A Leeds headteacher has made the decision NOT to issue fines to parents if children do not return to school in September, until a coronavirus vaccine is found.
Chris Dyson, head of Parklands Primary School in Seacroft, said fining parents is "bullying them to return" after Education Secretary Gavin Williamson confirmed that school absences will incurr fines again in the autumn.
The decision would see families handed fines if children did not attend school without a 'substantial reason'.
But headteachers said parents are understandably frightened and anxious about their kids returning to school during a pandemic - and parents have also criticised the decision.
Chris Dyson has made his stand very clear about the situation for parents who may have worries about their children returning to school.
In a conversation on Twitter, Mr Dyson said: “It’s a 'no' from me. Fining is bullying them to return because the Govt has failed to get the parents to know its safe.
“I will be reopening fully in Sept BUT there will be no fines until a vaccine is found. We are in the middle of a pandemic @GavinWilliamson.”
In a separate tweet, he added: "My school will fully reopen, no staggered times (huge site with access points) but NO fines."
