The leader of Hampshire County Council has taken the stresses felt by parents and teachers to the Education Secretary.
Whereas all schools are ‘expected’ to remain open there are some which will be closed. Endeavour Primary will operate a limited service and Ludgershall Castle will be closed.
The Head at Portway Infants says she “understands and sympathises” with parents who may not want to send children to school tomorrow. However, their remains some confusion as to whether parents will be fined for not sending their kids to school.
Council leader Keith Manns has responded to parents’ and teachers’ concerns about the return of primary schools after the Christmas holidays.
All schools in Andover are expected to open tomorrow, despite many parents seeming willing to keep their children at home. Some local schools like Pilgrims Cross have a teacher training (inset) day tomorrow. Their teachers have been told to stay at home.
Cllr Manns is currently contacting the Secretary of State for Education Gavin Williamson to stress the concerns of local parents and teachers about classroom returns by primary school children.
Councillor Mans said, “I am aware that some parents are worried about whether to send their children back into primary schools tomorrow and I can fully understand these anxieties, with Hampshire currently in Tier 4.
“The competing and growing concerns about whether to open or close schools are clearly evident, and the need to strike a balance between the physical and mental well-being of pupils when they do not attend school and the continued spread of the virus. We understand the Government’s exceptionally difficult decisions in this regard – which are based on wider ranges of information than these increasing rates.
Sara Allen, headteacher at Portway Juniors shared an email to parents this evening. She said, “I want to reassure parents that I totally understand and sympathise with [your] concerns. I respect the decisions that parents are making.”
The headteacher at the respected local primary school asks that parents notify the school if they do not intend to send children to school tomorrow.
