UNION chiefs today threatened to derail Boris Johnson’s plan to get all schools back again on March 8 by issuing a seven-point list of demands before teachers will return.
The GMB union accused ministers of not doing enough to make classrooms safe and called for a spending spree on medical grade face masks for staff.
Follow our live blog on Boris Johnson’s speech today for the very latest news & updates
In a statement the body, which represents over 100,000 school workers, also said there should only be a phased return to lessons where social distancing isn’t possible.
Its seven-point list includes demands for Government cash to pay for mandatory face masks so schools don’t have to pick up the tab.
Union chiefs also want all school workers to be prioritised for vaccinations, and are seeking reassurances a “functioning testing system” will be in place.
They say ministers must ensure “appropriate ventilation in all settings at all times” and want school restructures paused due to the pandemic.
The seven-point list is:
- A phased return where social distancing is not possible
- Face masks (not just face coverings) to be provided in early years, primary and SEND settings where children will not be wearing face masks (should be to FFP2/N95 standard) as these are now higher risk settings
- Central government funding for mandatory face coverings to relieve the financial burden from schools and ensure all face coverings meet WHO standards
- Prioritisation of vaccinations for all workers in a school setting
- A functioning testing system in place
- Ensuring appropriate ventilation in all settings at all times
- All restructures to be paused so that we don’t lose valuable staff as heads move towards balancing their budgets and saving money.
GMB National Secretary Rehana Azam said: “We want all our kids in their classrooms and learning but we need a proper credible plan.
“Let’s face it, the Government has done precious little to make schools safer between the start of lockdown and now despite having ample time.
“Many school workers are telling us that without additional protective measures, more space and proper support a full return won’t work.
“We need full central Government funding for enhanced safety measures, extra PPE in primary, early years and SEND settings which are now higher risk – and for school workers to be vaccinated as soon as possible.
“This isn’t just about keeping school workers and our children safe. It’s about keeping the R number down for all of us.”
The demands came hours after ministers confirmed schools will reopen in England to all kids on March 8.
The PM will later outline his roadmap to getting the country back to normal, and relax lockdown rules over the next few months.
Schools are set to return from March 8 for all pupils in all year groups in England – rather than a staggered approach.
The PM had vowed to give at least two weeks’ notice to parents and teachers.
There may be a few days leeway in order to test everyone as they return to the classrooms.
It comes as kids in Scotland and Wales started to go back today.
Younger kids are returning in small numbers, before more join them in the next few weeks.
Children in primaries one to three are due back in Scottish schools from along with some senior secondary pupils who need to do practical work for qualifications.
All children under school age in early learning and childcare are also returning.
Senior secondary pupils will need to stick to two-metre social distancing within schools and on school buses, while Covid-19 testing will be made available to them and teachers.
Ministers say that by March 8, the most vulnerable will have been vaccinated and that protection would have kicked in.
Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi confirmed this morning it would be “all schools”.
He said: “Children are our priority.
“I think being out of education has been hugely difficult for children and I think it’s right that we work together.
“Now, as we see the vaccine deployment programme continue at pace, to be able to reopen schools on their demand.
“I think it’s right that we focus our efforts on schools to reopen by the eighth of March.”
Other expected lockdown announcements will include:
- Brits will be allowed to socialise with up to six people or two households outside as the rule of six returns from the end of March
- Hospitality is expected to reopen in April, with indoor service from May – but no specific dates yet
The Prime Minister is preparing a major school safety campaign this week to convince parents children are safe, despite nine teaching unions saying they want a staggered return.
The PM faces huge opposition from unions over his plan, who have warned of a huge spike in cases if all kids go back at once.
He will also unveil millions in support for a major catch up push and a Covid mass-testing regime for all schools to follow in the coming days.
But a fresh Labour civil war exploded once again after Sir Keir Starmer threw his weight behind a “big bang” opening – to the fury of left-wingers in his party.
And they were backed by the Archbishop of Canterbury who said he was “absolutely sure” the government was right to prioritise the reopening of schools, saying: “That is probably the most urgent thing, it’s been the most urgent thing right the way through.”
It came as it emerged pupils will be given extra classes during the summer holidays to help them catch up with lessons missed during the pandemic.
Speaking on Sunday morning, Sir Keir told Sky News: “Ideally, I’d like to see all schools back open on 8th March and all children back in school on March 8.
“I’ve been worried through the pandemic, a number of people have, about the impact that being out of school has on particularly vulnerable children and the attainment gap is getting bigger, so ideally March 8.
“We’ll have to see obviously where the data is, see where the science is, but that’s what we should be working towards.
“If that means more testing, if that means Nightingale classrooms, if it means other measures, let’s do that because I want to get our kids back into school.
But that flew in the face of a joint statement from the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), the NAHT school leaders’ union, the National Education Union (NEU), the NASUWT teachers’ union, the National Governance Association (NGA), the Sixth Form Colleges Association (SFCA) and Labour-affiliated unions Unison, Unite and GMB.
They all said school return should be staggered by year group and called Mr Johnson’s plan “reckless”.
Unison, Unite and GMB are also major donors to the Labour party.
And former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell also took to the airwaves on Sunday morning to demand that Labour “listen to the unions.”
Boris Johnson is set to lay out his roadmap out of lockdown today – understood to lay out a four-step plan.
Under the plan, Brits are expected to be able to socialise outside with a friend or relative from another household from March 8, followed by relaxing of rules around travel and hospitality in the months to come.
