The Child Poverty Action Group and Children North East have published The Cost of Having Fun at School, a new report about the impact of poverty on fun events and activities at school.  The Cost of Having Fun at School captures the experiences of pupils and parents in schools across Britain, including insights from focus groups with over 1600 children and young people in Scotland.

You can access the report below:

https://cpag.org.uk/policy-and-campaigns/report/cost-having-fun-school

https://www.midlothian.gov.uk/info/855/school_meals/117/free_school_meals_and_clothing_grants/3

Please apply for a school place in P1 through the Midlothian Council website below.  Applications will open on 22nd November 2021.

Apply for a school place | Midlothian Council

During school closure, weekly grids will be posted under the Covid-19 tab of the website.

Parents and Carers 221220 letter and survey

https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-school-re-opening-arrangements-for-january-2021/

Following the First Minister’s announcement on Saturday, please find more details of what this will mean for our services.

Schools

Following public health advice, the Scottish Government advises schools should remain OPEN until the end of term. Having taken advice from public health, Midlothian Council will ensure our schools and early learning and childcare settings will continue with effective preventative measures in place.

We understand that some parents have been in touch to say they will keep their child at home. If you intend to keep your child at home please inform your school as you normally would.

On Tuesday 22 December, we will update parents and carers about arrangements for schools and our early learning settings after the festive break.

We will be updating parents and carers later today about school arrangements for Monday onwards in the light of the First Minister’s announcement last night about tighter coronavirus restrictions. We will also be updating our Midlothian Council webpage with information about how the FM announcement will impact on other council services. Many thanks for your patience.

https://www.midlothian.gov.uk/info/200296/coronavirus/626/latest_updates

Letter re contact isolation period change 13-12-20

The Scottish Government has announced there will be no changes to the planned Christmas and New Year holiday dates for schools. This means Midlothian schools will close for the festive break on Tuesday 22 December and will reopen to pupils on Wednesday 6 January, as planned. 

The Deputy First Minister John Swinney made the announcement today (Thursday) after taking public health advice on if the holiday period should be extended.

That advice is, on balance, there would be less transmission of COVID-19 through children and young people being in school than mixing out of school. Adding this to the issues around vulnerable children and the need for childcare for key worker children, public health advice is to not change term dates at either end. Mr Swinney was also mindful extending the school holidays could cause significant difficulties for working parents.

Individual schools will provide information to their parents and carers about contact tracing arrangements for the holiday period.

Many thanks for your support and co-operation.