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Government plans to reopen schools in England are facing increasing reaction from education unions, who say the proposals are not feasible and have advised teachers and support staff not to “participate” in preparations for the return of June 1.
The Department of Education (DfE) wants children to return to primary school in a gradual reopening that will begin next month, with a class size limited to 15 and a phased schedule to limit the number of students and the risk of transmission.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has held regular meetings with industry leaders to try to keep teachers on board, but relations appeared to be frayed Tuesday and unions complained they were not consulted on June 1 or the year the chosen groups returned first.
The National Union of Education, which represents 450,000 teachers and other school personnel, and the public service union Unison, which represents school support staff, told members not to participate in planning for the reopening on June 1 .
Meanwhile, shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds expressed concern about possible security risks. Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, he said: “I would be more than happy to send my own son to school if I knew that doing so would not harm others. That is the critical problem for me. And we don’t have that evidence, I feel , at present “.
The government has said it wants children in reception, year 1 and year 6, to go back to school first, and that other elementary students join later, but the principals have expressed concern about the problems of social distancing for children. younger children and the health risks to students and staff.
Kevin Courtney, NEU Joint Secretary General, tweeted to members: “Education unions intend to work together. Don’t get involved in planning the June 1 return to a wider opening, wait for more union councils. “Currently, schools are closed to all students other than children of key workers and vulnerable students.
According to the NEU, under health and safety legislation, any employee, including teachers, is protected if they believe they will be exposed to serious and imminent danger if they attend their workplace. “If such a situation arises at a school or university, our members will continue to work from home as they have been for the past six weeks,” said a spokesman.
Patrick Roach, secretary general of the NASUWT teacher union, agreed that there could be no commitment to health and safety. “If this means that schools cannot safely open before September because they cannot make arrangements to protect their staff and students, then that position must be accepted.”
Meanwhile, Geoff Barton, who is secretary-general of the Association of School and University Leaders, described the government’s ambitions for reopening schools as “downright unfathomable.”
The government also appears to have a way to go to persuade families that it will be safe to allow more students after a NEU survey of 1,000 parents found that less than half (49%) would be prepared to send their children as soon as schools reopen and a third (33%) would delay their son’s return.
Paul Whiteman, secretary general of the National Association of Chief Teachers (NAHT), told parliamentarians on the education selection committee on Tuesday that elementary schools would have difficulty accommodating classes of 15 with social distancing requirements.
“Our members tell us that the size of their buildings on average would only accommodate classes from 10 to 12, instead of 15. So we are immediately having real practical difficulties on whether the government’s ambition can be practically adapted. And much less all the fears parents have about bringing their children back to school, and also the fears of the workforce. ”
Williamson said: “The latest scientific advice indicates that more children will be sure to return to school starting June 1, but we will continue to limit the total number of students in school and introduce protective measures to prevent transmission.
“This is the first step in getting all young people back to where they belong, in daycare, schools and universities, but we will continue to be guided by scientific evidence and will only take additional action when the time is right.”
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