Trust in schools

sir – My five-year-old grandson is looking forward to going to a birthday party later this week. Thanks to Zoom, he will see his reception-year classmates and one of his favourite entertainers, and of course he will maintain social distancing as required.

He was expecting to join his friends at school this week, but won’t be, as the senior management team of his primary school has decided that it can reopen Year 6 only. Other friends and family members are returning to school and it is hard for him to understand why he isn’t.

Many schools have yielded to local council decisions, succumbed to union pressures, or simply given up in the face of the long list of measures required to ensure the safety of staff and pupils. Parents have not been consulted. They have simply been told what is happening. Many must either continue working from home or make the effort to return to their workplace so they don’t lose their jobs.

Schools have had over two months to see what they need to do; perhaps the trial runs that started yesterday will yield enough “evidence” for them to get on with planning for a full and proper return come September. Their efforts to date have failed thousands of children, and they have lost the trust of parents.

Margaret Powell

St Mary’s Platt, Kent

sir – Primary schools never closed. They have been open to the children of vulnerable people and key workers throughout the lockdown.

We should recognise the enormous amount of work done to provide distance-learning to the majority of pupils who do not fall into the above categories. School staff around the country should be applauded for their magnificent response to the Government’s proposals to bring back children from nursery, reception and Years 1 and 6. The logistics of this are extraordinary.

Philip Page

Chairman of governors, George Spicer Primary School

London N21