SCHOOLS in South East Cornwall are encouraging families to start sending their children back into the classroom from tomorrow – but parents will not be fined for non-attendance.

A survey of local authorities across the country has shown that only 20 of 99 regions have said that they were advising schools to reopen. Two-thirds said that they could not guarantee to have schools open to Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 by mid-June, as set out by the Government.

Schools in North Somerset have decided not to reopen in the light of a spike in coronavirus cases in the district and Weston General Hospital having closed to general admissions.

Cornwall Council said it did not wish to make a blanket announcement about whether schools in the county would or would not reopen.

Liskard Councillor Sally Hawken, who is Cornwall Council Cabinet member for children and families, said she had been working closely with schools. She said: ‘It is important to acknowledge that this is a very difficult time for parents and school staff.

‘We are working closely with schools on making decisions on whether they open. At the heart of those decisions is the health and safety of children and staff.

‘It would not be appropriate to have a blanket position for schools, as all schools are different,’ Cllr Hawken continued.

‘If parents do not take up the offer (of returning to school) they will not be fined. There is no compulsion here, it is an individual’s choice.’

Adrian Massey is CEO of the Bridge Schools Multi-Academy Trust, which has 14 primary schools in South East Cornwall. He told the Cornish Times: ‘We have been working very hard to ensure we are at a point we can safely open all of our schools to more children.

‘The safety of our children, staff and parent communities is paramount.

‘We have an excellent team of leaders and staff in schools and a small central team working to ensure we have risk-assessed all areas of operation before we can commit to opening.

‘If government guidance gives us the green light we will proceed cautiously, initially just with Year 6 as we can more easily ensure social distancing measures are in place. We will then review provision day by day, to look at opening to Year 1, Reception and Nursery.’

‘During lockdown we successfully operated seven hub schools for vulnerable children and those whose parents are key workers,’ he continued.

‘This has given us good experience of operating schools within the “new COVID-19 normal”

‘As all children won’t return to school, initially we will continue to provide online learning.’

In a letter to parents, one Bridge School headteacher set out how children in each year group will be learning in small groups or ‘bubbles’ after half term.

Each bubble of children will have its own toilet, area of the playground, and separate break and lunchtimes, and will not be interacting with children from a different ‘bubble’

Meanwhile Cornwall Council has produced a ’Don’t burst my Bubble’ campaign with posters to help young children understand the meaning of social distancing.