× EDUCATION bosses in the town have assured parents and carers that schools are as ‘safe as they can be’ ahead of thousands of children returning to their classrooms on Monday - despite whistleblowers warning the return is premature and could result in Covid cases surging.
Barnsley’s 87 schools have continued to remain open for vulnerable children and key workers’ kids throughout the pandemic, but a compulsory return for all is just days away.
Secondary schools and colleges will have the discretion to stagger the return of their students, to ensure that all youngsters are given Covid tests four times during the first two weeks to keep tabs on the virus’ spread.
× MEMBERS of a Barnsley teachers’ union say they are worried about safety as schools prepare to reopen to all pupils.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced in his ‘coronavirus roadmap’ that schools would be allowed to reopen from March 8 due to a fall in Covid cases.
Currently schools across the borough are closed except to children of key workers to help keep the infection rate low.
The new move would mean that the 87 schools across the borough would be permitted to open their doors after a two-month absence.
Now, the Barnsley National Education Union’s (NEU) members have spoken out about how they believe the plans to reopen schools could be a mistake.