UK drops plan to get all young children in school by summer

LONDON (AP) — The British government on Tuesday ditched plans to have all primary school children in England return to the classroom before the summer vacation after schools voiced worries about their ability to meet coronavirus social distancing requirements.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson admitted that the goal for approximately 5 million primary schoolchildren from age 4 to 11 wasn't possible, given constraints related to classroom sizes, the need for social distancing and inadequate numbers of teachers.

"We believe this cautious, phased return is the most sensible course of action to take,” Williamson told lawmakers when announcing the change.

However, he said the government would like to see schools that “have the capacity” bring back more pupils before the summer break in July.

Although many of England's primary schools have been open this entire spring for the children of key workers — including health care professionals, delivery drivers and journalists — the Conservative government had planned to give all younger pupils the chance to return following months of home learning.

Last week, the very youngest schoolchildren were allowed to return as well as those in their final year of primary school who are due to make the transition to secondary school in September. The plan was that all others would return in stages.

Williamson said just over 50% of primary schools reopened to more children last week and that this increased to more than 70% by Monday.

“The ‘ambition’ to bring back all primary year groups for a month before the end of the summer term was a case of the government over-promising something that wasn’t deliverable,’’ said Geoff Barton, general-secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders.

Williamson said...