"Councils want all children to return to school but it is imperative that pupils return to school only when it is safe for them to do so and schools are best placed to make those decisions based on their own individual circumstances."
Responding to the Government’s announcement to drop plans for all primary school years in England to go back to school before the end of term, Cllr Judith Blake, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People Board, said:
“We are pleased that the Government has acted on our calls and will give councils and local schools flexibility over the decision to expand the number of pupils before the summer holidays.
“Councils want all children to return to school but it is imperative that pupils return to school only when it is safe for them to do so and schools are best placed to make those decisions based on their own individual circumstances.
“Where it has been safe to do so, councils have already been working closely with local partners to increase attendance in schools. However, many schools are already at full capacity despite the low numbers of pupils returning due to the necessary social distancing measures that are in place.
“As councils will continue to play a key role in moving the country forward, it is important that they have the capacity and necessary data to improve the Test and Trace programme. It is also vital that the Government works closely with councils to ensure the powers can be brought in to manage outbreaks in places like schools, care homes, businesses and communities if new COVID-19 clusters emerge.”