COVID: Education guidance a ‘mess’ says Peterborough chief as MP hails Boris Johnson’s ‘leadership’

Service director for education in Peterborough and Cambridgeshire Jonathan Lewis was responding to enquiries on Twitter following Boris Johnson’s announcement that all schools will be closed until at least February half-term, despite some having re-opened that day.

Peterborough City Council released a statement last night saying it supported the closure of all schools today (Tuesday) to “allow headteachers and their staff time to prepare to re-open from Wednesday for vulnerable children and children of key workers only and be in a position to roll out home learning options for others”.

The council is expecting to receive updated guidance from the Government today.

Mr Lewis was contacted on Twitter about the Government’s decision to keep early years settings open during the new lockdown

He responded: “We don’t know any more than you. The National guidance is confusing. We will be writing to early years providers when we know more. I have spoken to DFE (Department for Education) this evening and there is no guidance yet.”

On the topic of vulnerable children and children of key workers, Mr Lewis tweeted: “Schools have no guidance on what opening for critical and vulnerable means. We previously had information on bubbles under this arrangement. Switching on remote learning will take a day. Schools were planning for something completely different a few hours ago. A day is needed.”

He later added: “I can only apologise. This is a mess and we felt one day disruption is better than a protracted situation. We are working on our own guidance / advice now.”

Mr Lewis was responding in a thread which involved the council’s two Green Party councillors Julie Howell and Nicola Day, both of whom represent Orton Waterville.

Cllr Day, a secondary school teacher, has been vocal in her criticism of the Government’s actions with regards to schools.

She tweeted: “It’s just dreadful. We’ve been hollering about it all weekend. The way the Govt (I don’t mean councils, I mean the Govt) has handled it is nothing short of shameful. I hope you are able to get clarification, and soon.

Cllr Howell tweeted: “So last minute and all that time and energy wasted for Heads trying to get testing in place. A very shameful u-turn when Greens and @NEUnion have been calling for this type of action loudly and clearly.”

However, there was a much more positive response to the Government’s actions by Conservative MP for North West Cambridgeshire Shailesh Vara.

He tweeted: “This is a really tough time for the country, especially groups such as the self employed, but there is light at the end of the tunnel with the vaccine. The lockdown has not been an easy decision for @BorisJohnson but leadership is about doing what is right even if it is unpopular.”

MP for Peterborough Paul Bristow has been contacted this morning for his views on the new lockdown.