Furious mum will refuse to send son, 5, back to school as she won’t let him be treated as ‘guinea pig’ – The Sun

A FURIOUS mum says her son isn't a "guinea pig" as the Government forges ahead with plans to start getting kids back to class.

Officials want to begin reopening primary schools on June 1 – but Jemma Thompson, from Worcester, says it's "too soon" as children as "little transmitters" of Covid-19.

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Officials have locked horns with teaching unions over the plans to get pupils back to school.

Yesterday, headteachers' union the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) finally gave its backing to the plans, and says it will recommend that members reopen schools on June 1.

But other teaching unions have advised their members to not engage with the government's plans.

And parents like Jemma have been left worried and afraid for their children.

The 33-year-old said son Oliver has always had 100 per cent attendance, but added: "I will not let him be used as a guinea pig.

"I'm all for kick-starting the economy, but not for the price of my son.

"I think older children who understand what social distancing is should return first."

Jemma, an accounts assistant, said little ones will struggle to stay away from each other when back at school.

"Oliver knows there's a virus that can make you poorly, and he knows you must wash your hands a lot, but he isn't going to understand why he can't play with friends and act as normal at school," she said.

'I WON'T RISK MY SON'

And the mum said she's "terrified" of the little boy bringing the virus home, adding: "I will always put our health first, and if that means staying off school for even longer, then so be it.

"Everyone has different opinions.

"If things haven't drastically improved by June or even September, then I won't be sending him."

She said she was shocked to hear the youngest pupils would be among the first to return.

“All younger pupils want to do is play – they won’t understand the two-metre rule," she said.
“Four and five years old have always got their fingers in their mouths and nose."

Ministers hope reopening schools will be a key step in getting Britain moving again as the country emerges from almost two months of coronavirus lockdown.

It is part of the second step in the government's three stage plan – with Boris Johnson laying out his hopes that children in reception, year one and year six will return on June 1.

Critics of the plan have warned it is too early to send kids back as infection rates remain too high, with the National Education Union calling the plan "reckless".

However, officials are now also drawing up a scheme to keep schools reopen throughout the summer holiday with "summer camps" to get kids' education back on track.

And a new survey revealed that almost 700,000 state pupils are receiving no home lessons amid the lockdown.

A top education expert has warned today of the social cost to children if schools don't reopen.

Professor Alan Smithers, Director of Centre for Education and Employment Research at University of Buckingham, said the futures of British kids are "hanging by a thread".

School closures could cause "damage beyond repair for a generation of children", he said.

It comes after a new report found that children from more affluent households are spending an extra 75 minutes per day at their studies than their peers from the poorest homes.The row over reopening schools continues, with some teaching unions – which have been backed by the doctors' union, the British Medical Association – urging caution.

Liverpool became the first local authority to rule out reopening its schools until at least June 15, in a major blow to the Government.

Hartlepool in County Durham later joined Liverpool in saying it would also ignore the plan.

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