Schools reopening plan must pass ‘five tests’

THE outbreak of Covid-19 cases in Leicester shows that it would be reckless to proceed with full opening of schools until the National Education Union’s (NEU) “five tests” have been passed:

■ Much lower numbers of Covid-19 cases, with confidence that new cases are known and counted promptly.

■ A national plan for social distancing in schools and appropriate PPE.

■ Comprehensive access to regular testing for children and staff.

■ Protocols to test a whole school or college when a case occurs and for isolation to be strictly followed.

■ Home working for vulnerable staff and staff who live with vulnerable people.

We need time for a national track and trace programme to be fully in place and operating well before much wider opening of schools in September.

We also need the government to release full details, with the science, on how children have been affected and the extent and reasoning behind testing that has been carried out.

An urgent analysis is needed to clarify the role of children and schools in the transmission of the virus and what effect it has had on children, staff and parents’ health.

We have always argued that schools will only be safe for staff and students when the infection rate is lower, and an effective testing and tracing system is in place.

Leicester NEU is seeking to start constructive discussions with heads to plan for a safe reopening of schools during the new academic year, when these conditions have been met.

School staff, who have first-hand knowledge of the students and the learning environment, are best placed to make decisions over health and safety at work and to support staff who do not want to return to work until it is safe,

Simon Robinson, president,

Leicester District NEU