PARENTS and students across Dorset have been informed by schools of how their school could look when they return.

'Gate bubbles', staggered breaks and limited public transport will be enforced by all schools across the county, who will return from a shortened summer holiday on Monday September 7.

Whilst some parents took the executive decision to not let them return to schools when they reopened for the children of keyworker and vulnerable families, attendance will be compulsory for September.

Bournemouth School have criticised the fact that schools and headteachers are not being consulted about any of the government’s future plans before they are announced

Headmaster at Bournemouth School Dr Dorian Lewis said: “Many of the guidelines produced for the full reopening of schools from September appear to have been poorly thought out; indeed, one wonders whether the authors have ever been in a maintained secondary school.

“We are still assimilating the guidance, but fully expect it to change over the coming weeks.

“We have taken the decision to limit the number of events calendared for the first term to only those that are necessary – and as a result, we are not sending to parents a copy of the calendar at this time.”

All staff and students at schools across Dorset are anticipated to be back in school from Monday September 7.

Some schools will choose to continue with staggered starts, however staggered break times and lunchtimes for different Key Stage group 'bubbles' will be widely enforced.

Students will be advised not to use public transport or school buses where possible and instead be encouraged to walk and cycle to and from school.

Schools will be offering limited on-site catering facilities initially, other than for students in receipt of free school meal. The majority of students will be advised to bring in packed lunches.

Heatherlands School Head Teacher Mr Julian Churchill said: “During the summer, we will be continuing to adapt school classrooms and the wider school areas, in preparation for September and organising the school to look the best it can, ready for children’s return.

“It is important to us that the school reflects our determination to be ready to hit the ‘ground running’ from the start of term.

As our oldest children leave us, we will be welcoming our youngest, when the new entrants children arrive. Despite the challenges of not having the usual transition, especially the well loved ‘ Come and Learn’, I am confident that our pre planning will help each of the children to settle quickly and flourish as they prepare to start their learning journey at Heatherlands.

Extra-curricular activities and peripatetic music lessons will be limited when schools return, with a phased in return expected to happen across all schools, and parents’ evenings will also be arranged to facilitate social distancing.

Staff will not take in students’ exercise books to reduce the spread of the virus and will continue to use online learning portals to set work and offer feedback.

Twyham School have said that assemblies will be delivered via Microsoft Teams into tutor rooms to reduce mass gatherings and students will have to use allocated entrances and exits to school to be used by each year group ‘bubble’.

No drinks will be sold in the school and water fountains cannot be used so students will need to bring drinking water for each day.

In a letter sent to parents as schools broke up, Headteacher Jy Taylor said: “Our students need to return to the habit and structure of school, and we are looking forward to supporting them with this.

“We know that many of our students, and their parents, will have anxieties about the return to school. This is completely understandable and is probably far more widespread than some would think.

“We will be doing some explicit planning around our pastoral work and we have made the decision to stagger the return of our students over three days in September rather than the usual two.

“This will give our students more time to orientate themselves to the changes, spend some important additional time with their tutor and for more staff to be available for more students on their first day back.”