Remote learning will be inevitable for some pupils across Greater Manchester this term, a schools boss has warned.
With education settings grappling with staff shortages caused by Covid, the head of the Co-op Academies Trust says the new term is going to be a 'challenging' one as the Omicron wave hits.
Many workplaces are suffering the effects of rising cases, but schools are particularly vulnerable .
Teachers and pupils are testing positive, but many staff also have young children in education or childcare who need caring for when their settings close.
We reported yesterday how some schools have already had to shut to year groups because of the impact on staff.
READ MORE: Dozens of pupils miss start of new term as schools forced to close year groups
Haveley Hey Community School in Benchill, Wythenshawe, closed to Year 6 pupils and Moston Fields Primary School, in Moston, shut its Reception classes.
Dr Chris Tomlinson, CEO of Co-op Academies Trust, which runs eight schools in Greater Manchester, said: "There is no doubt that this term will be very challenging for parents, pupils and staff within schools nationally.
"It is inevitable but as a last resort that at times due to staff absences some students will receive their education remotely at home.
"It is disappointing but in the end headteachers have to balance the quality of learning experiences, keeping everyone as safe as possible and doing the right thing for their staff and students in making that decision."
He added: "I imagine at the start of term it will be okay, but after a short while staff absences will start to kick in despite the best endeavours of all those working within education to mitigate against this happening."
One of the schools run by the Trust is Co-op Academy Walkden, in Salford, where lateral flow testing took place yesterday ahead of the first day back today.
Principal Matt Hacker said there have been some challenges - with a number of students and staff testing positive over the break - but said they will do all they can to avoid disruption to learning.
"It’s been a pleasure to welcome our students back this morning after the Christmas break," he said.
"Despite some challenges around staffing, we have been able to open as usual and are fully operational.
"We have unfortunately been notified of a significant number of positive cases - students and staff - from the Christmas break, which was inevitable.
"On-site testing went well yesterday, with a two further positive cases being identified.
"The staffing challenges are likely to continue and at some point, we are likely to have to collapse classes or switch to remote learning. We will do everything we can to avoid this unless absolutely necessary."
With the pandemic continuing into another calendar year, there have been further calls for the government to increase its catch-up funding for schools.
Last June its education recovery commissioner for England, Sir Kevan Collins - or the catch-up tsar as he became known - resigned saying the government's funding for the plan 'falls far short of what is needed'.
He'd suggested £15bn was needed, but the government announced an initial £1.4bn towards recovery - 'a half-hearted approach' which Collins said 'risks failing hundreds of thousands of pupils'.
Mr Tomlinson, whose Trust runs schools in Manchester, Oldham and Salford, said the longer pupils remain affected by the virus, the more weight it adds to the fight for extra funding.
He said: "The impact of Covid over the last two years is having a real influence on children's education at the moment and the demands of Kevan Collins requesting the recovery money he did, seem all of a sudden, a very reasonable and understandable request."
In October the government announced extra funding to help pupils catch up on lost learning, saying the investment amounted to almost £5bn in all.
Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi said: "Our mission is to maximise the potential of every single young person, regardless of their background, circumstances or the ways in which the pandemic has affected them.
"This settlement is a landmark investment in our skills, schools and families.
"The pandemic has taken precious time in young people’s lives, including the vital learning they need to reach their potential.
"This investment will enhance the recovery we know is already underway for young people, building on the real impact of the steps we’ve taken so far – whether that’s tutoring, world class teacher training or summer schools.
"We have been and we will continue to be ambitious about the futures of our children and young people."
Has your child's return to school been disrupted this week? Are you worried about the impact of Omicron cases on education? Let us know your views in the comments here or email any information to emma.gill@reachplc.com
