PRIMARY school kids donned masks and had their temperatures checked as they headed back to school today - but one million students have been kept home by worried parents.
Kids in reception, year 1 and year 6 returned to class this morning for the first time since schools were closed more than two months ago.
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While ministers have insisted the time is right to ease the lockdown, almost half of parents are expected to not send their kids to class today.
According to the National Foundation for Educational Research, heads in England are expecting nearly half (46%) of families to keep their children at home.
This means that of the more than 2 million students in reception, year 1 and year 6 classes, about 1 million are likely to stay at home.
But students were pictured smiling as they headed back to school - delighted to see their school pals after ten weeks apart.
How school will be different:
- Parents will be discouraged to gather at the school gates
- Classes will be halved to 15 students to help social distancing
- The Department of Education has also recommended that schools bring in one-way systems in corridors
- Some students have been told not to bring in any part of their uniform that isn't washed regularly likes ties in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus
- Lunch and break times will be staggered
Schools today introduced a variety of measures across the board to keep their students safe from coronavirus - with a number of students seen wearing face masks as they headed back into class while others had their temperatures checked before heading inside.
The return to school is part of the wider easing of lockdown measures that will allow groups of up to six people to meet in public places or private gardens and outdoor markets and car show rooms reopen.
But Government leaders have stressed social distancing measures must stay in place, particularly staying two metres apart from someone outside your household.
It comes as several scientists have criticised the move suggesting it is too early to lift restrictions and could cause coronavirus infections to rapidly rise again.
Ministers insist the time is right to ease the lockdown because the Government has met its five tests to do so and the rate of infection, or R value, has been consistently below one.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson today told The Sun: "I know there will be some natural nervousness about sending more pupils into school today.
“But I’d like to encourage parents to consider the full benefits of being back at school, not just for their children’s education but also their well-being.”
Business Secretary Alok Sharma also insisted the Government had not undertaken a "dash" to re-start the economy.
Mr Sharma told BBC Breakfast: "This is not a dash. These are very cautious steps that we are taking. They are phased."
And Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said: “The risks to children of this disease are much lower. We know that — they are at very low risk.”
Yet findings from a recent PA news agency survey of local authorities show that more than 20 councils across England - predominantly in the north - are also advising schools not to open to more pupils this week.
Some of those polled have claimed that the NHS Test and Trace system will not be "robust enough" to allay fears over the potential spreading of the virus due to difficulty maintaining social distancing.
Meanwhile, Children's Commissioner Anne Longfield has called on the Government to set up summer classes in July and August to help children catch up on work they missed during lockdown, with some facing up to six months off school depending on when they are able to return.
And if all goes well, every primary pupil could return by June 22 to put in a full month before the summer holidays.
Safeguards include classes being halved in size to just 15 pupils.
Schools will be carefully cleaned and children placed in protective “bubbles” preventing them mixing with kids or staff in other groups.
Breaks and lunches will be staggered and classes held outside wherever possible.
Secondary schools will also start offering face-to-face contact with pupils from June 15.
The move is expected to reawaken the economy.
Parents unable to work because of childcare problems will now be able to return to their jobs.
Part of the move back to schools has seen students advised not to wear ties.
Some students have been told not to bring in any of their uniform that isn't washed regularly in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus.
Mums and dads will also be barred from chatting at the school gates, with parents instead given timed slots to drop their kids off to avoid crowds gathering, The Sunday Telegraph reports.
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https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiRGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnRoZXN1bi5jby51ay9uZXdzLzExNzUzMTYxL3ByaW1hcnktc2Nob29scy1yZW9wZW4tdG9kYXkv0gFIaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGhlc3VuLmNvLnVrL25ld3MvMTE3NTMxNjEvcHJpbWFyeS1zY2hvb2xzLXJlb3Blbi10b2RheS9hbXAv?oc=5
2020-06-01 09:13:36Z
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