Access to education is important

After writing last week about the unauthorised travellers camp in Werrington, I should start with some good news. The council listened, got a court order and the camp has gone.

Typically, there is plenty of mess left behind – rubbish, canisters, and even human waste. I’m looking forward to this Government changing the law, so we don’t need such a ridiculous process again, writes Peterborough MP Paul Bristow. In future, it will be a criminal offence. I hope Labour and the Liberal Democrats locally and nationally back us.

That’s another reason for wanting to get back to Westminster. It’s harder for MPs to do the legislative and scrutiny bits of our jobs virtually.

The social distancing in the House of Commons sets a good example, but beaming in by video isn’t as effective as being there. When our children start going back to school in June, I will start travelling down to sit in the Chamber.

Restoring proper access to education is important. I know there’s a political row about this (itself a sign of things getting back to normal) and I know some parents are understandably concerned. I hope this article can answer some questions.

Schools didn’t send children home in March because of risks at school. They closed to help the wider Coronavirus lockdown.

Our schools in Peterborough have performed a tremendous service during lockdown. They stayed open for the children of key workers, while offering support for the many children at home – even organising vouchers for the most disadvantaged.

Hundreds of teachers have continued to travel into schools and teach. There haven’t been any notable issues with COVID-19, but staff were prepared to face them.

I wrote to each school in my constituency to thank them personally. Although it hasn’t been easy for them, they rose to the challenge.

Nevertheless, it would be wrong to pretend that no child’s education has suffered.

Not every family is able to support learning at home to the same extent. Schools limit the differences in opportunity that children face. The longer this situation goes on, the wider the gap becomes.

Private schools are going back. What’s good enough for the private sector is good enough for all our schools.

Children in other countries are already back (see picture) . Again, there have not been notable issues as a result.

The Chief Medical Officer was always clear that our schools were not dangerous places. Children are at minimal risk even when they catch the virus, which sadly is not the case for the elderly and vulnerable.

As we stay alert, keep control of the virus and lift aspects of the lockdown, it’s right that our kids start returning to school in June. The plan involves lots of precautions and starts with specific year groups.

Peterborough City Council is helping to create bespoke approaches for each school, with new cleaning regimes, appropriate PPE and phased re-openings.

Blanket opposition to this is completely wrong. It fails our teachers, most of whom want to get on and teach, and it fails disadvantaged children. The Government’s scientific advice is that it is safe for schools to operate a phased return, with elements of social distancing.

Peterborough’s schools changed the entire way they operate, at great speed, during the early phases of the response. They proved that we are one city. I am confident that our community spirit will continue.