PARENTS could face fines for keeping their kids off school from September, the Children’s Commissioner for England suggested today.
Anne Longfield said she didn’t expect anyone to be punished for now for not sending their children back to classrooms.
Kids in reception, year 1 and year 6 will return to class this morning for the first time since schools were closed more than two months ago.
But up to a million kids could still stay home as worried parents keep them off.
The Government has insisted no fines are on the cards for the meantime.
Boris Johnson stressed last month that he was aware that not all schools would be able to reopen on June 1, and some may take longer.
Ms Longfield told Sky News today on penalties: “I have heard nothing about that during this summer term.
“When schools reopen properly in September, it will be the case.
“But no, not now.”
She described the next month as “dipping a toe in the water” and trying to get kids back in for some education before the summer break.
But she stressed that “parents know their own children best” and they must be induced in plans to “work out the best way to reintroduce children to classrooms.”
And while ministers have insisted the time is right to ease the lockdown, almost half of parents are expected to not send their kids to class today.
According to the National Foundation for Educational Research, 46 per cent of the 1,200 school leaders surveyed expected families to keep pupils at home.
This means that of the more than 2 million students in reception, year 1 and year 6 classes, about 1 million are likely to stay at home.
Students were today pictured heading into school after the prolonged break.
But Government leaders have stressed social distancing measures must stay in place, particularly staying two metres apart from someone outside your household.
It comes as several scientists have criticised the move suggesting it is too early to lift restrictions and could cause coronavirus infections to rapidly rise again.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson today told HOAR: “I know there will be some natural nervousness about sending more pupils into school today.
“But I’d like to encourage parents to consider the full benefits of being back at school, not just for their children’s education but also their well-being.”
And Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said: “The risks to children of this disease are much lower. We know that — they are at very low risk.”
However, today also sees the lockdown eased in other ways – with people in England allowed to meet in groups of up to six in public places or private gardens.
It will mean Brits can have BBQs and picnics in the park with friends and family – but they must stay at least 2m apart from others who they don’t live with.
Today outdoor markets and car show rooms will reopen too.
In the coming weeks other non-essential retail shops will open their doors.
Ministers have stressed that it is is safe to do so despite not changing the coronavirus threat level from four down to three.
And they have put in place a test and trace system, which went live last week, to track down every case of the virus as someone is diagnosed.
But it got off to a shambolic start as tracers reported their IT log ins didn’t work and they had no calls to make.
This morning Business Secretary Alok Sharma refused to say how many people had used the tracing system, but insisted figures would come out on this earlier in the week.
Yesterday the Government said it had met its target to get up to 200,000 capacity for tests every day in Britain.
But it is not yet doing that many.
Last night just over 115,000 had taken place.
