Education leaders have suggested that West Lothian should be prepared to go “above and beyond” government advice on Covid containment to counteract localised infection rates.
Heather Hughes, the president of Scotland’s largest teaching union the EIS, asked education officials if they’d consider following moves taken by other councils which have brought in extra measures in the face of a surge in cases in their areas.
“Would West Lothian go above and beyond the relevant guidelines. Other councils such as Aberdeen and Highland have – if there’s a positive case in your household you are required to self isolate and provide not just one, but a second negative pcr test four days later. It seems to be working in cutting transmission.”
Greg Welsh, interim head of primary education, told the meeting of the council’s Education Executive that he was meeting weekly with Public Health Scotland and NHS Lothian and gave an assurance that the council would respond to any changes in the advice from these bodies.
He added that if there was found to be high numbers of infection additional measures would be introduced with the school affected . This could be taking lessons such as PE outside and would would be decisions taken by localised teams.
“We are very much guided by Public Health on this,” he added.
Mr Welsh also said that ventilation and co2 surveys would be carried out through the school estate by the October break.
The existing mitigations within school have been in place since the start of the new term.
The mitigations which remain in place include: risk assessment; environmental cleaning; hand and respiratory hygiene, PPE in specific circumstances; face coverings in communal areas and secondary classrooms; one-way systems; drop-off and pick-up arrangements staggered start and finish times along with break and lunchtimes and restrictions on assemblies.
Service Manager Andrew Sneddon said changes would be considered at the end of the month. He added that the schools were now passing on information to pupils regarding vaccination.
Catrina Hatch, interim Head of Secondary education. said weekly meetings with the secondary heads continued to be held and robust messaging on face coverings continued across the eleven secondary schools.
