Union bosses are warned NOT to stop children getting back to school after teachers’ leader issued five conditions for the return of schools amid pandemic
Teachers’ unions are being warned not to get in the way of getting children back to school and letting their parents get back to work.
Tory MPs issued the alert amid concerns that union bosses were ‘leaning on’ Education Ministers to put off a timetable for schools to reopen.
The row came as Home Secretary Priti Patel said she sympathised ‘as a parent myself’ with the ‘immensely difficult’ plight of parents juggling with childcare and the need to get back to work.
Last week, the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) issued five conditions for the return of schools – including a demand that teachers have access to personal protective equipment. NASUWT general secretary Patrick Roach is pictured
Speaking at the daily Downing Street virus briefing, she gave a ‘clear assurance to the British public that the Government is working night and day looking at how we can move us out of this situation’.
But Ms Patel added it would ‘irresponsible’ to give any timetable now for the reopening of schools not already caring for key workers’ children – stressing the nation ‘was not out of the woods’ yet in the fight against the virus.
However, her comments came amid private concerns from some Conservative MPs that teaching unions are putting up ‘obstacles’ to getting children back to school as soon as possible.
Last week, the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) issued five conditions for the return of schools – including a demand that teachers have access to personal protective equipment (PPE), including face masks, gloves and aprons ‘where appropriate’.
Education Department guidelines say that staff should instead focus on observing ‘social distancing, handwashing, hygiene measures and cleansing of surfaces’.
Priti Patel gave a ‘clear assurance to the British public that the Government is working night and day looking at how we can move us out of this situation’.
NASUWT general secretary Patrick Roach also urged Ministers: ‘Do not rush to reopen schools.’ Conservative MP David Morris last night said that the unions were ‘quite rightly concerned about teachers’ welfare and making representations to Ministers, but that must not get in the way of arriving at a timetable for reopening the nation’s schools’.
Mr Morris added: ‘Getting our children back into class is not just vital for their education, it’s vital so that parents can get back to work and help restart the economy.’
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has insisted that ‘no decision has been made on when we will reopen schools’. He added: ‘I can reassure schools and parents that they will only reopen when the scientific advice indicates it is the right time to do so.’
Last night the Education Department said that the latest scientific advice concluded that ‘staff in non-residential education settings do not require PPE, as this is only needed by professionals providing intimate care to people with a possible or confirmed case of Covid-19.’
The NASUWT was approached for comment.