SCHOOLS in England are set to use “year bubbles” to get every child back learning this September.
They have been urged to separate entire year groups with staggered start and finish times to keep them apart during breaks and lunch.
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According to The Huffington Post, the move would see bigger schools do bubbles of 30, with entire classes kept together to keep them safe.
Despite the new measures, the Government is also expected to tell schools to focus on core subjects, with a full curriculum possibly not back til 2022.
They include:
- No in-class social distancing for primary pupils, with secondary students advised to stay one metre apart
- Teachers told to keep two metres away from pupils, and as far away from colleagues as possible
- Children to sit facing forwards in the same direction, with no circular tables
- No face coverings because they “interfere” with teaching and learning
- Teachers advised to spend no more than 15 minutes closer than one metre to someone
- £120 fines for parents whose children don’t show up
- Some subjects dropped to allow students to catch up on English and maths
- A new focus on tackling “persistently disruptive” pupils because increased poor behaviour is more “likely” because of lockdown
- Routine Ofsted inspections to be suspended
The Education Secretary Gavin Williamson will confirm the new guidance in a speech this Thursday.
At the moment parents are not being fined if they don’t send their kids in during the pandemic.
Only kids in reception, year one and year six have been allowed to return to the classrooms since the coronavirus outbreak, but other years can come back if there’s space.
Secondary schools in England have also been allowed to reopen for some students from Years 10, 11 and 12 since June 15.
The Government had to abandon plans to get every primary school child back in for a month before the summer.
But not all schools have reopened fully. Some do not have the staff and others do not have the space.
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Earlier today the Prime Minister revealed his “ deep frustration” at some schools failing to reopen.
Appearing on Times Radio, he said: “Everyone needs to understand that schools are safe. If they can go back they should go back.
“It would be very helpful if our friends in the teachers union delivered that message, and some councils.
“Everybody must go back in September.”
The PM earlier claimed parents would be forced to send their kids back to school in September.
Boris said school closures during the coronavirus pandemic were a “massive problem”.
Mr Johnson said it would be “the law” for kids to be in class by September.
He also said teaching unions – who don’t want schools reopened yet due to safety fears – should “take their responsibilities seriously”.
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