Parents are overjoyed that pupils will return to the classroom in just under two weeks after months of home learning. But union bosses have raised concerns that the government hasn’t adopted a phased approach of bringing children back to school. On March 8, all school children will ditch online learning and go back to face to face teaching. However, Jerry Glazier, secretary for the Essex branch of the National Education Union, has raised concerns there will still be bubbles of infections in schools. He said: “The union is committed to schools opening and children being back to face to face teaching but it’s got to be safe.
THE GOVERNMENT must set a firm timetable for schools to re-open to avoid “yo-yoing” children around, leaders say. Neil Houchen, principal at the Eastwood Academy, says the Government needs to be confident that once schools reopen, they will not be sending large numbers of children home to self-isolate. Jerry Glazier, secretary for the Essex branch of the National Education Union, has also called for schools to only return once it is safe to do so - warning of the damaging impacts a spike in infection resulting in further school closures could have on families. It follows continued uncertainty around when children will return to school, with Dr Paul Hayman - headteacher at Westcliff High School for Girls - not anticipating that schools will fully reopen this term.
Discussions are under way over how to make up for months of lost education due to Covid-19 – including to provide funding for catch-up classes over the summer holidays.
Published:
4:05 PM January 27, 2021
Updated:
5:31 PM January 27, 2021
Geoff Barton, former headteacher of King Edward VI School in Bury St Edmunds, said the reopening must be safe and sustainable
- Credit: Archant
Education leaders in Suffolk and north Essex have welcomed the government s decision to give schools two weeks notice before reopening.
Prime minister Boris Johnson announced on Wednesday that schools could reopen on March 8 at the earliest - providing the current speed of the coronavirus vaccine rollout is maintained.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Johnson said the government would set out plans for a gradual and phased route out of lockdown on February 22, describing the return of students to classrooms as the first sign of normality .