Should primary children return to school?

I AM a teaching assistant in a primary school. During these past ten months, teaching staff, caretakers and cleaners have worked their socks off to provide a safe environment for our pupils. The headteacher has had to become an expert in virus control to answer the hundreds of emails from parents. During the first lockdown, we looked after key workers’ children, the vulnerable and those on our radar who we were worried about. Covid rates started to rise when the rest of the children returned to school in September. Education

Secretary Gavin Williamson has delayed the return of most secondary school pupils after the holidays. I think the same should apply to primary schools. If children can return to remote learning for a month while teaching staff can be vaccinated, this would help with reopening schools permanently. RACHEL THOMAS, Canterbury, Kent. THE article by Calvin Robinson, ‘When will they learn the terrible lesson of locking our children out of their schools?’ (Mail), should be essential reading for ministers and trades union officials. The damage being done to our children is criminal. Does the Government really believe that handing laptops to disadvantaged families will help? Children need their education to be constant, not stop and start. The social and psychological benefits of mixing with their friends can’t be underestimated.

CHRIS SHARP, Leeds. CHILDREN appear to be far more susceptible to catching the new variant of the virus and, therefore, are more likely to spread it to their parents and grandparents. Schools should not re-open until we have all been vaccinated.

IAN A. HARDMAN, Bolton, Lancs.