Call to scrap fines for children not returning to school next term

According to a recent online survey of 4,800 parents and carers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, undertaken by the charity, nearly three-quarters (74 percent) said that they would like the right to decide as a parent whether their child attends school between now and December 2020. 

A total of 4,864 parents completed the online survey between 29 June and 13 July.

More than a quarter of those in England said that they do not yet know if they are planning on sending their children back at the start of the new academic year.

Moreover, 44 per cent of parents and carers in England said they would not be happy for their children to return to school without any social distancing measures in place, and another quarter are not sure.

The charity, a Parent Teacher Association membership organisation, is calling on the Government to follow the lead of the Welsh Government, which is allowing parents and carers to make the right decision for them and their families without fear of financial penalties until at least December 2020.

John Jolly, CEO of Parentkind, said, ‘It’s clear from our results that more work needs to be done by Government and schools to reassure parents and carers that it is safe for children to return to school. A significant number remain undecided about returning their children to school next term, and the majority of parents and carers are wanting the right to make the decision themselves. The government needs to be understanding of parent’s legitimate concerns and talking about fining them is not helpful.’

The survey results also reinforce the importance of schools connecting with their parent communities, with more than 9 out of 10 parents and carers wanting their child’s school to consult them on their re-opening plans.

Nick Brook, deputy general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said that the desire to bring everyone back to school, as soon as it is safe to do so, is ‘correct’. But he also argued that fines are ‘too blunt a way’ of making this happen.

He added, ‘They drive a wedge between schools and families at the best of times. That is something we can ill afford when the priority is to get more pupils back into class. Achieving this will rely on a huge amount of cooperation and understanding between schools and families. The reality is that if a parent is concerned enough about their child’s safety to keep them off school, the threat of a fine is unlikely to change their minds.

‘It is very clear from Parentkind’s research that confidence in a full return to school in September remains low for a significant number of parents. There are many who do not feel that the government has explained how and why it will be safe for pupils to go back in the autumn term. It is now up to the Government to mount a substantial public information campaign over the summer to make families aware of the evidence they have based their decisions on, and the safety precautions schools they are recommending for September.’

Commenting on the survey, Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said, ‘This survey shows that parents are placing far greater trust in school leaders than Government, but both those bonds are essential if we are to achieve full opening from September. Instead of threatening parents with fines, Boris Johnson should be doing a great deal more to prove that his strategy is right. Schools are doing their best to make good on existing guidance and create safe school environments, but the lack of a plan B from Whitehall is far from reassuring.’

PRIORITIES FOR RETURN TO SCHOOL

When it comes to the return to school, 70 percent of parents feel that schools should prioritise their children’s mental health. The top five areas that parents and carers want schools to prioritise when they return for the next academic year are:

• Mental wellbeing: 70 per cent
• Curriculum learning: 57 per cent
• Establishing/rebuilding relationships with peers and staff: 50 per cent
• Social skills: 21 per cent
• Physical wellbeing: 21 per cent