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Fraction of Devon children return to school

Wednesday, 3 June 2020 08:20

By Daniel Clark, local democracy reporter

Just 40 per cent turn up

Only 40 per cent of children who were able to go to to school in Devon at the beginning of this week did so.

Just over half of Devon’s 320 primary schools are allowing some or all reception, year 1 and year 6, children to attend, in addition to offspring of key workers and vulnerable children. Other schools are planning staged openings with some provision over the coming week.

Pupil numbers are 150 per cent up on just before half term

Significantly more children went to school on Tuesday than Monday. Shools are also experiencing a big increase in the children of key workers attending classes since half-term – nearly a third up on last month.

Devon County Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for schools, Cllr James McInnes, said: “I understand parents are very concerned about Covid-19 and some parents are choosing not to send their children back to school just yet, but the county council has been working as one with our local authority headteachers and our academy headteachers and every school has done their own COVID-19 assessment.”

Cllr McInnes said heads, teachers and teaching assistants had worked incredibly hard to put safety measures in place. Children would usually be taught in one place in classes of 15 or under with one teacher and there would be staggered breaks and meal-times to ensure pupils stayed in their own bubbles. Where the school lay-out allowed, one-way systems were being set up.

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