Coronavirus (COVID-19) updates on what's happening in East Ayrshire schools and early childhood centres.
Return to school
Following the recent announcement from the Deputy First Minister in the return of schools, we are delighted to bring you more details on our plans to reinstate education for young people in East Ayrshire.
Wellbeing guide
Download our wellbeing renewal guide (PDF 1.03Mb) on supporting worries children might have about returning to school.
School meals pre-order portal
From Wednesday 12 August 2020, our Catering Service will be introducing a Pre-order Portal for school meals in secondary schools. This can be accessed using an activation code which has been emailed to pupils' Glow accounts. Find out how to pre-order school meals on our school meals pre-order portal page.
Exam results and appeals
Update on Loanhead Primary School
Construction work on the extension and refurbishment of Loanhead Primary School has been delayed due to COVID-19. Preparations for a return to the site will begin on Monday 1 June. This will involve preparing the site for physical distancing and putting protective measures in place for operatives. Once the contractor is back on site, they will be in a position to draw up a revised programme of works and set a completion date.
Read our press release on Loanhead Primary School
Update on the Barony Campus
The impact of COVID-19 has affected every part of our society and every business including the construction industry.
Read our press release on the Barony Campus
As the Barony Campus will not open in August as planned, new arrangements have been put in place put in place for children and young people who were due to attend the new schools. The arrangements will be subject to Scottish Government guidance in relation to physical distancing. The safety of our teachers and children and young people is paramount and they will only return when it is deemed safe to do so.
The Robert Burns Academy
The Robert Burns Academy will operate as a split campus:
- S1 to S3 BGE Curriculum will be delivered in Cumnock Academy. All P7 pupils from associated primary schools will attend Cumnock Academy.
- S4 to S6 will be delivered in Auchinleck Academy.
- The secondary Supported Learning Centre will be based within Cumnock Academy and transport will be provided to Auchinleck Academy for young people in S4 to S6 to access appropriate mainstream classes.
- The Secondary Hub will be located within Cumnock Academy and transport arrangements will be in place where required.
Lochnorris Primary School
Barshare and Greenmill Primary Schools will continue to operate in their current locations. The schools will work together in transition experiences for the young people, when it is deemed safe and appropriate by the Scottish Government.
Hillside Additional Support Needs School
Hillside School will continue to operate within its current premises.
Cherry Trees Early Childhood Centre
The Early Childhood Centres in Barshare and Greenmill Primary Schools will continue to operate within their current premises. Any decision taken to reopen Early Learning and Childcare settings, and the pattern of hours to be delivered, will be informed by guidance from the Scottish Government.
Allocation of early learning and childcare places
We have been in close contact with the Scottish Government throughout lockdown and have been awaiting the Phase 3 guidance on reopening early learning and childcare services. We are now in a position to confirm the allocation of places and parents and carers will receive direct contact from their centre shortly.
Update from Friday 24 July 2020 regarding reintroduction of 1140hrs.
Critical childcare
On Thursday 23 July, the Deputy First Minister confirmed that the provision of critical childcare for key workers as part of the emergency response to COVID-19 can cease after Friday 31 July.
East Ayrshire Council has agreed to continue this provision in line with our original dates. This means that the final day for critical childcare provision in early childhood centres will be Thursday 6 August and for school-aged childcare it will be Friday 7 August. There will be no further access to Childcare Hubs beyond these dates and on that basis we will no longer be accepting new registrations for this provision.
What about the safety of our schools and ECCs?
All schools and ECCs will receive a full clean prior to the children returning in August.
Since May we've been giving all educational establishments and Council premises have received an enhanced clean (Level 3) on a daily basis. This is a level of clean specifically designed to provide, not only a high level of cleaning, but a special focus on ‘touch points’ throughout the building.
The main bulk of the cleaning will be delivered before and after the school day, however this will be supported with regular ‘check cleaning’ and ‘touch point’ cleaning throughout the school day.
The use of Innu science products for cleaning across our schools allows us to provide cutting edge, long lasting and effective cleaning. These products minimise the risk of infection by leaving a protective layer on all surfaces. Along with traditional methods of cleaning these products are used in conjunction with Electrostatic spray guns to ‘mist clean’ in public areas as required.
All Council buildings also undergo regular and rigorous quality assurance inspections to make sure standards are maintained.
Registered childminders
From 25 March all registered childminders have been told only to provide childcare for children of critical key workers.
Minister for Children and Young People, Maree Todd MSP has written to each one of the near 200 registered Childminders in East Ayrshire via the Care Inspectorate registration system. Read the letter from the Scottish Government (PDF 159Kb).
You can find the latest guidance on critical childcare provision for keyworkers on the Scottish Government website.
If you are a registered childminder affected by these closures you can find out about Scottish Government financial support on the Scottish Government website.
Funded providers
Funded private and third sector providers can find out about Scottish Government financial support on their website.
What happens while my child is not at school/ECC?
All other children and young people will continue to receive educational input via online platforms such as Glow. School and centre staff will also be providing updates to you via the school app and other communication tools. Schools and ECCs will keep in contact with you and your family via regular communications to maintain the already great sense of community and togetherness in our schools and ECCs.
You can also receive regular email updates on education by signing up with our StayConnected system and selecting topics that interest you.
School transport invoices
Due to the schools closing on Friday 20 March 2020, it has been confirmed that subsidised school transport invoices will be credited for the time that they are closed.
Parents and carers are asked to cancel any standing orders for their school transport invoices.
All debt recovery has been suspended on these invoices until further notice.
We will be in touch with parents and carers soon regarding overpayments or underpayments.
School updates
We will make sure that all parents, carers and staff are kept informed as plans for reopening develop and will be providing regular updates on:
We thank all parents, carers and pupils for their understanding in these exceptional circumstances.
Useful links
Scottish Government
UK Government
Other links