Roundwood national school reopened for the summer term almost two weeks ago without a Lollipop Person.
The position had been covered by the school secretary until last year. Volunteer SNA teachers have been filling in, which is not ideal to say the least, but twice this week the children have been left to cross the Loch Dan Road by themselves with no cover for after school crossing.
Parents were initially advised to use the ‘new crossing’, just down the road from the school, partially constructed and unfinished by the County Council. Two day later, parents were advised not to use the ‘new crossing’ and to cross at the previous crossing which has an ad hoc coverage schedule of cover, pulling on the resources of volunteers.
Compacting the safety issue of the crossing is the new school start time and strict school gate opening time which has resulted in large numbers of students congregating at the school gates with spillage onto the road at peak times.
Parents and children alike are confused by the changes at an already stressful time as everyone adjusts to new schedules after the Summer break.
