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Years 2-5 could return on rota basis, says Nick Gibb

Years 2-5 could return on rota basis, says Nick Gibb

Schools minister says a rota system is an option for these pupils – despite the DfE ruling it out for other year groups

27th May 2020, 11:14am

Coronavirus: Some Primary Pupils Could Return To School On A Rota Basis After Schools Reopen, Says Minister Nick Gibb

Schools standards minister Nick Gibb has said pupils in years 2,3,4 and 5 could potentially return to school on a rota basis before the end of this school year.

He was speaking after the Department for Education ruled out the use of rotas - found to be the safest model for reopening schools by government scientists - for the primary year groups returning from 1 June.

Mr Gibb told the Commons Education Select Committee today that a rota system was “one of many possibilities of how we bring back more children while maintaining social distancing”.

Coronavirus: Schools could bring pupils back on rotas

Mr Gibb was responding to a question by Christian Wakeford, Conservative MP for Bury South, about the possibility of Years 2, 3,4 and 5 returning when schools were already saying they would struggle to manage social distancing between pupils in Reception, Year 1 and Year 6, who are due to return from Monday.

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Mr Wakeford said: “What plans are in place for those smaller schools that won’t be able to accommodate further years if the aspiration is for all years to be back for at least some education before the summer break?”

Mr Gibb replied: “We are looking at all the different options: for example, rotas for those at that stage. Not now - we’re not talking about full-time education for children coming back in the week commencing 1 June - but that is one of many possibilities of how we bring back more children while maintaining social distancing.”

However Mr Gibb also said it was “difficult to say” whether the Government’s ambition to bring back all primary school children to school before the summer holidays would come to fruition, and said the final decision would be led by the science.

He confirmed that a decision on whether schools will reopen to reception, year one and year six will be taken tomorrow after the Government has reviewed scientific evidence.

The meeting was held online.