Conservative response to Labour and NEU 'false claims' on reopening of schools

Sunday, 31 May 2020 14:04

Responding Caroline Johnson MP, Vice Chair of the Conservative Party and member of the Education Select Committee: 'It is sad to see Labour and the hard-left NEU chasing headlines rather than acknowledging the facts around the phased, cautious wider opening of schools. “Throughout this pandemic the Government has engaged closely with the unions, schools and local authorities and that engagement continues. Having...Request free trial

Responding Caroline Johnson MP, Vice Chair of the Conservative Party and member of the Education Select Committee:

'It is sad to see Labour and the hard-left NEU chasing headlines rather than acknowledging the facts around the phased, cautious wider opening of schools.

“Throughout this pandemic the Government has engaged closely with the unions, schools and local authorities and that engagement continues. Having reviewed the scientific and medical advice from SAGE, all of us want to ensure children can get the education they need whilst ensuring the risk of transmission is very low.

“The safety and welfare of our children and all staff has been central to all decision making by ministers.”

Background

Labour have wrongly claimed that the UK Government is not working with teaching unions

Steve Reed, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government: ‘Well, it's the kind of thing that local authority leaders have already been working out by talking to teaching unions, head teachers and parents region by region. The way they've done this in Wales actually is worth looking at because the Welsh Labour government brought together the education unions, parent, parents groups, health experts, and they built a consensus around that. Now I'd like to see that happening in England, unfortunately, so far, the government hasn't chosen to go down that route.’ (Sophy Ridge on Sunday, Sky News, 31.05.2020)

The NEU have wrongly claimed that by revising guidance the Government is making it up as they go along

Mary Bousted, the joint General-Secretary of the NEU: ‘Let me just give you one piece of information. The government's plans on reopening schools, since they were first produced on the 12th of May have been changed 41 times. And that's because it constantly had to be revised, as things they forgotten things, they didn't know things they got wrong. That's hugely added to the stress of school leaders and teachers because we have a government who simply are making it up as it goes along.’ (Sophy Ridge on Sunday, Sky News, 31.05.2020)