First pupils go back to school
SLOW START TO RETURN TO CLASSROOM
PRIMARY schools have been reopening to wider year groups with strict safety measures in place.
Despite widespread opposition from teaching unions, the government has pressed ahead with its plan to get children in Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 back in school yesterday.
Not all schools have reopened and many are reluctant to do so. Those that have aren’t necessarily taking all of the priority year groups back at once and some have already said it’s doubtful they will have them all back before the end of the academic year.
In some areas it’s also half-term, so children will return next week, while other local authorities say it will be mid-June before they start their phased return.
The ones who have welcomed more children back yesterday – on top of the vulnerable pupils and key worker kids who have remained in school throughout the pandemic – have introduced strict safety measures to try to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Among them are staggered opening and drop-off times, restricting children’s movements around schools, designated toilets and labelled stationery.
Oldham and Bolton are the two areas where councils had confirmed schools were looking to reopen today.
In Oldham, the council says around 16 of its primaries have welcomed extra year groups, with another 31 planning to do so over next few days.
Dad Mark Yates says his child returned to St Chad’s C Of E Junior and Infant School in Uppermill, prompted by financial pressure on the family to return to work.
“I’m not entirely convinced a phased return is a great idea,” he said.
“Measures at the school include staggered start times, smaller class sizes, children to be taught in a specific location within school, one way systems in place and staggered pick ups.
“Time will tell how effective or not these measures have been.” Lauren Brooks’ son Romeo will be returning to his primary school next week. She feels parents need to stop being hypocritical in the choices they make.
She said: “I’m so sick of seeing ‘not using my kids as tests, not doing this, not doing that,’ but the same people are out at parks with friends and their kids all playing together. “Romeo is excited to go back to school and if the changes are too much for him I will keep him at home, but for now he’s going back and he can’t wait, he needs some normality in his life.” Lauren Ferguson’s sons are also returning to their school, King’s Road Primary School in Stretford, where Alfie is in Year 6 and Jacob in Year 1. She feels comfortable with how the school has adapted and says she is doing what is right for her children. “It seems like the school has all the right precautions and safety for the children in place,” she said.
“My children are my children and I do as what I think is best for them and what they want.”
Shortened school weeks and temperature testing are other measures being introduced at schools.
But despite the changes being made, many teachers feel it’s not enough.
Jac Casson, of Greater Manchester’s national executive members for the teachers’ union NASUWT, says the government has failed ‘to provide clear and unequivocal guidance for schools’ who have been ‘placed in an extremely difficult position throughout the coronavirus emergency.’
She said: “We have not seen any evidence that the HSE has undertaken any research or published any advice to address the specific problems faced by schools or other educational settings, and, in particular, to assist the wider reopening of schools from June 1.”