Congratulations to staff, parents and particularly pupils for making the first few days back to school motivating and fun while accepting all the necessary changes to keep us as safe as we can be under the circumstances. The one way system has been successful, the use of hand sanitisers and hand washing are being encouraged and the wearing of face coverings is promoted by staff. Windows are open for ventilation and we are making good use of the life skills flat as a second staffroom. We continue to adhere to all local and national guidelines and will revisit these frequently as advice and evidence dictates. Already there seems to be suggestions that teenagers might catch or transmit Co-Vid 19 so we might on occasion encourage them to wear face coverings, although this is not yet mandatory. Read more here...Newsletter 14.08.2020

Are you aged between 16 and 19 and considering remaining in education? If so, you may be entitled to an Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA).

If you are aged between 16 and 19 and have left school but are not currently involved in education, employment, training or volunteering, you may be able to take part in an Activity Agreement.

An EMA is a weekly payment of £30 paid directly to eligible young people who are continuing in post-compulsory education (i.e. beyond the age of 16) or have left school and are taking part in an Activity Agreement.

Further details are available on the East Lothian Council Website.

Applications are processed on a 'first come, first served' basis. While payments may be delayed until later in the school year, approved applications will be backdated to the start of the term if they are received by 30 September 2020 (for those eligible for the full year award) or by 28 February 2021 (for those eligible from January 2021).

East Lothian Council is writing to all families who use home to school transport to outline the new travel arrangements and their responsibilities for keeping themselves and fellow passengers safe.

The text below is taken directly from the East Lothian Council website.

The implications of physical distancing has impacted on capacity across the school transport network. While contracted transport is viewed as an extension of the school estate, requiring little distancing, this does not apply on public services. The council provides around 1,200 pupils with bus passes for travel on these routes. Guidance also states that pupils attending separate schools should travel separately on contracted routes, and transport arrangements have been put in place to allow this to happen. This affects some routes where primary and secondary pupils previously shared transport – separate buses will now be provided for primary and secondary schools. This applies even if the children are from the same family group.

The council has worked closely with transport providers to apply Scottish Government and Transport Scotland guidance on safe provision and find appropriate solutions. The priority is to provide a service that is safe for pupils, drivers and escorts. 

26 new buses have been commissioned across contractor and public service routes to allow pupils to continue to travel safely to school. The cost to the council is around £1.7m. 

Guidelines are also being shared with families along with their passes on their responsibilities to ensure safety.

• Families should provide their pupil with hand sanitiser, which must be used prior to boarding the bus
• Face coverings will also be mandatory on all home to school transport – contracted or public service – to avoid any confusion (see 'Background' below)
• Failing to adhere to these guidelines could lead to a pupil being refused entry to the bus
• Seating plans will also be introduced on buses

Timetables have been brought forward to allow pupils to be transported and families will be informed of the new timing arrangements when they receive their passes. 

These measures have been introduced in response to the current Covid-19 public health emergency and will be subject to review in line with any further Scottish Government guidelines. 

Cabinet member for Education and Children’s Services, Councillor Shamin Akhtar, said: “I know this will be a relief for many parents who rely on our home to school transport services but who were also concerned about what this would look like in the current health emergency. Our officers have worked hard with transport partners to enable us to provide a service to families. We are in the process of sending out bus passes and timetables and would ask that all families pay particular attention to their responsibilities for keeping their own children, drivers and other passengers safe. This will be essential to the operation of the service.” 

Background

East Lothian Council will adopt face coverings as required on all school transport to provide consistent message across the transport and stop any confusion. The exemption rules for face coverings are the same as public transport and an exemption card ...

I hope you have had a lovely summer break.  Further to the letter sent by our Chief Operating Officer, Lesley Brown on Friday 31 July 2020, I am pleased to be able to write to you today to advise you on the plans for re-opening Knox Academy.

Over the summer, extensive planning has taken place to ensure we have a safe and supportive return to school.  The First Minister outlined in her statement to Parliament on Thursday 30 July 2020, that there is flexibility to phase pupils back to school. It has been agreed that all East Lothian Secondary Schools will have a phased return to school, over the course of the 12, 13 and 14 August 2020. All pupils will be back in school full time from Monday 17 August 2020.

** A further update issued on Friday 7 August 2020 is also available **