Highland Council staff tackling "very challenging" work to get schools ready for next week are hailed by boss
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A 'very challenging' work programme to ensure Highland schools are ready for pupils returning to classrooms after an absence of more than four months is well under way.
School staff across the Highland Council area are looking forward to welcoming children and young people back to school starting from next week, chief executive Donna Manson said today.
The vast majority of teaching and support staff will be returning to schools next week to enable pupils to return on a phased basis starting on Wednesday, August 12 in line with current coronavirus guidance.
By August 18, Highland Council aims to have all pupils back in schools.
Individual schools are already in the process of contacting parents with the exact details for local pupils. This detail will be provided through the normal channels of communication with parents and students.
A programme of deep cleaning across school buildings is in the process of being completed before schools reopen.
The local authority says it aims to deliver the enhanced cleaning specification across all of those buildings, with daily disinfection of touch points and surfaces. This is consistent with Scottish Government guidance to councils.
Chief executive Donna Manson said: “I would like to thank everyone for their patience, support and understanding, across all of our communities. “As we have just seen by the events in other areas, we must remain ready to respond to rapidly changing circumstances.
"Our absolute priority is to ensure as safe an environment as possible for everyone returning to schools – all staff, pupils, parents, contractors and visitors. This is a considerable challenge, given the unique geography of the Highlands. I would also like to recognise the hard work and commitment of all our staff across the council in supporting this very challenging programme in order to bring all children back to school by August 18.”
Information on cleaning, on school transport and other detail can be found on the webpage www.highland.gov.uk/backtoschool and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
