Parents will not be fined for refusing to send kids back to school, government confirms

In last night’s announcement, Boris Jonson detailed the roadmap for exiting lockdown, and the plans included allowing some children back to school as early as June 1st. 

Plans to get children back to school included Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 children, those that are deemed to be at key stages of their development. The kids will be in smaller class sizes than usual. 

For this to happen, coronavirus infection levels (R) must remain low. 

Today, many parents raised their concern of allowing their children back to school, when previously children have been deemed ‘super spreaders’ of the disease. 

Many parents also explained the difficulties and near impossibilities in ensuring children, as young as 4 and 5, keeping 2 metres apart and abiding by the social distancing measures.

There are economic benefits to children being back in school, including allowing parents back to work. The government also acknowledge that fully opening schools will result in a resurgence of the virus and a second wave that could be larger than the first.

Today, a government spokesman told reporters in response to whether parents would be punished for keeping children at home, ‘the short answer is, no they won’t.’

They added: “While we will not penalise parents for keeping children at home once they are eligible to return to school, we will strongly encourage them to do so.”

The government’s guidance document added: “Secondary schools and further education colleges should also prepare to begin some face to face contact with Year 10 and 12 pupils who have key exams next year, in support of their continued remote, home learning.

“The Government’s ambition is for all primary school children to return to school before the summer for a month if feasible, though this will be kept under review.

“The Department of Education will engage closely with schools and early years providers to develop further detail and guidance on how schools should facilitate this.”