Portsmouth City Council warns ‘it’s not a definite’ that children will return to school next month
PORTSMOUTH City Council has warned that ‘it is not a definite’ that some children will be able to return to school on the government's target of June 1.
As part of the gradual easing of lockdown, education secretary, Gavin Williamson, said the government were targeting June 1 for Year R, 1 and 6 to return to classrooms followed by remaining primary school children by the end of the month.
However, a statement on Portsmouth City Council’s website from cabinet member for education, Suzy Horton, stressed that parents should not send their children to school ‘unless you have heard from your child's school that this will be possible and what the arrangements will be’. She also reiterated that pupils will only return ‘if the conditions are right for them to do so’.
The statement, which was produced in conjunction with the city’s headteachers, added: ‘Schools are working hard to explore ways in which the government guidance might be applied so that more children can attend school.
‘Discussions are currently continuing between the government and the teacher unions and this may lead to further guidance which we will need to take into account.’
The statement stressed that at the heart of any decision will be the safety of children and staff.
The council statement said: ‘Everything we are doing needs to be guided by the best possible evidence and science about keeping everyone - children and school staff - as safe as possible. That is our most important consideration.
‘Schools will be in touch with parents as soon as they can about what arrangements might be possible, but please bear with us as this may take some time.’
The government is facing increasing pressure from local councils regarding the decision. Yesterday (May 19), Calderdale Council in West Yorkshire advised its schools against wider reopening, following similar moves from Bury, Liverpool and Hartlepool.
The BBC has reported at least 11 councils have expressed reservations about reopening.
Hampshire County Council says it is awaiting further government guidance.
Councillor Roz Chadd, executive member for education and skills, said: ‘Hampshire schools have been open for vulnerable children and the children of keyworkers throughout the Covid-19 crisis and we thank the teachers and support staff for all that they have done.
‘The Prime Minister has set an ambition for schools to further partially reopen to specific year groups on June 1. The final decision to do this will be made by the government and will be based upon an analysis of scientific advice, nearer to that date.
‘All schools have been asked to prepare for opening for these year groups and have been sent detailed guidance by the Department for Education. In Hampshire, headteachers and their staff are currently analysing that advice and planning to make sure they can open safely. If the government confirms that schools should reopen on a phased basis, and continue support for vulnerable children and the children of key workers, each school will inform its parents and carers of the arrangements they are able to put in place, having conducted the necessary risk assessments.’
Last week, headteachers across Portsmouth expressed their ‘serious concerns’ about the proposed reopening with headteacher at Medina Primary School, Howard Payne, saying it would be left up to parental discretion as he ‘could not guarantee the safety of children and staff’.