Education union warns headteachers it does not think it is safe to widen the re-opening of Notinghamshire schools

The union has written to headteachers saying it does not believe it is safe for schools to open more widely this week.

In a statement an NEU spokesman said: "Whilst a number of Nottinghamshire schools have delayed wider opening for primary pupils next week, there are still a large number planning to open.

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"In negotiation with the LA the Nottinghamshire National Education Union, alongside many of our sister unions, have consistently made it clear that we do not believe it is safe for schools to open more widely next week."

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The union said despite clear evidence to the contrary the Prime Minister had announced it was safe for the wider opening of primary schools.

Track and trace was neither securely or robustly in place.

A long promised app was unlikely to be in place in June and delays in test results meant several days where the virus could spread in schools before action was taken.

The letter to heads in schools proposing to open from June 1 says:

“Given the fact that the independent SAGE group have stated that the risk is likely to reduce by 50 per cent if schools wait for two weeks, we cannot understand why schools are adding additional risk for staff, pupils and communities by not taking heed of this advice in their assessment of risks and delaying to reduce this risk.”

The track and trace program is not properly in place at this stage and the turnaround for tests being returned is still 3-7 days allowing potentially infected people to spread the virus to the wider community, as the measures do not require action until a positive test has been returned.

There was no compulsion to open on June 1 and the government guidance makes it clear that is does not supersede legal duties under Health and Safety or Equalities legislation.

The letter adds: "Given the legal responsibility placed on heads we are doing this as much to protect heads from any legal action as staff, pupils and wider communities."

“Whilst we are being painted as bullies and cowards we are of the view that ensuring schools and communities are safe is paramount. We have seen what happened in the care sector where risk assessments were also in place and we do not wish this for our schools further down the line. I cannot imagine the trauma a child would feel if they inadvertently brought home a virus, which led to the death of a family member.

“As ever we will continue to work with schools to ensure that those who return are doing so as safely as possible. We all want to be back in schools as soon as possible, teaching the children we joined the profession to support, but not at any cost. Once the virus is under control to a point where schools can return more safely we will all be very pleased to be back in schools.”