Labour councillors are calling for greater safety assurances before primary schools across Stoke-on-Trent reopen to whole year groups.

They have outlined their concerns in a letter to the leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, saying pupils should not return until five tests are met.

The tests are a carbon copy of the National Education Union’s latest key demands.

It comes as schools are awaiting the Government’s final advice before allowing nursery, reception, Year 1 and Year 6 pupils back to classrooms as early as Monday next week.

A StokeonTrentLive analysis has revealed some Potteries schools will be phasing in children’s return over the course of a week or several weeks. And a number of headteachers have told parents they simply can’t accommodate all the priority year groups as they need space for social distancing.

The letter is signed by councillor Paul Shotton, Labour group leader on the city council, and councillor Desiree Elliott, shadow cabinet member for education.

It states: “We, like thousands of parents and education setting staff, are not confident that schools in the city will be ready to increase the number of children attending by June 1.

“We urge you to be clear that schools in the city should not open until they are safe for children and staff. This stance has been taken by at least 18 other councils, mainly but not only Labour-led councils.”

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The tests include a clear downward trend for new Covid-19 cases, giving children and school staff ‘comprehensive access’ to regular testing for the virus, a plan for social distancing and appropriate PPE for staff, and a plan to protect vulnerable groups.

So far, the city council has left it up to individual schools to make decision on the exact date for reopening. Local authorities only have powers over maintained schools and most of the city’s primaries are now academies.

But council leader Abi Brown has stressed ensuring the safety of children and school staff is the top priority.

The authority has been offering advice to schools, providing support for health and safety risk assessments, and has compiled a list of experienced teachers they can call on if they experience staffing shortages.

Mrs Brown added: “This work has been underway for a number of weeks, with input from headteachers across the city.

“Each of our schools has an accountable body that has the final legal responsibility to decide whether the school is ready to open.

“We are asking schools to work with us on the numbers of children they can safely accommodate and this will differ from school to school because the buildings are all different.”