A positive start for the school new year

Following a robust risk assessment process, Liverpool Diocesan Schools Trust (LDST) headteachers have worked with Compliance Education (health and safety) to write and consult on detailed and positive re-opening plans.

Headteachers and their teams have worked tirelessly to ensure a safe re-opening for all pupils which has resulted in all 16 of their schools opening fully at the start of term.

Laurie Kwissa, CEO at LDST said: “Attendance has been extremely positive so far. The new year 7 cohort at St Michael’s benefitted from planned transition activities in the summer holidays and since the start of the new term there has been 100% attendance for this group! We are so proud of all our pupils returning to school or starting in LDST schools for the first time.

“Recognising that many pupils had not been in school since March, we met regularly in the summer term with our headteachers to plan for their full return and identified three core priorities to aid this.”

This term they are focusing on:
• Supporting schools in securing good mental health and wellbeing for staff and pupils
• Supporting schools in mitigating the impact of school closure upon disadvantaged pupils
• Supporting schools in considering and overcoming the implications of school closure upon curriculum and assessment

Laurie said: “Our headteachers and senior leaders have collaborated in working parties to plan actions and signpost resources to support each other in addressing these priorities.

“Our pupils have settled in well and our schools are once again filled with laughter and friendship and enjoying purposefully planned experiences across the wider curriculum”.