Commenting on the Prime Minister’s decision to reduce
social distancing to a 1 metre minimum and for the full reopening
of schools to all pupils in September, Dr Mary
Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education
Union, said:
“The NEU is of course in favour of all children being back
in school, but even with a one-metre rule that will need more
teachers and more spaces.
“It is not clear whether in less than three months the
science will permit classes of 30. If social distancing of one
metre remains in place, that will still be difficult for schools.
Class sizes are already at record highs in secondary schools, but
the current situation calls for groups around half that size.
This is not just important for social distancing but to ensure
that children get the increased one-to-one attention that is so
essential to getting through the trauma of the pandemic, and back
into normal learning and social interaction.
“Mathematics dictate that for this we need extra class
spaces and extra teachers for the vast majority of schools.
Government must support local authorities in making available
public buildings, and encourage teachers who have left the
profession, often due to excessive workload, to return.
“The NEU recently wrote to the Prime Minister with its
10-point recovery plan, which sets out our recommendations for
building back from Coronavirus. (1)
“Employers and school leaders have been thinking through
the implications of social distancing in their school for many
months. One would be forgiven for thinking the Government has
not. For a safe return what we need to be hearing from the Prime
Minister is not just hope, but pragmatism and a detailed,
thought-through, strategic plan for schools based on the
scientific evidence available. We will wait and see what the
Department for Education guidance on making a full return in
September possible looks like and will examine it carefully for
its clarity and operability.
“It is now more vital than ever that and listen to the profession so that parents, teachers
and pupils can be reassured that a return to school is as safe
and as well planned out as possible
for the whole school community and wider
society.”
ENDS
Editor’s Note
(1) NEU's 10 point National Education Recovery
Plan: https://neu.org.uk/coronavirus-neu-national-recovery-plan-education
