Five west Kent primary schools, all part of the same academy trust, will close at 1.30pm once a week for the foreseeable future, in an effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Teachers at the schools, all belonging to Valley Invicta Academies Trust (VIAT), will now use Wednesday afternoons for Planning, Preparation and Assessment (PPA) time.

This, the trust hopes will reduce the number of staff, particularly teaching assistants, moving from one class to another, when filling in for teachers undertaking PPA.

Since 2005, all teachers are entitled to time out of the classroom to prepare and mark lessons.

The decision comes after a Year 6 pupil from Valley Invicta Primary School, Aylesford, tested positive earlier this month.

A whole year group was told to self-isolate as a result.

Including the Aylesford school, the primaries subject to the early closure are in East Borough, at Holborough Lakes, Kings Hill and Leybourne Chase. The plan has been put into action this week.

VIAT CEO Julie Derrick said: "The safety and wellbeing of our pupils and staff is our top priority. Having had a positive case in one of our schools, our risk assessment highlighted that the cover of PPA entailed too many staff moving from one class to another.

"To minimise the risk of transmission, we felt it was important to reduce the number of staff moving across classes, to then in turn, potentially reduce the need for a larger number of staff to self-isolate at any one time.

"The statutory allocated planning and preparation time, which now takes place solely on a Wednesday afternoon, will also ensure there is adequate time set aside for robust and resilient plans in place for all our children – both virtually and in the classroom - while minimising any potential risk of spreading the virus.

"While we understand this may be challenging for some families, we have of course made arrangements to secure provision for those that need it.”

It is not known how long this change will go on for, but in a letter to parents, dated September 21, Mrs Derrick said "this was naturally a very fluid position".

She added: "Please be reassured that it is our aim to keep all our schools and classes open wherever possible, but this will be dependent upon staff availability and most importantly, our risk assessment."

The trust is also responsible for four secondary schools, including a new science and technology college which opened this term, but they will not be subject to the change.

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