Redbridge school staff oppose plans to reopen next month

Plans are currently being made to reopen England’s schools from June 1, on the grounds young children are less likely to become seriously ill from the virus.

It is understood that nursery, pre-school, reception, year 1 and year 6 students would return first, as well as years 10 and 12.

However, teachers and support staff in Redbridge, as well as some headteachers, are holding a meeting later this week to oppose the re-opening.

Cllr Paul Donovan said: “Teachers and their union representatives have every right to be wary of government efforts to get them back into the classroom without due attention to their safety.

“Many are no doubt looking at the total failure to exercise a duty of care toward health and care workers.

“This negligent failure to provide the required personal protection equipment has no doubt cost lives.

“Teachers in state schools also must wonder why, if it is so safe to return, their counterparts in the public schools are not doing so till September.

“Yes, children do need to get back to school, being locked at home, often in cramped conditions, is no good for anyone. But staff and children can only go back when it is demonstrably safe to do so and not as part of some behavioural science experiment."

Parents who wish to support school staff can join the meeting at 6.30pm on Thursday (May 21) on Zoom by visiting https://tinyurl.com/yc2ja23g

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