Schools may be shut until May as 'ministers rethink February restart' | Metro News
Pupils could continue learning from home until after Easter, as education leaders say they don’t expect schools to reopen until May.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson is expected to make an announcement in the coming days, having previously stated that parents would have at least two weeks notice before classrooms reopen.
But now a Government source has claimed the nation will remain in the current homeschooling set-up ‘for the long haul’ amid fears over new Covid variants.
The virus mutation is believed to be up to 70% more infectious and 30% more deadly than other strains.
The source told The Times: ‘We are going to start giving parents more information so they can start managing their expectations. Although we have not arrived at an exact date when we think schools will go back, it will not be after half-term.’
Kevin Courtney, co-general secretary of the National Education Union, also told the publication that reopening schools after Easter seemed to be ‘optimistic’. He noted that children may only return to the classroom as ‘late as May’.
Pupils could continue learning from home until after Easter, as education leaders say they don’t expect schools to reopen until May.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson is expected to make an announcement in the coming days, having previously stated that parents would have at least two weeks notice before classrooms reopen.
But now a Government source has claimed the nation will remain in the current homeschooling set-up ‘for the long haul’ amid fears over new Covid variants.
The virus mutation is believed to be up to 70% more infectious and 30% more deadly than other strains.
The source told The Times: ‘We are going to start giving parents more information so they can start managing their expectations. Although we have not arrived at an exact date when we think schools will go back, it will not be after half-term.’
Kevin Courtney, co-general secretary of the National Education Union, also told the publication that reopening schools after Easter seemed to be ‘optimistic’. He noted that children may only return to the classroom as ‘late as May’.
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