Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to help ensure that families feel confident to return their children to school when schools reopen during the covid-19 outbreak.

The Government wants to get all children back into education as soon as the scientific advice allows because it is the best place for them to learn, and because we know it is good for children’s mental wellbeing to have social interactions with other children, carers and teachers.

From the week commencing 1 June 2020 at the earliest, the Department will be asking primary schools to welcome back children in nursery, reception, Year 1 and Year 6, alongside priority groups.

The Department has provided information and guidance for parents and carers about the wider opening of nurseries, schools and colleges from 1 June. The guidance includes information about the latest scientific advice and the protective measures that schools can implement to minimise risk. It also includes information on what will happen if there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 in a school. The guidance is available here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers/reopening-schools-and-other-educational-settings-from-1-june.