Schools Will Have to Adhere to Social Distancing Rules
Schools in the UK will have to adhere to social distancing rules if they reopen during coronavirus pandemic.
George Eustice, the Environment Secretary, told the daily Downing Street press briefing it would be ‘important’ to have the measures in place in classrooms. Schools will be subject to social distancing measures if they reopen during the coronavirus crisis.
Environment Secretary George Eustice said that as the country even begins to consider steps such as reopening schools, pupils and staff would have to adhere to social distancing guidelines.
Mr Eustice said: “Dominic Raab addressed this earlier this morning. And stressed the importance, that even as you start to consider steps such as that [reopening schools], it would still be important in such a setting to have social distancing measures.”
There has not yet been a decision on when schools should reopen, with some in the sector saying it would have to be June at the earliest.
The National Education Union warned that “loose talks costs lives”.
General Secretary Dr Mary Bousted said that the speculation “deeply concerns our members, who would be at immediate risk if Government was too hasty in relaxing lockdown measures.”
The earliest “realistic” point at which schools in England could start re-opening would be June 1, headteachers’ leader Geoff Barton said.
But even that date is viewed as optimistic because in order to meet that target Mr Barton says “planning would need to begin very soon”.