Gavin Williamson ‘can’t give a date’ for schools to reopen after ministers rule out going back in just three w - The Sun

MINISTERS tonight refused to give a date for schools returning, and shot down claims it could be in just three weeks time.

Gavin Williamson said "I can't give a date" for relaxing any measures until the Government's five key tests are met.

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Pupils could be sent back to school within weeks under Government plans - but nothing has yet been decidedCredit: Alamy

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Williamson today refused to give a date that schools can returnCredit: Sky News

Education Secretary Mr Williamson told the nation at tonight's Downing Street press conference: "People anxious to know when these restrictions can be lifted… when schools are likely to be fully back.

"I want nothing more than to see schools back, and to get them back to normal.

"I cant give you a date. Before we do, we meet to meet five tests."

Those include making sure the NHS is prepared and will cope, there's enough PPE, and that deaths and cases have dropped.

However, he said there were currently "no plans" to keep schools open throughout the summer to help kids catch up.

Disadvantaged kids will get laptops and free 4G access to help them keepup with their peers while they remain at home, he announced today.

And tomorrow a new school online learning prgramme will be launched with thousands of hours of lessons for children.

The Sunday Times reported that certain age groups may be taught a certain part of the week - or every other week - to ensure social distancing guidelines are followed, but Mr Williamson refused to comment on it.

It also said that schools could return as early as May 11, but this was denied by Michael Gove earlier.

The first groups invited back could include primary-age children as well as those in Years 10 and 12 who are meant to sit GCSEs and A-levels next year, the paper claimed, the Sunday Times said today.

The proposal will be presented to Boris Johnson when he returns to leading the country out of lockdown - which could be as early as next week.

It is understood the PM will be given three dates for schools reopening: May 11, June 1 or the start of September.

But this morning, Mr Gove told the BBC that schools would not reopen on May 11, and no decisions have yet been made.

He said: "We have stressed the reporting that schools will open on May 11 is not true. We have not made that decision."

And the Department for Education said: "No decision has been made on a timetable for re-opening schools.

"Schools remain closed until further notice, except for children of critical workers and the most vulnerable children.

"Schools will only re-open when the scientific advice indicates it is the right time to do so."

If reopening schools is delayed then students who are due to sit their GCSEs and A-levels next year would have to go to school during the six-week summer break.

There are also said to be plans to push back the exams until July 2021 to make up the time.

The plans to be presented to Mr Johnson are reportedly been drawn up by Dominic Raab, Michael Gove, Rishi Sunak and Matt Hancock.

It comes as there has been growing pressure on the government to outline its plan, with economic paralysis wreaking havoc on jobs and businesses.

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Michael Gove said today schools would not reopen on May 11

Kids can take virtual lessons from Britain’s best teachers when term starts tomorrow

PUPILS will be able to take virtual lessons from the country’s best teachers when term starts tomorrow.

A national online classroom has been created to help children with core subjects until schools re-open.

The video lessons have been created by around 40 primary and secondary school specialists and will be available for teachers to distribute via the Oak National Academy.

The hub will provide 180 lessons a week — from early years to age 15 — focusing on the likes of maths, art and languages.

Primary pupils can get three hours a day and older students four hours.

Kids will also be able to attend web assemblies with well-known faces.

Officials are reportedly drawing up a three-stage "traffic light" plan that would see outdoor spaces would be opened first while pubs would be last.

The first stage of the plan would allow for non-essential shops such as garden centre and clothing stores to reopen where social distancing can still be maintained.

It would also see a return to full bus and rail services and the restart of elective surgery in the NHS.

The second stage, which could be in late May or early June, would see more businesses and shops reopen and employees would be encouraged to return to work.

The "best case scenario" could see restrictions eased for non-essential shops from early to mid-May.

The guidelines could again be relaxed by June and July - allowing for pubs and restaurants to reopen  by the end of summer.

Over-70s and those who are vulnerable to the coronavirus could be forced to wait until a vaccine is developed before they can resume normal life.

Dominic Raab last week confirmed Britain would remain in lockdown for three more weeks until it passes five key tests.

1. 1. The NHS must still be able to cope - with the confidence that critical care and special treatment can continue across the UK
   2. A sustained and consistent fall in the daily death rates so experts are confident that the peak has passed
   3. The rate of infection falling to "manageable levels"
   4. Making sure that Britain has enough testing capacity and PPE to relax measures
   5. Ensuring that the changes will not risk a second peak of infections that overwhelm the NHS

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Around a million out-of-work Brits have tried to claim Universal Credit since the shutdown started last month.

Two in three construction firms are set to fold by June unless the government steps in to help, with firms begging for clarity amid confusion on when the lockdown will end.

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Boris Johnson could return to leading Britain as early as next weekCredit: Crown Copyright

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Dominic Raab said the UK Britain would remain in lockdown for three more weeks until it passes five key testsCredit: PA:Press Association

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2020-04-19 16:35:56Z
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