ALMOST three quarters of Gazette readers do not want their children to return to school at the beginning of June, a poll has revealed.

The Government is planning to reopen schools for children in Reception, Year One and Year Six from June 1, as part of the next stage of its plans to reverse the nationwide lockdown.

But the proposals have drawn widespread criticism from opposition politicians, unions, teachers and many parents.

In a poll run on the Gazette website, 73 per cent of the 1,660 respondents said they did want their children going back on June 1.

We also asked teachers or school staff whether they felt safe returning to school on June 1. Out of the 808 people who responded to our poll, 80 per cent, or 647, said they did not.

On Monday, Colchester Coronavirus Action Group unveiled a banner on the Balkerne Hill footbridge with the slogan “No Going Back Until It’s Safe”.

Gazette:

Dr Anthony Sullivan, a member of the group, said: “The return to work currently being pushed for by the Government is not guided by sound science or concerns for public health but rather a mad rush to return to business as usual.

“The NEU teachers’ union has advised their members not to return to school unless it’s safe. They have laid out a five test programme including a much lower level of Covid-19 cases, a national plan to ensure social distancing and access to regular testing. They have been full supported in this by the British Medical Association.

“Parents are overwhelmingly against a return to school by June 1 as evidenced by the 70 per cent plus vote in the Gazette’s online poll.

“Our group is working to make clear the opposition to Government plans and supporting those like the teachers who are opposing them.”

Colchester Labour Group has also set out its opposition to plans to reopen schools for some students in two weeks.

A spokesman said: “Colchester Labour Group stands with concerned parents, teachers, the National Education Union, NASUWT, the National Association of Head Teachers and the British Medical Association, who believe the Government has not yet provided an adequate plan for sending our children back to school safely.”

“Like all these groups we believe more work needs to be done to show that sending children back to school won’t create an unacceptable level of risk of another peak or children spreading the infection to their families.

“We acknowledge the incredible work that our local schools are already doing in remaining open to receive the most vulnerable pupils and children of keyworkers since the start of lockdown, plus the very swift efforts they have made in moving to online learning and home packs, keeping in touch with children and families in the community.”