Unions warn of need for alternatives if virus rises Concern at lack of a ‘plan B’ on schools reopening
THE GOVERNMENT has been accused of failing to have a “plan B” for any second spike of coronavirus in its guidance for reopening schools after the summer holidays.
A raft of measures released yesterday set out what Ministers expect from schools as children make their way back to the classroom in September, including having children form whole year group bubbles and staggering lunchtimes.
But union leaders have said the Government must develop an alternative plan in case a full return to school in September is not deemed to be safe.
The Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England, Dr Jenny Harries, said during a press briefing in Downing Street yesterday that a second wave or peak of coronavirus remains possible.
She said: “A second wave is quite a possibility – that is not ruled out at all. A second peak, as in an epidemic peak, is also not ruled out.”
And teachers’ unions have said they are “concerned” that the Government does not appear to have alternative arrangements if the new safety guidelines do not work, or if the number of coronavirus cases are higher by the autumn term.
Kevin Courtney, the joint general secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), said: “We are concerned that the Government does not have a plan B if these guidelines do not work or if cases are higher by the time we get to September.”
The warning comes as schools in Leicester closed as part of the city’s lockdown extension. However, Dr Harries said the outbreak in Leicester was not caused by the return of schools, saying it was “community transmission”.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson also stressed the outbreak in Leicester was “not something about schools returning”.
Mr Williamson said he wanted breakfast and after-school clubs to resume despite coronavirus guidance aimed at preventing children from different year groups mixing.
And he also insisted the curriculum would not be watered down, despite advice released yesterday saying schools will have to focus on covering the “most important” gaps.
The documents said: “Substantial modification to the curriculum may be needed at the start of the year. Teaching time should be prioritised to address significant gaps in pupils’ knowledge with the aim of returning to the school’s normal curriculum content by no later than summer term 2021.”
At the Downing Street press conference, Mr Williamson said: “It is going to be a full and total curriculum that is going to be delivered for our children across all subjects.
“It’s incredibly important that we have the same standards and rigour across our education system as we come out of lockdown as we had going into it.”