When will schools reopen? Government issues new statement on schools and pubs reopening

A number of Sunday newspapers have claimed that UK schools could reopen their doors as early as May 11 under Government proposals to ease the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions.

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However, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said on Sunday morning that no decision had been made on when the Government will reopen schools.

And Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove told BBC One’s The Andrew Marr Show: “We have stressed that the reporting in today's newspapers that schools will reopen on May 11, that is not true, we have not made that decision.”

Asked about when pubs and restaurants would be back in business, Mr Gove said: “The other inference that I draw from your question, which is that areas of hospitality will be among the last to exit the lockdown - yes, that is true, they will be among the last.”

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said any reopening of schools must be led ‘by the best scientific and medical advice available’.

“Any return to school must be planned in dialogue with the profession and be accompanied by robust safety measures for pupils, parents, school staff and the wider community,” he said.

“Schools stepped up immediately alongside other public services in response to this crisis. Not through compulsion but through a determination to play their part.

“Instructing school leaders and their teams to return without including them in the planning stages or sharing proper safety arrangements would be extremely reckless.”

“Any return to school must be planned in dialogue with the profession and be accompanied by robust safety measures for pupils, parents, school staff and the wider community,” he said.

“Schools stepped up immediately alongside other public services in response to this crisis. Not through compulsion but through a determination to play their part.

“Instructing school leaders and their teams to return without including them in the planning stages or sharing proper safety arrangements would be extremely reckless.”

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