FROM THE EDITOR: Refreshing honesty and detail when leadership lacks clarity

Headteacher at Abbey Lane Primary, Maxine Stafford, is to be applauded for her honesty. I hope other heads and our council will follow her example.

Parents are crying out for clarity and you don’t have to try very hard to imagine the impact on children of this ‘will they/won’t they’ situation.

I understand that things are changing rapidly with this pandemic, but we need leaders to talk us through the detail.

If what the Prime Minister means by reception and Y1 pupils returning to school is that some of them will be able to go but not every day and possibly not even every week, then let’s have that information.

Everyone is rightly worried about safety. If the safest way to get our youngest pupils back to school is with measures such as those set out by Abbey Lane – and if June 1 is honestly seen as the best date by scientists – then let’s have that discussion.

There are an awful lot of ifs and not much decision-making. There is only one certainty – children want to be back at school and their parents want the same thing – but it would be madness to take safety risks. No ifs, no buts.

We can’t afford to look back with hindsight and let the history books say that this was a foolish decision with very costly consequences.

Some councils have already said they won’t be allowing more children back to school, no matter what Downing Street wants.

Private schools are also indicating that they will remain closed until September. Lots of parents are saying that they won’t let their children leave home, no matter what officials say.

Then there are the teachers. Somehow, their desire to keep their pupils and themselves safe, healthy and alive has been turned against them.

They are not the ones in the wrong here. All our schools have remained opened to the most vulnerable youngsters and the children of key workers throughout this pandemic.

Teachers are always there when we need them and as individuals or families we take their advice because they are experts in their field.

That they are now being vilified nationally says much more about those on the attack than those at the receiving end of such bile.