By Sienna Rodgers
Schools are Labour's primary focus today. Ahead of an urgent
question from , the party has urged the government to commit to
reopening schools and colleges first when lockdown restrictions
are eased. This sparked a range of initial
reactions, from those concerned that Labour is in favour of
reopening too quickly to those criticising Labour for stating the
obvious and what is already government policy. To the former, it
is worth noting that is not asking for a reopening date but for a plan
as the government could be “acting now to make schools as safe as
possible as soon as possible”. To the latter charge, Labour would
say its demand was a response to the confusion created by
Johnson’s pool clip yesterday, and they are seeking clarity.
Labour's education team is not willing a speedy and unsafe full
reopening right now, but instead criticising the lack of
preparations. Will the key be testing, prioritising staff for the
vaccine, or some other measure? Forward-thinking is clearly
needed: there was none when the government ordered the return of
schools after Christmas, then ordered their closure the very next
day. But Labour may be considered more constructive in its
criticisms if it emphasised its favoured solutions to allow
ventilation, social distancing, small classes and bigger
classrooms. While that requires a slightly more risk-taking
approach, the rewards of stressing the more imaginative answers
required to meet the challenges presented by the pandemic would
be worth a little risk.
Also: Set out
“components of the strategy” for schools return, Green tells
government
