Headteachers have accused the government of being “disingenuous” about its position on social distancing in primary schools.

Confusion has been caused by “conflicting messages” on distancing expectations in Department for Education guidance, according to the NAHT school leaders’ union.

It says this has resulted in schools adopting different policies - with some sticking to the 2m rule within classes and others focusing instead on the recommended group size of 15 pupils.

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The comments follow a blog post from the DfE, which says that primary pupils “do not and have not needed to be kept apart in the classroom”.

The blog is consistent with existing guidance. However, heads have pointed to a previous DfE post which seems to contradict the advice.

The second post states that “where schools can welcome more pupils back and maintain social distancing, we encourage them to do so”.

But DfE’s guidance for primary schools says: “We know that, unlike older children and adults, early years and primary age children cannot be expected to remain 2m apart from each other and staff.

Coronavirus: Confusion over social distancing in schools

“In deciding to bring more children back to early years and schools, we are taking this into account.

“It is still important to reduce contact between people as much as possible, so children, young people and staff, where possible, should only mix in a small, consistent group and that small group should stay away from other people and groups.

“If you can keep older children within those small groups 2m away from each other, you should do so. While in general groups should be kept apart, brief, transitory contact, such as passing in a corridor, is low risk.”

In an email sent to members today, Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT school leaders’ union, said it was “disingenuous” of the DfE to suggest that its position “has ever been as definitive as is now being claimed”.

“Yesterday afternoon, many of you will have received an email from the Department of Education that referred to social distancing expectations in schools,” he wrote.

“Like many of you, we were unimpressed by the tone of that email. Given the lack of clarity and the conflicting messages contained within the protective measures guidance, it is disingenuous to suggest that the position has ever been as definitive as is now being claimed.

“You have asked us to communicate your strength of feeling on this issue, and we will do so today.”

The DfE statement provoked a significant backlash on social media, with NAHT’s director of policy, James Bowen, suggesting an alternative line that the government could have taken.

He tweeted: “The email that could have gone out from DfE yesterday: ‘We recognise and accept that some of the guidance issued so far is not as clear as it could be, and that this lack of clarity has caused some confusion. With that in mind, today we would like to clarify the position...’”.

The email that could have gone out from DfE yesterday: “we recognise and accept that some of the guidance issued so far is not at clear as it could be, and that this lack of clarity has caused some confusion. With that in mind, today we would like to clarify the position...”

- James Bowen (@JamesJkbowen) June 25, 2020

Mr Bowen added that schools had been pulled in different directions by the guidance.

“We know from our members that some have stuck strictly to the 2m rule, others have focused on the group size of 15,” he said. 

“I can understand why people would have done either based on the guidance.”

Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the NEU teaching union, also tweeted: “It is unbelievable. Like 1984 - history erased when it becomes inconvenient.”

It is unbelievable. Like 1984 - history erased when it becomes inconvenient.

- Dr Mary Bousted (@MaryBoustedNEU) June 24, 2020

A DfE spokesperson said: “Our guidance has always acknowledged that early years and primary age children cannot be expected to remain 2m apart from each other and staff. 

“Instead, schools were asked to implement a hierarchy of controls to reduce the risk of transmission.

“If schools could keep children 2m apart, they were asked to do so, but this was not required if the wider range of measures were in place. 

“Primary schools should continue to operate in groups of 15 and we hope that the move to 1m will give more heads and teachers confidence to maximise capacity within classrooms, ahead of all pupils returning from September.”