Wakefield district's Labour MPs say teachers should be in charge of when children return to school

The district's Labour MPs have said teachers should decide when children go back to school as the government's deadline nears.
Yvette CooperYvette Cooper
Yvette Cooper

The government has laid out plans for children to head back into class from the beginning of next month, starting with Year 1 and Year 6 pupils.

But Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford MP Yvette Cooper said she had been approached by teachers concerned the date is too soon.

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Around 60 per cent of people in both the Wakefield and Five Towns areas said they would not be comfortable with sending their children back to school on June 1. Forty-five percent per cent of those within that number from Wakefield said they would not be comfortable "at all".

Jon TrickettJon Trickett
Jon Trickett

Ms Cooper said: “The government has made a real mess of this. I don’t understand why they announced a timetable for schools to go back without working out a proper safe plan with headteachers first.

"As it is, everyone is confused and I’ve had worried parents and teachers getting in touch saying things won’t be ready for June 1. I’ve contacted the Education Secretary to ask for proper answers for schools and parents.

“Everyone knows how important it is for children to get back into school for their education. But we need a proper, staged plan with safety measures like cleaning and social distancing.

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"There also needs to be a phased approach around the country, so those areas with higher levels of infection don’t go back too soon.

"That means we urgently need local testing and tracing in place so that each local council can keep track of infections and if there are any local outbreaks, schools can quickly close again.

"It is incredibly frustrating that we are still waiting for the government to get that testing, tracking and tracing in place, so we still don’t properly know the level of local infections in our towns.

"We urgently need that local information before dates are set.

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“I’ve spoken to local primary head teachers and I think it would be easier if the first step was just year 6 pupils.

"It’s a crucial age for them, and 10 and 11 year olds will be more likely to understand social distancing than the little ones. But parents and teachers urgently need more evidence from the Government if any of this is going to work”.

Hemsworth MP Jon Trickett said teachers were best placed to decide when the time is right to return.

Mr Trickett said: “I know that most people now want life to get back to normal, and part of it is for the children to go back to school.

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"But equally, we are all nervous that the virus is still active in the community and there appear to be mixed views amongst the scientists as to the best way forward.

"I know many teachers want to get the schools started up, but only when it is safe to do so.

"Hopefully soon we will know for certain when it is safe to get the kids back. For the moment I go with the judgement of the teachers who are the best placed to judge”.

The government has defended its decision.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said “we owe it to children” to reopen schools.

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He said: “The longer that schools are closed the more children miss out. Teachers know this.” He said there were children who had not seen another child their age for two months.

Responding to concerns raised by local authorities Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove said: “If you really care about children, you will want them to be in school, you will want them to be learning, you will want them to have new opportunities, so look to your responsibilities.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he understood people would feel frustration with some of the new guidelines. He said: “We are trying to do something that has never had to be done before - moving the country out of a full lockdown, in a way which is safe and does not risk sacrificing all of your hard work.”