HOW OTHER COUNTRIES ARE BACK...
FRANCE
WHEN: MAY 11
HOW THEY DID IT: At first only primary schools reopened on May 11 but from June 22, attendance was made compulsory for all ages – except lycées, ages 15 to 18.
RULES: Strict social distancing; classes divided into smaller groups – 15 pupils in schools and ten in nurseries; children attend on alternate days; face masks only required in hallways but not classrooms.
HOW IS IT GOING? The return to school is mandatory but penalties won’t be levied against families who don’t send their children back before the summer break (in two weeks’ time).
DENMARK
WHEN: APRIL 15
HOW THEY DID IT: Children between two and 12 years old returned to in day-care centres and schools. The school days are shorter and mixed with online lessons.
RULES: Desks are two metres apart; ten pupils per class; hourly hand-washing; limited play with other children during break time; dropoff and collection of children takes place at intervals; there are no face masks – either for pupils or teachers.
HOW IS IT GOING? By the third week, 90.1% of pupils attended primary school and 66% attended day care – up on 50.7% and 26% respectively in the first week.
ENGLAND
WHEN: JUNE 15
HOW THEY DID IT: Schools remained open for small numbers of children of essential workers. They began to reopen on a wider basis this month, but only three primary school years have been allowed back.
RULES: Secondary schools have been allowed to reopen for years ten and 12 (students aged 15 to 18) since June 15. Only a quarter of eligible pupils are allowed in school at any one time.
HOW IS IT GOING? Many schools are running out of space to maintain social distancing, but the UK yesterday announced the two-metre rule would reduce to one metre from July 4 in areas where two metres is not conducive.