their progress to date
· Their next steps in literacy and numeracy

If you have any questions about your child’s progress, please contact the school direct.

 

Some great advice and tips here for Home Learning.

 

Local supports available during this challenging time

 

Information about the Gore Glen Hub

 

Seesaw and Distance Learning