Half of disadvantaged pupils could stay at home as schools reopen, education leaders say

The government has given the go-ahead for schools to welcome back around two million pupils in early years, Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 today (1 June) despite a backlash from teaching unions and local authorities and widespread concern among parents and teachers.

A report by a group of leading scientists warns that it is “too soon” for schools to reopen while the transmission rate of infection (R rate) stays between 0.7 and 0.9 - government guidance warns of tightening lockdown measures again if it rises above one.

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A new report from the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER), funded by the Nuffield Foundation, shows that school leaders estimate that 46 per cent of families will keep their children off school, rising to 50 per cent in areas with the highest numbers of children eligible for free school meals.

Socially distanced entrance 👍 pic.twitter.com/3nU1wEy7i9

— Cranford C of E Primary School (@SchoolCranford) June 1, 2020

Government guidance states classes should be kept to a maximum of 15 pupils who must keep to social distancing guidelines and will be subject to staggered break and lunch times.

However, the NFER poll shows that 66 per cent of school leaders feel unprepared to manage pupil movement around school and 65 per cent feel unprepared to organise their school space to enable social distancing.

We’re looking forward to welcoming students back to our socially distanced PE lessons. One school have used these paint markings to assist our delivery. pic.twitter.com/2h5SjBNmSY

— JBs Sport Coaching (@JBSportCoaching) June 1, 2020

Carole Willis, chief executive at National Foundation for Educational Research, said: “Today’s report suggests there is large variation between different types of schools, each experiencing their own challenges in opening to more pupils. 

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“The findings also reinforce concerns about children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Schools with a high proportion of free school meal children were the most affected before lockdown and expect fewer children to return, adding to concerns about their loss of learning. There needs to be very clear messages and reassurance for parents, as well as a continued focus on the quality of remote learning.”

Our socially distanced staff meeting this morning - we are all looking forward to opening our doors to some of our pupils tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/Dbsk57nwbT

— Dolphin School (@DolphinSch) June 1, 2020

Concerns over safety of staff and pupils has led to a number of local authorities advising schools not to reopen or to reopen later than advised by ministers.

Lancashire County Council said its schools would not reopen as the government’s test and trace programme “is not at a state of readiness to respond to Covid-19 community setting outbreaks in a timely manner”.

“We are not confident that adjustments to the current measures of the lockdown policy will not risk a second peak of infections locally,” the council added.

Brighton and Hove City Council also advised its schools not to reopen for the same reasons.

Other local authorities including Liverpool City Council, Solihull, Calderdale in Yorkshire, Hartlepool in the North East and Bury in Greater Manchester have announced alternative plans for reopening after 1 June.

The reopening of schools only applies to schools in England with schools in Northern Ireland and Scotland not planning to widely reopen until the end of the summer holidays. ln Scotland, children in nursery and in the final year of primary school could return on 15 June in some areas.

Kirsty Williams, the Welsh education minister, is to make a further announcement on the reopening of schools this week.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson made a final push to convince parents to return their children to school on Sunday, saying: “While there might be some nervousness, I want to reassure parents and teachers that the welfare of children and staff continues to be at the heart of all of our considerations.”

Williamson said the government’s five tests for the safe lifting of the lockdown restrictions had been met, and added that it had “reviewed all the evidence” before reopening schools to more pupils.

To coincide with the reopening of schools to some pupils, the government has changed its guidance to state that families will not be fined over unauthorised absences. However, the temporary change is only in place until 30 June.

It has also amended guidance on exclusions to relax timescales for schools and local authorities to review temporary and permanent exclusions and to reinstate children subject to temporary exclusions in school.

The government has also further relaxed local authority duties to children under education, health and care plans until 30 June.