UK schools reopening LIVE – Primary and secondary schools return TODAY for the first time in MONTHS after covid lockdown

SCHOOLS are reopening in England today in the first step towards lockdown being totally lifted.

Primary and secondary pupils are returning to classrooms for the first time in months after a brutal second coronavirus wave.

Classrooms have been declared safe and teachers told they are at no greater risk of catching the virus than those working in any other job.

Rapid testing will be vital to managing the risk posed by schools reopening, although parents have been told entire classes won't be sent home if just one pupil tests positive for the virus.

Primary aged pupils won't need to wear masks to school as open doors and windows has been deemed more effective in age groups where masks are more likely to be removed, fiddled with or worn incorrectly.

But teachers are said to be furious that they haven't been prioritised in the next round of jabs and there was even talk last week of a last minute strike plot drummed up by teachers unhappy at having to return to the classroom.

Follow our schools reopening live blog below for the very latest news and updates as kids return to the classroom…

  • Sarah Grealish

    WHICH AGE GROUPS WILL BE ASKED TO WEAR MASKS?

    Secondary school pupils and teachers are now asked to wear face coverings in classrooms and areas where it is not possible to socially distance. That means older pupils are likely to be in masks for much of the day.

    Official guidance from the Department for Education states that "no pupil should be denied education on the grounds that they are not wearing a face covering".

    But Schools Minister Nick Gibbs said masks are "highly recommended".

    No requirement is in place for primary schools, although teachers have been advised to wear masks "where possible".

    Education Secretary Gavin Williamson this morning backed the measure, and said children deserve credit for their efforts to keep friends and family safe.

  • Sarah Grealish

    WILL I BE FINED FOR NOT SENDING MY CHILD TO SCHOOL?

    It is against the law to withhold your child from school, unless they have a "good reason".

    These include your child being ill, or if you have received advance permission from the school.

    Under current laws, a local council can give each parent a fine of £60, which rises to £120 each if the fine is not paid within 21 days.

    If the fine still remains unpaid after 28 days you may be prosecuted for your child’s absence from school.

    This could result in a fine of up to £2,500, a community order or a jail sentence of up to three months.

  • Sarah Grealish

    RETURN TO SCHOOL COULD CAUSE INFECTIONS

    CHILDREN returning to school is "absolutely necessary" but will inevitably lead to an increase in coronavirus infections, according to the head of the Oxford vaccine team.

    The university's Professor of vaccinology, Sarah Gilbert, explained that despite the continually falling cases across the country, it would be reckless to be "too optimistic".

    It comes as thousands of students finally return to classrooms tomorrow for the first time since January.

    The highly-anticipated return to education centres has been shrouded by fears it will send the R rate rocketing again, as Gilbert suggested.

    "We’ve got kids going back to schools, and that’s absolutely necessary. But there may well be a slight increase in transmissions as a result of it.

    "But if we can get the transmission rate down really low, then then we can cope with a small increase," she explained to iNews.

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