The Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has fronted today’s Downing Street Daily Press Conference as arguments rage over whether schools should start to go back at the beginning of June
Williamson said thatThe government will only reopen schools when the five tests are met but he added that children do need to be back in school.
“We can start planning for some pupils to return as early as next month” he told the Press Conference
“ If rates of infection are decreasing, this will give us the green light to get some children back into school, he says. Reception, year 1 and year 6 will be allowed to return with smaller class sizes, along with students in years 10 and 12 on a limited basis to have face-to-face time with their teachers.”
These children are being prioritised, he added, because they stand to lose more by missing school,and The poorest, most disadvantaged children will be the ones who will fall furthest behind if schools remain closed.
Williamson confirmed that School staff can already be tested for the virus. From 1 June this will be extended to cover school children and their families if any of them develop symptoms, he said, adding that .
Track and trace methods would then be used to prevent further spread.
Reduced class sizes and keeping children in small groups, will create a “protective, small bubble around them”, Williamson says and schools will be rigorous about hygiene and hand washing.
