So it is good to hear Education Secretary Gavin Williamson planning a phased or part-time return for schools.
That said, the prospect of older pupils having another two full months at home and then the summer off will fill many of them and their parents with dread.
Weeks have now gone by under lockdown.
While some schools have done an admirable job keeping pupils busy, setting work and insisting on it being finished, others have not.
The gap between the best state and private schools and the rest grows ever wider.
Deprived and vulnerable children drop further behind by the day.
‘HAMMERING THE ECONOMY’
The overall pupil percentage receiving daily online tuition is worryingly small, according to the Sutton Trust educational charity.
And while kids remain at home, their parents cannot go out to work even if they are allowed to do so.
That is hammering the economy.
Meanwhile the toll on young people’s mental health is grim, cooped up with their families — and with their mates only available to them online, if at all.
We know the Government is nervous about any relaxation of restrictions, especially with Germany considering reimposing them.
And Mr Williamson rightly insists he will be guided by the science. But the science is ambiguous.
A study by University College, London, found school closures had only a small impact on the virus’s spread.
Norway has opened its primaries.
Switzerland is doing the same, and letting under-tens hug their grandparents because their scientists “know young children don’t transmit the virus”.
Our Government is of course doing what it thinks best.
But it must continue to challenge our experts on why their evidence conflicts with that elsewhere.
The urgent need to rescue our economy holds equally for our children’s schooling.
Carrie cot
HEARTY congratulations from all at HOAR to Carrie Symonds and Boris Johnson on their healthy baby boy.
What fantastic news for them — a huge relief after all they’ve been through in the past two months. It is a relief to the nation too that the PM will not take paternity leave quite yet.
With respect to his solid stand-in Dominic Raab, we cannot lose Boris for another fortnight at this crucial point.
As for a name for the lad, there are many British heroes Boris and Carrie would doubtless love to honour. Winston, for one.
But how about Thomas, after Colonel Tom Moore and his extraordinary life?
The World War Two hero, the world record fund-raiser behind a £30million walk, the oldest person to have a No1 single . . . the man having his century celebrated today by the entire nation.
Happy 100th birthday, Tom. You’re an inspiration.
