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Coronavirus: Parents urged not to send children to school | Coronavirus: Parents urged not to send children to school |
(about 8 hours later) | |
Parents are being told to keep their children at home unless "absolutely necessary", as schools across the UK close to most pupils. | Parents are being told to keep their children at home unless "absolutely necessary", as schools across the UK close to most pupils. |
Schools are officially shut because of the coronavirus outbreak, but children who are vulnerable or whose parents are "key workers" can still attend. | Schools are officially shut because of the coronavirus outbreak, but children who are vulnerable or whose parents are "key workers" can still attend. |
Paul Whiteman, head of school leaders' union the NAHT said school staff have been "much depleted". | Paul Whiteman, head of school leaders' union the NAHT said school staff have been "much depleted". |
Even the children of key workers should stay away if possible, he said. | Even the children of key workers should stay away if possible, he said. |
"Only leave your child at school if you have no other choice," said Mr Whiteman. | "Only leave your child at school if you have no other choice," said Mr Whiteman. |
"My appeal to the families of key workers is: This is not business as usual. Keep your family at home if at all possible. | "My appeal to the families of key workers is: This is not business as usual. Keep your family at home if at all possible. |
"Leave the few spaces available for those that truly have no alternative." | "Leave the few spaces available for those that truly have no alternative." |
Who are "key workers"? | Who are "key workers"? |
The full list includes: | The full list includes: |
Read more: Whose children will still be able to go to school? | Read more: Whose children will still be able to go to school? |
Unions also said there was confusion about which parents were eligible for key worker status. | Unions also said there was confusion about which parents were eligible for key worker status. |
Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of the National Education Union said: "Headteachers and teachers are having to deal with numerous demands from parents because the government has wrongly created an expectation that their child can be kept in school. | |
"Some local authorities and some companies are encouraging their staff to say they are key workers - this is very dangerous and won't allow us to suppress the spread of this horrible virus. | "Some local authorities and some companies are encouraging their staff to say they are key workers - this is very dangerous and won't allow us to suppress the spread of this horrible virus. |
"The government needs to issue urgent clarification and information to parents that their child should only be at school if there is no alternative." | "The government needs to issue urgent clarification and information to parents that their child should only be at school if there is no alternative." |
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said schools were only open for the few, not the many. | Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said schools were only open for the few, not the many. |
"If your work is not critical in the response to Coronavirus then please keep your child at home. | "If your work is not critical in the response to Coronavirus then please keep your child at home. |
"We will be closely monitoring what is happening in schools and will ensure they get the support they need in the weeks and months ahead." | "We will be closely monitoring what is happening in schools and will ensure they get the support they need in the weeks and months ahead." |
Friday was the last school day for most children across the UK until further notice. | Friday was the last school day for most children across the UK until further notice. |
A-level and GCSE pupils will be graded via teacher assessments after exams, including Highers, were cancelled. | A-level and GCSE pupils will be graded via teacher assessments after exams, including Highers, were cancelled. |