Atkins: Let the parents decide whether to send their child back to school

All schools have been closed during the Covid-19 pandemic although some have remained open for children of key workers.

The government relaxed regulations last week and many primary schools in the area re-opened to children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 on Monday.

Nationally, thousands of parents said they were not sending their children back, despite intensive efforts by staff to make schools as safe as possible.

In an exclusive interview, Ms Atkins – a Home Office Minister – backed the government’s decision to allow schools to re-open and said it was vital children re-started their education.

However, she stressed it was only right that parents, guardians and carers - with health and safety fears – should be allowed to make what they felt was the ‘right decision’ for their children.

There are no plans in place to fine families who do not adhere to the recommendations and Ms Atkins said she would ‘support anyone’ who wanted to keep their children at home.

Ms Atkins, who has an eight-year-old son, said: “This (the return to school) is clearly a very difficult situation.

“I strongly believe it is important that children re-start their education as soon as possible, provided it is safe to do so.

“It is not just about lessons but also about development – meeting their friends again, especially at a young age.

“I understand there are still concerns surrounding coronavirus.

“Many children will have been kept at home for various reasons. They might have family members with health issues - or who are showing symptoms of coronavirus.

“Every family has different circumstances and that’s why I think it is for mums, dads and carers to make their own judgement.

“As a mother, I sympathise with the position they find themselves in and I would support whatever decision they made.”

Schools hare introduced rigorous regulations including staggered start and finish times, restricted play and lunchtimes and smaller class sizes.

Steve Bladon, the headteacher at Horncastle Community Primary School – one of the largest in the county – stressed the safety of staff and children had been paramount in the re-opening process.

There are no details about how many children in Ms Atkins’ constituency did return.

However, one parent – who did not want to be named – said: “My daughter was due back but her elder brother suffers from asthma.

“We’ve been really careful. She misses school – and her friends – but I’m worried about the consequences of sending her back.”

Ms Atkins admitted children had missed vital lessons and added that having ‘home schooled’ her son, it was ‘no substitute’ for the excellent work done by teachers.

More children are due back at school in the coming weeks with the area’s secondary schools working towards a ‘phased’ return in July.

There is still some concern about the easing of the lockdown but Ms Atkins said she believed the government had ‘got it right’ and had followed all the available advice from experts.

She praised residents in East Lindsey for observing the lockdown and said that had been a factor in one of the country’s lowest rates of infection.