Schools and parents continued to battle with testing and infection control measures as children began to return to classrooms today.
Across Liverpool, many teachers and school staff are in the middle of a complex operation to test thousands of kids as a staged restart of classroom learning begins.
All parents have been contacted by the council to reassure them that schools were putting in place measures to try to reduce the risk of infection and urging them to follow school rules and make sure their children do as well.
Earlier today, the headteacher of Gateacre School told the PA news agency that the school was looking at potential sanctions for children who don’t wear masks.
Gareth Jones said the return of pupils at the school, which is happening in a phased way to allow for different year groups to be tested, meant schools had to consider how best to enforce rules.
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Mr Jones said: “We cannot exclude a child for not wearing a face mask, so we are looking at sanctions and will be discussing with both the parents and the children on how best to proceed.”
The Government has decided against making the use of face coverings mandatory due to pupil anxiety.
But the Department for Education (DfE) is advising secondary school and college students to wear them wherever social distancing cannot be maintained, including in the classroom.
Director of children’s services Steve Reddy reinforced that advice in his letter to parents.
He said that exact rules and the ways they are enforced would happen on a school by school basis but urged parents to be aware of them and ensure their children follow them.
His letter read: “It is still important that we continue to keep ourselves and others safe. Please continue to follow all Coronavirus prevention guidelines, maintain social distancing and wear face coverings where required.
“Upon return, secondary school aged pupils will be offered a series of 3 tests at their school under the supervision of a trained operator. Testing is voluntary, and consent must be provided for your child directly to the school.
“Following on site testing, pupils may then continue taking twice-weekly tests using a home test kit provided by their school. You will receive further information about how to participate directly from your school.”
