Questions remain over teen exams and whose kids can stay in school
if they weren’t so selfish.” At Tesco, Marion Koppel, 96, said: “I’m trying to do my normal shopping but people are panic buying so much they are making it impossible.
“I don’t know what has got into everyone – please just calm down.”
Kathryn Hopkins, 56, from Doncaster said: “Some stores are opening early for pensioners but in our region their free bus pass is not valid until after 9.30am.”
The carer said she had tried to do a shop on Wednesday but failed – despite visiting three stores before 10am. She said: “It must be a terrible shock to older people who turn up and the shelves are empty. A lot of the basics are nowhere to be seen.” Retired teacher
Lesley Thornton said she nearly wept when she saw a couple in their 80s only manage to get a bag of hotdog buns at a Sainsbury’s in North East London. The 59-year-old said: “It was
Tesco Monday, Wednesday & Friday, 9-10am. Asda Today (Friday), from opening until 9am. Iceland Monday to Friday, 9-10am. Sundays, first hour (store times may vary).
The Food Warehouse Monday to Friday, 9-10am. Sundays, first hour.
M&S Monday, Thursday, Friday, first hour. Waitrose Monday to Sunday, first hour.
bedlam and makes me feel so frustrated. It was so shocking how empty the store was. The whole frozen section was gone. But I saw kind gestures too, with people handing over goods they’d got to others who were looking for it.”
But shoppers at a Waitrose in Sandbach, Cheshire, were outraged after a customer piled up a trolley with toilet rolls – and then offered to sell an OAP a pack for £20.
The elderly woman had gone in for a pack normally costing less than £5 but the shelves had been cleared.
A witness said: “She came across this woman with a trolley full of toilet rolls, so she politely asked if she could have one. “She was astonished when the woman replied certainly she could but for £20.”
Meanwhile, IKEA will temporarily close all stores from 6pm today to help limit the spread of the virus.
“we expect that it will be based on teacher assessment supported by CONFUSION last night surrounded how evidence of internal assessment that has teenagers will be given A-levels and already taken place such as mock exams. GCSEs in the absence of exams and There will clearly need to be an appeal which children will be allowed to procedure if candidates feel they have continue attending school - which look been disadvantaged. Many questions likely to stay closed until September. remain about how all of this will work.”
Schools have been told to stay open Mr Williamson has said the for the kids of “key workers” and Government will work with schools, vulnerable pupils but the Government colleges and Ofqual “to ensure children was last night yet to list who fits the bill. get the qualifications they need”.
Education secretary Gavin Williamson And he agreed yesterday it “wouldn’t said yesterday morning that the Cabinet be unreasonable to make that office would issue a complete list later. assumption” when asked if schools
Many headteachers tried to contact would stay closed until September. parents who work in the NHS or Meanwhile, ministers have promised emergency services. Supermarket the 1.3million children entitled to free delivery drivers and others in the food school dinners will not go hungry. supply chain will also be covered. They unveiled a system of vouchers
Teachers, teaching assistants and and meals to keep them fed during the those needed to outbreak. keep schools open; New guidance members of the says schools will armed forces; be able to provide prison officers and meals or vouchers probation staff; for supermarkets social workers and and shops. some local The vouchers government staff offered to each are also expected child per week will to be able to have be more valuable children in school. than the rate
The lack of usually paid to clarity on who else schools to provide will be on the list free school meals, put pressure on Padlocked gates at one school the Department parents to sort out childcare without for Education said. This recognises endangering older relatives. Sources families will not be buying food in bulk suggested only one parent would need and may face higher costs, it added. to be classed as a “key worker” for a Mr Williamson said it was up to heads child to be able to keep attending school. to “make the most appropriate decisions
There were also question marks over for families in their communities”. which children are deemed vulnerable. Paul Whiteman, general secretary of
Teenagers affected by the decision to the National Association of Head cancel this summer’s GCSE and A-level Teachers, said: “We are pleased to see exams could be awarded grades based the Government taking action to support on teacher assessment and the results some of our most vulnerable children. of their mock exams. For many children, lunch at school is
School leaders said it was thought their only hot meal of the day and, in these proposed grades could be some cases, their only meal full stop. submitted to exam boards to check to “There is no perfect or easy answer, ensure “consistency and fairness”. but the Government is doing the right
Geoff Barton, general secretary of the thing in stepping forward and providing a Association of School and College solution. We will work with them to refine Leaders, said they were waiting for and improve this plan so that all children details from regulator Ofqual. He said: can access the food they need.”