Within one hour 49,000 members of the National Education Union (NEU) responded to a survey about the Government’s announcement tonight. They have given a resounding NO to the Prime Ministers’s roadmap for wider school reopening.
85 per cent of respondents said they disagreed with Boris Johnson’s plans to restart lessons for reception, year 1 and year 6 from 1 June.
93 per cent said they would not feel safe with the proposed wider opening of schools.
Of those with school age children, 90 per cent said they felt it would be unsafe or very unsafe to send their children back to school.
Of those respondents working from home because they have a pre-existing medical condition or are pregnant, 96 per cent said they felt unsafe or very unsafe returning to work. And 96 per cent of those with a family member living with them who has a pre-existing medical condition or are pregnant thought it would be unsafe or very unsafe for them to return.
92% said the Government must meet the NEU’s five tests* before schools can re-open.
Responding to the survey, Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary, said: “The Government must work with the unions to establish a position which gains the confidence of staff in schools. Tonight’s announcement – so out of step with Scotland and Wales and with its confusion about social distancing – has resulted in 93 per cent of NEU members saying they feel unsafe.
“The Prime Minister describes this as a ”first sketch” of a roadmap but our members think this sketch must urgently be re-drawn.
“The incoherence in this plan has generated genuine fear. For school leaders, the lack of clarity about what is expected before, or on 1 June, is simply unacceptable.”
