READY AND EXCITED TO SEE STUDENTS AGAIN
City’s schools confident of opening next week
THE Government’s opposition to pupils and teachers wearing face coverings has been condemned as “ludicrous”, as Boris Johnson attempts to convince parents to send children back to school.
Ian Lavery, Labour MP for Wansbeck, said pupils should be wearing coverings in school and warned the Government’s opposition to the idea was damaging parents’ confidence.
He said: “Masks are really helpful and I would suggest that masks should be used wherever possible at school.
“It is ludicrous really. You need a mask to go into a shop, even if there’s hardly anyone in it, so why not in a classroom with a lot of pupils? It can’t harm them and there is plenty of evidence that it can help.”
Chi Onwurah, Labour MP for Newcastle Central, said members of multi-generational families, where children and grandparents may be living in the same households, were particularly concerned about the return to school.
She said: “I have had correspondence from parents asking how children are going to be kept safe and whether pupils should wear masks. In particular, families with elderly family members in their homes want children to wear masks.”
But Downing Street confirmed yesterday that both pupils and parents would be discouraged from wearing face coverings.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman said: “Our guidance, which we published a while ago, does not recommend face coverings as pupils and staff are working with consistent groups.”
The Scottish Government
has said it will review whether face coverings should be warned in Scotland’s schools.
In most parts of the country, including Wansbeck and the rest of Northumberland, the school year begins on Tuesday, September 1. In some authorities, such as Gateshead and Newcastle, the new school year begins on Monday, September 7. Coun Paula Holland, Newcastle City Council cabinet member for education and skills, said: “In order for schools to reopen safely to all children, their classrooms, facilities and school routines need to be adapted. We have been working alongside schools to support them to prepare for classes to begin on time in the week beginning September 7.
“We have been in contact with schools
throughout the pandemic to help them implement procedures around handwashing, social distancing, cleaning, transport arrangements and many other considerations. The exact measures in place at individual schools will depend on their own bespoke risk assessments.
“It is also reassuring to hear from the Chief Medical Officers about the low risk levels associated with transmissions in schools, and hope that this offers some peace of mind to parents and carers.
“It will be challenging and going to school will be a different experience to what it was like before Covid-19 transformed our normal ways of life. However, by continuing to work closely with schools and our other partners such as the Transport Authorities we are confident that it will be safe to return to the classroom at the end of the summer holidays.”
A spokesperson for Gateshead Council suggested schools would open only if it was safe to do so.
They said: “Gateshead schools are planning to reopen by the week commencing 7 September if the infection rate remains low, they have all completed Covid-19 specific
risk assessments to ensure child and staff safety. Schools across the borough are working hard to implement measures that will help keep our children, school staff and their families as safe as possible.”
Richard Crane, Durham County Council’s head of education and skills, said: “We are supporting and advising county schools as they continue their preparations to welcome back all students next month.
“We are grateful for the efforts of headteachers and governing bodies in planning carefully to balance the safety of everyone in their school with the need to establish strong routines and expectations, alongside effective support mechanisms to enable learning to take place.”
Exam chaos ‘has damaged confidence’ Newcastle North MP Catherine McKinnell said the A-level results fiasco had damaged confidence in the Government’s ability to manage schools.
She said: “We all want to see children back in school next month, and I expect the Government to keep its promise to deliver on that.
“Unfortunately, the past week of confusion and incompetence over exam results has further undermined confidence in the Government’s approach.”
Boris Johnson says there is a “moral duty” to re-open schools Prime Minister Boris Johnson said over the weekend that there was a “moral duty to reopen schools”, saying: “It’s vitally important that we get our children back into the classroom to learn and to be with their friends. Nothing will have a greater effect on the life chances of our children than returning to school.” Schools Minister Nick Gibb insisted parents should send their children to school. In an interview with BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he said: “If they’ve got extra concerns, that is a matter between the headteacher and the family to make sure that their concerns are taken into account, but it is important – it’s a moral imperative – that young people are back in school.” However, Downing Street has also said parents who refuse to send children to school should only be fined as a “last resort.”
Speaking to journalists on Monday, the Prime Minister’s spokesman said: “As has been made clear in the past, fining is obviously the last resort, but we encourage headteachers and parents to speak if they are concerned, but we have been we’ve been working with schools and local authorities throughout the pandemic to ensure schools are safe to return next week.”
If a local authority is not satisfied a schoolage child is receiving an education then they can give each parent a fine of £60, which rises to £120 each if it is not paid within 21 days. Parents can be prosecuted if the fine has not been paid after 28 days.
It will be challenging and going to school will be a different experience to what it was like before Covid-19