Raising pupils’ attainment is not the only issue occupying the minds of school leaders. Many heads will also be thinking about how they can best support their staff and pupils in the event of a swine flu outbreak in their school. Headteacher, Eileen Field, looks at the issues schools face and how technology could be used to help minimise the impact of swine flu on pupils’ achievement.
The number of confirmed cases of swine flu is expected to rise across the UK as the autumn and winter months approach and there has been much debate, both in the media and throughout Whitehall, over how the government should respond in its attempt to contain the virus.
It has been reported that politicians are unlikely to resort to wide-spread school closures in an effort to halt the progress of the pandemic because of the impact this might have on children’s learning and the possible disruption to society as a whole. However, some schools in the worst affected areas may still face the possibility of having to close. School leaders need to put plans in place now for every eventuality so that children experience minimal interruption to their education.
Keeping parents up to date
Ensuring there is adequate information available to parents and governors is an important part of a school’s response to the pandemic. This will prevent any uncertainty and reduce the number of calls coming through to the school office in the event of a swine flu outbreak.
Your school’s website can be a highly effective way of ensuring vital information gets out to those that need it. A dedicated area could be set up online for the latest news updates, for example, and you could offer advice and guidance on the site for parents worried about swine flu. Some schools have introduced an additional option on their automated switch board where parents can leave a recorded message to let the school know their child has contracted the virus. You will want to ensure the most up to date contact details are on file for all staff and parents as this will be critical in the event of the school having to close.