Teaching unions accused of thwarting plans to fully re-open schools in September

The chair of the Education Select Committee, Robert Halfon MP, branded the criteria ‘impossible’.

He told Nursery World, 'Not one of the questions asks the most important thing, what about the kids? Younger children have struggled and suffered during lockdown, with millions not learning or having any contact with teachers.

'The teaching unions are saying that everything is impossible, but there is a greater risk to children staying at home due to the impact on their mental health and if children are living in households where there are safeguarding concerns.

'If every workplace had a criteria of 200 plus questions then none would have opened including the supermarkets which have been a lifeline.

Other MPs are thought to be concerned that the checklist could prevent schools from fully re-opening next month, which Prime Minister Boris Johnson has deemed a ‘national priority’.

The 'Coronavirus Crisis' checklist has been drawn up by the National Education Union (NEU), together with GMB, Unison and Unite, to ensure the safety of staff working in early years, primary and secondary schools and colleges, as well as pupils from September.

It asks members to consider a number of questions when deciding whether it is safe to fully re-open. These include:

• Whether sufficiently small groups/bubbles of early years children can be maintained given that they cannot socially distance?
• If each classroom will be provided with gloves and disinfectant spray in case a pupil coughs or sneezes on a piece of equipment or furniture?
• Whether lidded bins with double bagging will be provided in every classroom and work area?
• If appropriate measures for employees who are clinically vulnerable or at increased risk, such as working from home, working in amended roles or wearing PPE will be agreed?
• Whether a relaxed school uniform policy will be in place to make it easier for everyone to wear clean clothes?

If members cannot answer yes to all the questions, the unions state that they should ‘escalate’ their concerns.

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Avis Gilmore, deputy general secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), said, ‘All schools and colleges are working towards a full return of pupils from September. This return must be safe and well-planned. Alongside health and safety check lists, robust test, track and trace should also be in place in schools and colleges and the Government needs a Plan B in case of national, regional or local spikes. This is about the welfare of pupils, school staff, community health and safety and avoiding a second wave.'

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson responded by saying that the Government was doing ‘everything in its power to ensure all children can be back in their classrooms safely in September’. He went on to make reference to new Public Health England (PHE) research that he said shows there is ‘little evidence COVID-19 is transmitted at school’.

 ‘The education and care of our children is a national priority. School is the best place for them to be for their education, development and well-being’, he said.

Robert Halfon, chair of the Education Select Committee and MP for Harlow (Essex), added, 'I want to thank the early years providers that remained open during lockdown. It is a very difficult time for settings, who I have been campaigning for to secure a long-term financial solution.'

‘We have always been and will continue to be guided by the best scientific and medical advice. The latest research by Public Health England which is expected to be published later this year - one of the largest studies on the coronavirus in schools in the world - makes it clear there is little evidence that the virus is transmitted at school.

‘There is also growing confidence among parents about their children returning. This is down to the hard work of school staff across the country who are putting in place a range of protective measures to prepare to welcome back all pupils at the start of term.’

Last week, Nursery World reported that two new studies suggested young children can drive the spread of Coronavirus.

• The unions' checklist is available here