Schools should go back BEFORE 6-week summer break, say teachers – but gov doesn’t know

SCHOOLS should reopen before the six-week summer break if it is safe to do so during the coronavirus crisis, head teachers believe. But the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) warned it should be a phased return to classes for pupils. ⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates The claim […]

SCHOOLS should reopen before the six-week summer break if it is safe to do so during the coronavirus crisis, head teachers believe.

But the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) warned it should be a phased return to classes for pupils.

Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates

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The claim comes as Public Health England suggested schools could reopen in a few weeks if the UK’s Covid-19 lockdown is eased.

Britain’s death toll rose again today, with another 866 deaths in England bringing the number of fatalities to almost 9,000.

NAHT general secretary, Paul Whiteman, said: “Once the scientific advice is that schools can return safely they should do so.

“Even if it’s for a very limited period before the summer break as this will allow young people to reacquaint themselves with the educational environment.”

He added: “Any return to normality has to be a planned one. It can’t be about flicking a switch on a Friday night and then thinking it’s all going to be all right on a Monday morning.”

CLASS WAR

This week, Downing Street moved to kill-off a growing rebellion against closures after a minister suggested reopening schools after Easter could “kick-start the economy”.

But an exit strategy from the shutdown is now the government’s “number one topic and priority”, according to Neil Ferguson of Imperial College London, a leading scientist in the battle against coronavirus.

Professor Paul Crosford from Public Health England said he expects “a lot of discussions over the next week or so” about a possible easing of the lockdown.

When asked if the UK’s social distancing restrictions may be loosened in the next few weeks he said: “I think several weeks isn’t unreasonable.

“Let’s hope it’s sooner than that.”

Government sources insisted schools won’t reopen after Easter and will only do so when other lockdown measures are lifted.

An unnamed minister had called for kids to be allowed back to school after the Easter holidays.

But government insiders said there was still no date for reopening schools and said it was too early to speculate.

They suggested that schools will remain closed long into the summer term.

Responding to claims that reopening schools would help the nation “get back to normal, one government source said: “If it’s saving lives then I think that’s the end of the argument.”

Closing schools has a tiny impact on the spread of coronavirus but a harmful effect on kids and society, a review suggests.

Researchers at University College London (UCL) found school closures could reduce UK deaths during the Covid-19 outbreak by just two to four per cent.

But UCL experts warn the costs of shutting schools are “high”, with children’s health and education damaged and family finances hit.

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