A Bristol school has announced to parents it will partially reopen next week - but only for children of key workers.
Barton Hill Academy will be hosting one-off sessions in school every week day from Monday (May 11) until May 22, and only a limited number of children will be allowed to attend at any one time.
The announcement had caused some confusion, as the initial letter to parents did not specify only certain children would be eligible to return to school.
Headteacher Emma Tovey wrote to parents again today (May 7), clarifying that only vulnerable children and children of key workers will be invited to attend, in line with government advice.
The primary school in Queen Ann Road teaches about 400 pupils, and told parents learning will take place outside where possible.
One pupil's mum, who asked not to be named, said "lots of parents" were initially concerned that the reopening applied to all children.
She told Bristol Live: "No information was given on how they intend to keep our children safe, or saying that they have been given the go ahead to actually open. Or from who."
She said parents were "told one thing then another", adding: "They are worrying and confusing parents and children unnecessarily."
Parents were told about the reopening in a letter Tuesday (May 5), detailing a timetable of which classes would be invited in on which days.
The more recent letter explained: "The partial reopening of the school will only apply to children of key workers and those described by the Department for Education (DfE) as vulnerable.
"This follows Government guidance relating to the national coronavirus response.
"Whilst there was no immediate uptake for a school-based provision at Barton Hill Academy,that situation has now changed and as a result, we have decided to partially reopen the school to offer care for individual children, in line with guidelines established by the DfE."
Another letter was sent to parents today by David Watson, chief executive of the academy trust that runs the school.
He said: "Protecting the health, safety and wellbeing of staff and students is paramount as we respond to the COVID-19 outbreak.
"We are making every effort to support everyone’s physical and mental wellbeing as we continue to deliver services throughout this challenging period.
"Whilst we know this is a time of immense uncertainty, we must all contemplate the transition back to schools as we slowly return to normality."
Although there has been some indication that schools might be told to reopen in the next month or so, the advice to schools on the government's website has not yet been updated.
It still states: "Schools will remain closed until further notice, except for children of critical workers and vulnerable children who are encouraged to attend where it is appropriate for them to do so.
"We will only re-open schools when the scientific advice indicates it is safe to do so, and will consult closely with the sector on our approach."
Some schools have been asking teachers to come into work during lockdown to decorate classrooms, attend meetings and make fresh preparations for reopening, a union has claimed.
NASUWT, the teachers’ union, says it has received reports of teachers being brought back into work amid speculation that schools will be asked to reopen to more pupils before the summer.
