Ministers tell parents that reopening classrooms is safe amid fears many will keep children away

Ministers last night reassured parents that reopening primary schools today is safe amid fears many will keep their children away. Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said it was ‘extremely important’ children went back to school. It comes as a study suggested up to half of families may shun sending their youngsters to lessons due to worries … Read more

Removing soft toys from classrooms is too ‘extreme’, government expert warns 

Professor Robert Dingwall warned the measures were ‘extreme’ and risked making children ‘miserable There is no need to remove soft toys from classrooms or ban children from touching books when schools eventually reopen, one of the government’s experts has claimed.  Professor Robert Dingwall warned the measures were ‘extreme’ and risked making children ‘miserable’ when they … Read more

Coronavirus UK: Classrooms could be ‘centres of transmission’

Union chiefs are now warning teachers it will ‘not be safe’ to mark pupils’ books when schools reopen, while casting yet more doubt on the government’s plans to bring children back to primary schools next month. Staff who are members of the UK biggest teaching union will be told to go through a 20-page checklist with … Read more

Classrooms of the future: Key workers’ children sit 6ft apart

Schoolchildren will be told to sit 6ft apart with strict social distancing measures in place in playgrounds and canteens as they readjust to life after lockdown.   One in five children will be urged to return to the classroom from next week as part of a gradual reopening of schools. They are expected to follow stringent … Read more

Pressure grows on Education Secretary Gavin Williamson to shut down classrooms for a month

D-Day for a total school shutdown: Pressure grows on Education Secretary Gavin Williamson to shut down classrooms for a month to combat spread of coronavirus Ministers have resisted calls to follow other countries which have shut schools Gavin Williamson will today meet school leaders to discuss the next move  He was warned that one tactic, … Read more