Backlash over pupils' return to school in Barnsley

As part of a phased lifting of lockdown measures, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that pupils in nurseries, Reception and Years 1 and 6 would be able to return from June 1.

Some local authorities, such as Liverpool and Bury, have advised against the majority of pupils returning to the classroom, but Barnsley Council say the decision lies with the individual schools.

Coun Hannah Kitching, who represents Penistone West ward and is leader of Barnsley Liberal Democrats, says the decision is not good enough, and puts schools under intense pressure.

Neighbouring Sheffield Council has said it does not recommend schools in the city reopen on June 1, as Greg Fell, the city's director of public health, does not feel assured the 'Test and Trace’ programme will be well established and robust enough for schools to reopen safely.

Coun Kitching said Sheffield Council's decision is brave, and she would have liked Barnsley Council to take a similar stance.

She said: “Sheffield Council made the difficult decision late in the day, which was brave and it was the right decision.

“Schools are under immense pressure and many are feeling that they don't want to open because its not safe, but without steer from the local authority they feel they have no choice but to put children at risk.

“It's very weak indeed from Barnsley Council. The wider easing of lockdown measures could potentially lead to a second wave of outbreaks, and it will be very hard to ascertain where the infections come from.

“The fact that Barnsley had the highest rates of Covid-19 infection in Yorkshire from May 9 to 23, and the second highest overall should be enough."

Coun Sir Steve Houghton CBE, Barnsley Council leader, said the council's priority is to keep children and staff in schools safe and risk assessments are being undertaken.

He said: “Most schools have been open through the pandemic for vulnerable children and the children of key workers. Most schools are seeking to gradually extend this offer on June 1 for the stipulated age groups and vulnerable children/those of key workers. A small number of schools take a two-week break at half term and in these cases, they will welcome pupils at the earliest opportunity on June 8.

“All schools and early years settings are taking comprehensive risk assessments, covering staffing levels, building layouts, and other issues that have an impact on safety, and we're providing both professional and public health support to enable them to do this. Schools and early years settings will continually review these risk assessments to make sure that children and staff are always as safe as possible.

“Based on these risk assessments, we're supporting schools and early years settings to welcome children back, should their parents or carers wish to do so.”

Julia Burrows, Barnsley Council director for public health, said: “I understand people may find the reported number of positive Covid-19 tests in Barnsley worrying.

“We’re constantly monitoring the data and are aware of this increase during this specific time period. This is a reflection that there’s more local testing happening, particularly in our Care Homes, than in some other areas and so by default we know about more positive cases.

“It doesn't mean that there's more chance of being infected here than other parts of Yorkshire. We continue to review our local data and intelligence to make sure we aren’t missing anything important locally. So far, we have not picked up any significant differences.

“However, we’re living with a risk. For children, the managed risks of being in a school setting could be more beneficial to being outside if they're not following social distancing guidelines.

“The public health guidance is still centred around handwashing, hygiene and social distancing being the key things we can all do to help avoid getting the virus and stop it from spreading to other people. We ask people to think carefully about the government's recent relaxation of social distancing measures and to make sure that their families are still maintaining social distancing measures.”

Mel John-Ross, council executive director of children’s services, said: “These are big decisions for parents and carers, and not easy ones to make. I can reassure them that we're meeting regularly with the Barnsley Schools Alliance Board and school leaders to do all we can to continue to provide a safe as possible environment for their children.

“We know children's wellbeing is made better from spending time with their friends and from the social interaction and structure that school provides. We believe that it's important for children to go back to their school or early years setting, to avoid lost learning and the significant impact that this may have on their future outcomes.

“The measures schools and early years settings are putting in place mean that children are protected as much as they can be.

“Schools have completed risk assessments, and significant and detailed consideration has been given to how children can safely return.

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