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Daily News Summary
12 May 2020

Coronavirus: "Ambition" for primary schools to reopen with classes of 15
University financial crisis could signal the end of "low value" degrees, report suggests
Giving children control over their food 'could reduce adult obesity levels'

Coronavirus: "Ambition" for primary schools to reopen with classes of 15

 

According to updated COVID-19 guidance published yesterday, the Government aims to have all primary school children in England back in school a month before the summer holidays. Children in reception, Year 1 and Year 6 are expected to start returning to school from June 1 "at the earliest", with class sizes of no more than 15 to allow for social distancing. By Sean Coughlan and Katherine Sellgren, BBC News. An article in Schools Week outlines key findings from new guidance for schools published by the Department for Education yesterday. By John Dickens. A separate article in Schools Week highlights key takeaways for schools from the Government's COVID-19 recovery strategy.

Mary Bousted, the joint general secretary of the National Education Union, has criticised proposals to start reopening primary schools from June, describing the approach as "reckless and rushed". By Dave Speck, Tes. Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), has warned the Government's plans "will give false hope to families and parents that we are further along the road to recovery than we actually are". By Dave Speck, Tes. The NAHT and the Association of School and College Leaders have said they support the right of headteachers to refuse to reopen their schools if they do not feel it is safe. By Freddie Whittaker, Schools Week. An article in The Mirror reports parents will not be fined for keeping children out of school after lockdown ends. By Dan Bloom.

Professor Chris Whitty, the Government's chief medical officer, has said it is important to have a "proper debate" about the risks school reopenings pose to teachers. By Catherine Lough, Tes.

The Early Years Alliance has said nursery providers require "sufficient funding" before they can reopen next month. By Victoria Ward, The Telegraph.

The Telegraph features the accounts of three teachers on how they are coping during the lockdown. The article quotes Jane Lunnon, headteacher at Wimbledon High School. A separate article in The Telegraph explores the different experiences parents have had with homeschooling during the shutdown. By Fiona Richardson. The paper also asks pupils from the state and independent sector about how they have been managing since schools closed.

The Centre for Education and Youth think tank has said summer camps designed to help pupils catch up on their education should be open to all to prevent children from disadvantaged backgrounds from feeling stigmatised. By Will Hazell, iNews.

Sir Tim Brighouse, former London commissioner for schools, and Bob Moon, emeritus professor of education at The Open University, write in The Guardian in support of a national online centre to help children with their learning after the lockdown.

The Telegraph explores the options available for parents of students who were supposed to sit their GCSE exams this year. By Lucy Dunn.

Dr Hayley van Zwanenberg, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at the Priory's Wellbeing Centre in Oxford, offers advice to parents on how they can support their teenagers in the run-up to schools reopening. The Telegraph.

An article in The Guardian offers advice for teachers on how to handle bereavement in schools. By Joanna Moorhead.

 

University financial crisis could signal the end of "low value" degrees, report suggests

 

According to a new report from the think tank Policy Exchange, the Government could use university bail-outs selectively to "weed out" so-called 'Mickey Mouse' degrees. By Camilla Turner, The Telegraph.

 
The Telegraph

Giving children control over their food 'could reduce adult obesity levels'

 

Scientists at the American Heart Association have said allowing children to choose what they eat from a menu of healthy meal options could help reduce obesity levels in adulthood. By Tom Bawden, iNews.

 
iNews

 

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