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| Coronavirus: Parents heed calls not to send children to school | Coronavirus: Parents heed calls not to send children to school |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Parents appear to have heeded warnings not to send children into school unless it was a last resort, according to head teachers. | Parents appear to have heeded warnings not to send children into school unless it was a last resort, according to head teachers. |
| Schools in the UK have closed to reduce the spread of coronavirus - and are only open to look after the children of "key workers" and vulnerable children. | Schools in the UK have closed to reduce the spread of coronavirus - and are only open to look after the children of "key workers" and vulnerable children. |
| Heads' leader Geoff Barton said initial reports on Monday morning suggested pupil numbers were "manageable". | Heads' leader Geoff Barton said initial reports on Monday morning suggested pupil numbers were "manageable". |
| There had been fears too many would arrive for depleted teacher numbers. | There had been fears too many would arrive for depleted teacher numbers. |
| But Mr Barton, leader of the ASCL head teachers' union, said: "Initial feedback indicates that parents have heeded calls to use the emergency provision in schools only in the event that they are key workers who have no option available to keep their children at home." | But Mr Barton, leader of the ASCL head teachers' union, said: "Initial feedback indicates that parents have heeded calls to use the emergency provision in schools only in the event that they are key workers who have no option available to keep their children at home." |
| He said school staff were grateful to parents for responding to warnings and wherever possible keeping children at home. | He said school staff were grateful to parents for responding to warnings and wherever possible keeping children at home. |
| It allays concerns that families would continue to send their children to school, rather than as a back-up only to be used if "absolutely necessary". | |
| Keeping schools open for the children of key workers - such as NHS, emergency or transport staff - was intended to help parents keep going to work and to maintain essential services. | Keeping schools open for the children of key workers - such as NHS, emergency or transport staff - was intended to help parents keep going to work and to maintain essential services. |
| But there were worries this could be interpreted too widely and schools, with their own reduced staff numbers, would be unable to cope. | |
| Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, had warned of a lack of clarity about which families were eligible to have their children looked after in school. | |
| She said schools were having to "deal with numerous demands from parents". | She said schools were having to "deal with numerous demands from parents". |
| Paul Whiteman, head of the National Association of Head Teachers, had said that even the children of key workers should try to find other alternatives to school. | Paul Whiteman, head of the National Association of Head Teachers, had said that even the children of key workers should try to find other alternatives to school. |
| "This is not business as usual, keep your family at home if at all possible," said Mr Whiteman. | "This is not business as usual, keep your family at home if at all possible," said Mr Whiteman. |
| "Leave the few spaces available for those that truly have no alternative." | "Leave the few spaces available for those that truly have no alternative." |
| The first morning of a new type of school | The first morning of a new type of school |
| For those children starting their week at home, schools have been putting lessons and coursework online so that pupils can keep up with their studies. | For those children starting their week at home, schools have been putting lessons and coursework online so that pupils can keep up with their studies. |
| At Hampton Hill Junior School in Richmond, London, staff have had emergency training sessions in how to use an online learning system and all children were issued with a log-in so they can work from home. | At Hampton Hill Junior School in Richmond, London, staff have had emergency training sessions in how to use an online learning system and all children were issued with a log-in so they can 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. | "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. | 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. | "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." | "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. | 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 have come to school will soon find it is very different from a regular timetable. | Mr Shetty says those children who have come to school will soon find it is very different from a regular timetable. |
| "It's hard for them to take as well - it's not a normal thing, just to be here without their friends." | "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? |
| "If your work is not critical in the response to coronavirus then please keep your child at home," said England's Education Secretary Gavin Williamson. | |
| In Wales, Education Minister Kirsty Williams said those who qualified as key workers should still "think very carefully" before sending their children to school. | |