Coronavirus: ‘Safety comes first’ when Peterborough schools re-open, education chief pledges

Following Boris Johnson’s announcement on Sunday evening that some pupils may return from June, Jonathan Lewis, director of education at Peterborough City Council and Cambridgeshire County Council, has issued a letter to parents and carers.

Mr Lewis said that while further guidance is needed, the councils will “support any school if safety has to take priority over any other consideration”.

Concerns have been raised that maintaining social distancing will prove difficult in a school setting.

The Prime Minister has indicated that Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 pupils could return from the start of June.

Schools are currently only open for vulnerable children and children of essential workers.

Mr Lewis wrote: “I recognise that this has been a very stressful time for young people and their families. I am sure we are all looking forward to children returning to school when it is safe for this to happen. Schools will be following government guidance, as soon as it is released, to enable this.

“The local authority, the diocese and those who are responsible for academy schools will help and support individual school teachers to make the necessary arrangements.

“Our top priority is the safety of pupils, their families and school staff. We will support any school if safety has to take priority over any other consideration.

“Every school’s circumstances are unique. Schools will not be able to respond to the Government’s decisions in the same way.

“For some schools the size of classrooms and play areas may limit the number of children who can be accommodated safely under social distancing rules. In others, staffing shortages will limit the speed at which pupils can return.

“Some of the services that children and parents are used to - such as school meals and breakfast clubs - may not be available immediately in every school. Schools may not be able to teach every subject, if teaching time is limited.”

Mr Lewis said the councils are awaiting further guidance from the Government, and he urged parents and carers not to contact schools about re-opening at this time unless their enquiry is urgent.

Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said the potential re-opening of schools is “nothing short of reckless”.

She added: “We must have a national plan for social distancing, hygiene, appropriate PPE and regular testing to ensure our schools and colleges don’t become hot spots for Covid-19. This test has manifestly not been met.”