Can we learn lessons from the plan to send children back to school?

AS A retired teacher passionate about early years education, I feel strongly that it is unwise to send the younger classes back to school first. The two most successful weapons we have against Covid-19 are social distancing and thorough hand-washing. Young children are the least able in our society to do these independently. This age group has been little affected by the virus, but they can still catch it and pass it on to their families and teachers. Attempts to keep children at a social distance from each other would be detrimental to their development. Older children, in manageable numbers, can go back to school by all means, but sending younger children would be a dangerous experiment.

MARY WEBB, address supplied.

DECIDING when to open schools should be a matter for each headteacher. The Government and governors can only advise. The Prime

Minister can enforce closures, but not reopening. A head’s first responsibility is the safety of pupils and staff. In the end, however, it will be parents who will make the final decision on whether to send their children to school.

PaUL gRaHaM, Nuneaton, Warks.

WHY not try seven-day opening of schools with smaller classes and a rota of teachers?

DaviD EDWaRDs, Leighton Buzzard, Beds.

WHY hasn’t the school summer holiday been cancelled? Despite attempts at home-schooling, most children have lost out. Reopening schools next month and doing away with the long holiday will bring them back up to speed.

PEggY FiNLaY, Bromsgrove, Worcs.

IT IS laughable to claim teachers will vote with their feet and not turn up for work if they are not convinced of Government plans to re-open schools. In fact, many schools have been open throughout the lockdown, including the Easter holidays, to teach vulnerable children and the families of NHS staff.

DaviD WaRREN, Luton, Beds.

EDUCATIONAL expert Joanna Williams has criticised teachers’ unions for questioning the reopening of schools. As a teacher with 36 years’ experience of early years education, I’d like to invite Joanna to join my class on June 1. I have continued to go into school during the lockdown to look after the children of

critical care staff and prepare a full curriculum for my class.

aNNE WiLLiaMs, Pelsall, W. Mids.

I HAVE six adult children who are teachers. They have worked solidly since lockdown commenced. They will do whatever is needed of them. However, I object to them being used as guinea pigs for the Government to assess whether or not the death rate is declining and if the country can continue to unlock. Can they wear protective clothing? No. Do little ones understand social distancing? Of course not. Does the Government think teachers are dispensable?

ELisaBEtH tOWNsEND, thornbury, glos.