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| Covid: Millions back to school in 'first step to normality' | |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| Queuing for Covid tests at the Harris Academy Beckenham | Queuing for Covid tests at the Harris Academy Beckenham |
| Millions of children in England have gone back to school after more than two months studying at home in the latest lockdown. | |
| Many secondary schools have a phased return during this week, allowing pupils to take Covid tests, and face masks will be worn in classrooms. | |
| Most primary schools have opened for all pupils on Monday. | |
| Prime Minister Boris Johnson described the return as an important first step towards a "sense of normality". | Prime Minister Boris Johnson described the return as an important first step towards a "sense of normality". |
| Parents not giving consent for Covid tests | Parents not giving consent for Covid tests |
| Testing will mean phased return to school, say heads | Testing will mean phased return to school, say heads |
| How are schools reopening around the UK? | How are schools reopening around the UK? |
| Teachers to decide grades for cancelled exams | Teachers to decide grades for cancelled exams |
| It marks the first step of the "roadmap" out of the national lockdown, which has been in place since the beginning of January. | It marks the first step of the "roadmap" out of the national lockdown, which has been in place since the beginning of January. |
| Testing but no exams | Testing but no exams |
| This fourth big return to school in England since the start of the pandemic will come with questions about catching up on missed lessons, young people's wellbeing and a replacement exam system. | This fourth big return to school in England since the start of the pandemic will come with questions about catching up on missed lessons, young people's wellbeing and a replacement exam system. |
| The government is considering various measures to help pupils including longer school days and shorter holidays, according to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson. | |
| Schools have set up up Covid testing centres as part of the return | Schools have set up up Covid testing centres as part of the return |
| Secondary schools will return to regular Covid testing, with pupils taking three tests in school before switching to being tested at home. | |
| A survey from head teachers suggested 76% of secondary schools would have a phased return, with different year groups starting on different days, to allow time for testing. | A survey from head teachers suggested 76% of secondary schools would have a phased return, with different year groups starting on different days, to allow time for testing. |
| "There will be a full return but it will be from - not on - Monday, 8 March," said Geoff Barton, leader of the ASCL head teachers' union - describing the testing sites in schools as looking like "field hospitals". | "There will be a full return but it will be from - not on - Monday, 8 March," said Geoff Barton, leader of the ASCL head teachers' union - describing the testing sites in schools as looking like "field hospitals". |
| The Covid tests, with swabs of nose and throat, are voluntary - and there have been warnings from school leaders that getting parental consent has been the biggest difficulty. | The Covid tests, with swabs of nose and throat, are voluntary - and there have been warnings from school leaders that getting parental consent has been the biggest difficulty. |
| Primary schools will be welcoming back children again | Primary schools will be welcoming back children again |
| Face masks are expected to be worn in secondary school classrooms, where social distancing is not possible, at least for the remaining weeks of this term. | Face masks are expected to be worn in secondary school classrooms, where social distancing is not possible, at least for the remaining weeks of this term. |
| Children's Minister Vicky Ford said face masks would be "strongly recommended". But they are not compulsory, as some pupils might be "very anxious and nervous" about them, said the minister. | |
| The latest lockdown has seen the cancellation of A-level, GCSE and vocational exams, and pupils will return to study for a new system based on teachers' grades. | The latest lockdown has seen the cancellation of A-level, GCSE and vocational exams, and pupils will return to study for a new system based on teachers' grades. |
| Jules White, head of Tanbridge House School in Horsham, West Sussex, said there would be a mix of "immense relief tied to a little apprehension" and meeting friends would be as important for pupils as getting back to learning. | Jules White, head of Tanbridge House School in Horsham, West Sussex, said there would be a mix of "immense relief tied to a little apprehension" and meeting friends would be as important for pupils as getting back to learning. |
| In his school of 1,500 pupils, testing began last week and the phased return will stretch into next week. | In his school of 1,500 pupils, testing began last week and the phased return will stretch into next week. |
| Ryedale School in North Yorkshire will be opening for all pupils from Monday | Ryedale School in North Yorkshire will be opening for all pupils from Monday |
| Ryedale School in Nawton, North Yorkshire, tested all its pupils last week and all year groups will return to face-to-face teaching from Monday. | Ryedale School in Nawton, North Yorkshire, tested all its pupils last week and all year groups will return to face-to-face teaching from Monday. |
| Parents supporting | Parents supporting |
| Primary schools will be expected to fully reopen - and pupils will not have to take Covid tests or wear masks. | Primary schools will be expected to fully reopen - and pupils will not have to take Covid tests or wear masks. |
| The challenge would be "supporting pupils socially and emotionally, not just academically", said Paul Whiteman of the National Association of Head Teachers. | The challenge would be "supporting pupils socially and emotionally, not just academically", said Paul Whiteman of the National Association of Head Teachers. |
| Secondary schools will have masks worn in classrooms | Secondary schools will have masks worn in classrooms |
| UK chief medical adviser Prof Chris Whitty has said "everything is strongly in favour" of pupils returning to school - with extra safety measures in place, such as testing, the wider use of masks and an early "natural firebreak" of the Easter holidays. | UK chief medical adviser Prof Chris Whitty has said "everything is strongly in favour" of pupils returning to school - with extra safety measures in place, such as testing, the wider use of masks and an early "natural firebreak" of the Easter holidays. |
| A survey of 6,000 parents from the Institute for Fiscal Studies found widespread support for the return to school - with nine in 10 saying they would have sent their children back even if it had not been compulsory. | A survey of 6,000 parents from the Institute for Fiscal Studies found widespread support for the return to school - with nine in 10 saying they would have sent their children back even if it had not been compulsory. |
| But two-thirds of parents were "concerned that their child has lost out on learning". | But two-thirds of parents were "concerned that their child has lost out on learning". |
| A joint letter from teachers' unions called for "flexibility" for schools over safety measures - and a check during the Easter holidays for any spikes in infections. | A joint letter from teachers' unions called for "flexibility" for schools over safety measures - and a check during the Easter holidays for any spikes in infections. |
| Schools have remained open for vulnerable and key workers' children and about a quarter of pupils have been attending primary schools. | Schools have remained open for vulnerable and key workers' children and about a quarter of pupils have been attending primary schools. |
| Catch-up classes | Catch-up classes |
| But for many pupils, apart from one day in January before the lockdown, this will be the first week back in school this year. | But for many pupils, apart from one day in January before the lockdown, this will be the first week back in school this year. |
| The ambition is that this fourth return - following the short-lived attempt in January and returns last June and September - will be the last needed. | The ambition is that this fourth return - following the short-lived attempt in January and returns last June and September - will be the last needed. |
| Testing at the Harris Academy in Beckenham - pupils will have three Covid tests at school | Testing at the Harris Academy in Beckenham - pupils will have three Covid tests at school |
| The government has appointed Sir Kevan Collins as an "education recovery commissioner", who will begin the process of helping pupils make up for the disruption and lost time in school. | The government has appointed Sir Kevan Collins as an "education recovery commissioner", who will begin the process of helping pupils make up for the disruption and lost time in school. |
| Ofsted inspectors have warned that disadvantaged children are more likely to have been adversely affected - and the government has announced £1.7bn to support catch-up schemes, such as tutoring and summer clubs. | Ofsted inspectors have warned that disadvantaged children are more likely to have been adversely affected - and the government has announced £1.7bn to support catch-up schemes, such as tutoring and summer clubs. |
| There have also been suggestions of changes to holidays and the school day. | There have also been suggestions of changes to holidays and the school day. |
| Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has called for schools to have "catch-up breakfast clubs". | Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has called for schools to have "catch-up breakfast clubs". |
| Schools are running Covid test centres as pupils return | Schools are running Covid test centres as pupils return |
| There have been concerns about children's mental health during the pandemic - and a study by researchers at the universities of Essex, Surrey and Birmingham reports a "significant rise in emotional and behavioural difficulties". | There have been concerns about children's mental health during the pandemic - and a study by researchers at the universities of Essex, Surrey and Birmingham reports a "significant rise in emotional and behavioural difficulties". |
| In Scotland, younger primary pupils went back last month - with more primary and secondary years returning from 15 March. | In Scotland, younger primary pupils went back last month - with more primary and secondary years returning from 15 March. |
| In Wales, younger primary pupils went back last month, with further primary and secondary groups back between 15 March and mid-April. | In Wales, younger primary pupils went back last month, with further primary and secondary groups back between 15 March and mid-April. |
| In Northern Ireland, younger primary pupils are returning on 8 March, with some secondary years starting 22 March. | In Northern Ireland, younger primary pupils are returning on 8 March, with some secondary years starting 22 March. |
| England's Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said the return to school would be a "moment of joy" when students would get back to their teachers and friends. | England's Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said the return to school would be a "moment of joy" when students would get back to their teachers and friends. |
| "I do not underestimate how challenging the last few months have been with some children in class and most at home, but I do know how important it is for all children to be back in school, not only for their education but for their mental health and wellbeing," said Mr Williamson. | "I do not underestimate how challenging the last few months have been with some children in class and most at home, but I do know how important it is for all children to be back in school, not only for their education but for their mental health and wellbeing," said Mr Williamson. |