Despite lockdown up to 50% of children are still at school

14 January 2021

The Department for Education has widened the categories of vulnerable and key worker pupils who can attend schools, meaning that attendance rates are up to 50% in some places. We at Marshall Minibus Leasing are continuing to support our minibus customers throughout the lockdown, in preparation for when schools reopen to full capacity.

Head teachers' unions, NAHT and the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), have expressed their concerns about the high number of pupils still attending school despite the national lockdown, and say that it could be detrimental to the fight against Covid-19.

The high number of children being allowed to attend schools is a result of the Department for Education adding more criteria for children to qualify. This now includes those who do not have access to appropriate devices for remote learning, such as laptops, or study space and the children of parents working on Brexit arrangements. 

Hampshire teaching assistant Jessica Jane told the BBC, "I work in a primary school where we are having to bring in every single member of staff as the list of key-workers is vast in our area and over 50% of our children are attending.

"Our community school is not closed and streets are packed with parents morning and afternoon collecting their children from open schools.

"My colleagues and I are still being put at risk every single day as are our families."

Secretary of the ASCL Geoff Barton said the lack of limits is "bizarre... in a week (commencing January 42021) when the prime minister has told the nation that it is necessary to move schools to remote education in order to suppress coronavirus transmission.

"We are hearing reports that attendance in some primary schools is in excess of 50% because of demand from critical workers and families with children classed as vulnerable under criteria which has been significantly widened," he said. "We are urgently seeking clarification about the maximum number who should be in school while protecting public health.”

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