School pupils will have their return delayed in the worst Covid hotspotsThousands of primary schools in these areas will be closed - with a decision on secondary schools to be taken before January 18Many were left in the dark despite the announcementMany parents were left confused by the division of closed and open schools
Bilal Ahmed dubbed it "utterly ridiculous", adding: "It's scary and unsafe for everyone in the school community." Another person in the same area said she felt "rage" at the decision making, leaving her kids able to go to school 900m from a closed zone.It came as:as three quarters of England was shoved into the highest level of restrictions
Parents in London boroughs near spots which have been shut down raged on social media about their children's schools remaining open, while being so close to hotspots. Other critics included Danny Thorpe, leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, threatened with legal action by the Government earlier this month after issuing advice to schools to move to online learning for the last few days of term.Expected return dates for schoolsreturn on January 11 as plannedand schools stay shut except for key workers and vulnerable kids. No timetable, but likely to be beyond January 18We have a situation where lists are being updated only minutes after publication.
Islington schools have been given the green light to open, with council leader Richard Watts saying he wanted "urgent clarification" on why they were exempt from the London-wide shutdown. Robert Halfon, Conservative MP for Harlow and chairmen of the Education Select Committee, called for teachers to be made a priority for vaccinations against Covid-19 so schools can stay open.
That includes most of London, Essex, Kent, and a handful of areas in Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and East Sussex - but key workers and vulnerable pupils can still attend.
Source: Education Headlines (educationheadlines.net)