When will pupils return to school - and will parents be fined if they do not send children back?
The government has confirmed that it aims for all primary school year groups to return during June, but from secondary schools only Year 10 and Year 12 will go back before the summer holidays.
In guidance published tonight (Monday), the Department of Education has also revealed that families who do not send their children back to school will not face a penalty - although they will be strongly encouraged to, unless a child or a family member is shielding, or the child is particularly vulnerable due to an underlying condition.
Confirmation that parents will not be fined came as the number of signatures on a Change.org petition urging the government to give parents the choice not to send their children back to school in June surged past 440,000.
Class sizes will be restricted to no more than 15 pupils under the guidance, seated at least two metres apart, and there will be staggered breaks and frequent hand-washing.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Sunday that by June 1 at the earliest primary schools could open to children in transition years - nursery, reception, Year 1 and Year 6.
Secondary schools, sixth forms and colleges are asked to work toward the possibility of “some face-to-face contact with young people in Year 10 and Year 12 to help them prepare for exams next year” before the summer holidays.
Tonight the government added more detail, revealing that the aim is for other primary years to return later in June, although this will be kept under review.
And it confirmed that “there are currently no plans to reopen secondary schools for other year groups before the summer holidays”.
The reopening of schools - which are currently only open to the children of key workers - is dependent on the Covid-19 infection rate remaining under control.
The government is also publishing advice to the education sector, including:
- reducing the size of classes and keeping children in small groups without mixing with others;
- staggering break and lunch times, as well as drop-offs and pick-ups; and
- increasing the frequency of cleaning, reducing the used of shared items and utilising outdoor space.
Education secretary Gavin Williamson said: “I know how hard schools, colleges, early years settings and parents are working to make sure children and young people can continue to learn at home, and I cannot thank them enough for that.
“But nothing can replace being in the classroom, which is why I want to get children back to school as soon as it is safe to do so. The latest scientific advice indicates it will be safe for more children to return to school from 1 June, but we will continue to limit the overall numbers in school and introduce protective measures to prevent transmission.
“This marks the first step towards having all young people back where they belong – in nurseries, schools and colleges – but we will continue to be led by the scientific evidence and will only take further steps when the time is right.”
Lucy Browne, who set up the Change.org petition demanding that parents be allowed to choose if their children returned, said: “As a mum I don’t want to face serious repercussions for making a choice I feel affects the safety of my daughter during a global pandemic.
“The UK now has the highest death toll in Europe and second highest in the world. Many of us have lost confidence in the government's handling of this crisis and feel it is too early to return children to schools.”
Can children catch Covid-19?
There have been cases of Covid-19 in children. But the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, which advises the government, says it has a high degree of confidence that the severity of the disease in children is lower than in adults.
And it has a moderately high degree of confidence that children aged up to 11 are less susceptible to it.
Will schools have access to testing?
School staff are already eligible for testing, and staff in shielding and high-risk groups are being told to remain at home.
The government has also confirmed that from June 1, all children and young people eligible to return to school will have access to testing if they display symptoms, as will any symptomatic member of their household.
This will help children and staff return to school if they test negative and if they test positive a test and trace approach will be taken.
What will schools do if they get a case of Covid-19?
If a school has a positive case, Public Health England will advise on what action to take, but the group of people with whom the individual has mixed closely will be sent home and advised to self-isolate for 14 days.
Government guidance
The government has published the following advice documents
Actions for educational and childcare settings (imminent)
Implementing protective measures in education childcare settings
Information for parents and carers
Read more
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