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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Coronavirus: Parents urged not to send children to school | Coronavirus: Parents urged not to send children to school |
| (about 2 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". | |
| 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. | |
| "Leave the few spaces available for those that truly have no alternative." | "Leave the few spaces available for those that truly have no alternative." |
| Putting lessons online | |
| Schools across the UK have been working to put lessons and schoolwork online, so that pupils can keep up with their studies. | |
| At Hampton Hill Junior School in Richmond, London, staff had emergency training sessions on Friday in how to use Google classroom and all children were issued with a log-in so they can access work from home. | |
| "We'll be remotely available to answer any questions," Tracey Bannister, the school's special educational needs co-ordinator, told the BBC. | |
| Ms Bannister said the mood in school, which is open for key workers' children and vulnerable children, is sombre. | |
| "I think it's a very different mood this morning," she said. | |
| "In the staff meeting, we all sat further apart - there is definitely a different mood and maybe trepidation." | |
| Pradeep Shetty, a carer whose daughter is eligible to attend school, says the current situation is difficult for everyone - for those who will be at home and those still coming to school. | |
| Mr Shetty says those children who are in will soon find it is very different from a regular school day. | |
| "It's hard for them to take as well - it's not a normal thing, just to be here without their friends." | |
| 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? |
| Teachers' unions have also raised concerns that there is some confusion about which parents are eligible for key worker status. | |
| Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of the National Education Union said: "Head teachers 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. |