Prime Minister Boris Johnson has confirmed that parents should be sending their primary aged children to school as normal on Monday, insisting that ‘schools are safe’.
As previously reported by Island Echo, all primary school children across the Isle of Wight are due to return to classrooms tomorrow (4th January) – unless of course a development day has been taken, in which case children should return as normal on Tuesday.
However, there is growing concern amongst parents, teachers and unions about the risks involved as cases of COVID-19 continue to increase, plunging 75% of the country into Tier 4 restrictions – including the Isle of Wight. The National Education Union (NEU) has called for all schools to remain closed for a further 2 weeks.
The Prime Minister has today said that he is no doubt that ‘schools are safe’ and has advised parents to send their children to school, explaining that education is a priority and the benefits are so huge. The Government is clear that it wants to keep young people in education.
Secondary school children are due back in the classroom on 18th January, with those studying for GCSEs and A-Levels returning from 11th January.
Parent should keep an eye on any communication from individual schools as to the arrangements for the start of the new term. It should be assumed that schools are open unless specifically stated otherwise.
Commenting on the ‘unfathomable decision’ to keep primary schools open, Peter Shreeve, Assistant District Secretary of the National Education Union, has said:
“We know that pupils now can transmit the virus through their homes, through to their families and into the community, they’re the most effective transmitter of the virus.
Article continues below this advertisement “We know the new variant is up to 70% more infective than the previous Covid virus.
“We know we have to do something to break the chain of rising levels of infection in our community.
“We know the Secretary of State, Gavin Williamson seems hell bent on keeping primary schools open no matter the risk.
“Therefore, we have written an open letter including reference to some of the latest science to our representatives Mr Seely, MP, Councillor Stewart as Leader of the Council and Councillor Brading as Cabinet Member for Children’s Service.
“We regret to have to say, that schools must close, but we believe it is the right thing to do. If we don’t do this, the NHS will become overwhelmed and our schools and communities will become more unsafe. Therefore, as our local representatives, we ask them to re-assess the evidence and make the right decision, so that we can keep all our pupils, staff and communities secure. We cannot remain ‘Covid complacent’”.
A copy of the open letter, in which the NEU says it does not believe it is safe for the community, pupils or staff for schools to reopen on Monday, can be viewed here.
Yes…you can’t visit each other’s houses but you can send your kids to school, makes perfect sense eh!
2 month lock down for all