Government sets out five tests before schools can reopen

Gavin Williams the Education Secretary told Downing Streets daily press briefing on Sunday, that he cannot provide a date for when schools will reopen.

He said the government is “enormously grateful” to all teachers and staff in nurseries who have continued working to care for vulnerable children and look after the children of key workers.

He said, “I can’t give you a date” when schools will reopen fully.

“People are anxious to know when we’re going to relax restrictions, when schools are likely to be fully back and open again.

“Of course, I want nothing more than to see schools back, get them back to normal, make sure the children are sat around, learning, and experiencing the joy of being at school.

“But I can’t give you a date.

“Because before we do, we need to meet five tests.”

Williamson praised parents for dealing with home-schooling children during the coronavirus lockdown.

He said, “I recognise all the challenges that families will be facing at the moment.

“We are determined to support parents who are helping their children learn from home.

“I think we all know how difficult that can be.”

Speaking about the five tests that need to be met before schools can re-open, Williamson said, “First we must protect the NHS’s ability to cope, and be sure that it can continue to provide critical care and specialist treatment right across the whole of the United Kingdom.

“Second, we need to see daily death rates from coronavirus coming down.

“Third, we need to have reliable data that shows the rate of infection is decreasing to manageable levels.

“Four, we need to be confident that testing capacity and PPE is being managed, with supply able to meet, not just today’s demand, but future demand.

“And fifth, and perhaps most crucially, we need to be confident that any changes we do make will not risk a second peak of infections.

“When we can be sure that we have met these five essential points, we can think about getting children into schools again, learning, mastering new ideas and being with their friends once more.”