Initial political welcome for Stormont decision not to take primary school children back out of classes

Thousands of P1 to P3s returned to school on Monday as the first cohort of pupils to go back to face-to-face learning in the region since the most recent Covid-19 lockdown was introduced. Nurseries and pre-schools also reopened to all children.

The next pupils due back are secondary school pupils in key exam years – year groups 12-14 – on March 22.

Under Stormont’s original plan, the P1-P3, nursery and pre-school children were due to resume remote learning in that week, to minimise the impact on community infection rates of the secondary school return.

The PA news agency understands that ministers have now agreed that those young children should stay in classes for that week.

Education Minister Peter Weir also wants all remaining primary school children – P4 to P7s – to go back to school on March 22 and all remaining secondary school children – years 8 to 11 – to return after the Easter holidays on April 12.

The executive did not make decisions on those proposals on Thursday and is due to examine them again on Tuesday, when ministers formally review the wider lockdown restrictions in place in Northern Ireland.

TUV East Londonderry spokesperson Jordan Armstrong said the Executive’s decision to bin the plan to bring P1-3 children back out of school is welcome.

“There never was any logic to the hokey cokey nonsense of pulling primary school pupils from their schools supposedly to facilitate secondary school pupils getting back to different schools,” he said.

“TUV has pointed this out since day one. It is welcome that, however belatedly, the Executive has recognised that its position was indefensible.

“All that said, I remain convinced that ALL school children should be back in the classroom today. Pupils of all ages have already missed far too much of their education and with a falling r-number, falling numbers in hospitals and a world leading vaccination programme thanks to our membership of the United Kingdom the fact that any pupils are still off school is indefensible.”

Speaking to the News Letter before the decision was announced, Dr Tom Black, NI chairman of the British Medical Association urged NI to hold its nerve with the plan and keep watching the R-number.

“In terms of the schools, it’s very straightforward,” he said. “We have a plan for P1 to P3 and years 12 to 14. We should now wait to see what effect that has on the R-number and the transmission of infections. You have to take each step carefully and reassess based on the data. I think we need to hold our nerve, not lose the run of ourselves, and do this based on the medical advice. Follow the science and follow the data. It’s very straightforward.”

In a statement, the Department of Educations said Pre-school, nursery and primary schools pupils in P1 to P3 will remain in school until the start of the Easter break.

The decision, which was agreed by the Executive today, means that the youngest pupils will continue with face-to-face teaching for the remainder of this term.

Decisions on the timing for the return of other primary and post-primary pupils will be considered next Tuesday as part of an overall review of the current restrictions.

Students in years 12 to 14, who will be awarded qualification results this summer, will return to full time face-to face teaching with effect from 22 March 2021.

Education Minister Peter Weir said: “I welcome the decision by the Executive today to allow the youngest pupils to continue with face-to-face teaching until the start of the Easter holidays.

“I know that many schools, parents and other pupils want clarity on when more year groups will be returning. I will continue to make the case for all pupils to return as soon as practicably possible and in line with public health advice and scientific evidence.

“It is clear that long periods away from the classroom has a significant impact on the mental health and well-being of our children and young people. Remote learning, no matter how well provided and delivered, is no replacement for face-to-face learning and educational experience. I am particularly conscious of the disproportionate impact that this has on disadvantaged groups and vulnerable children.”

The News Letter understands Peter Weir is disappointed a decision on his other proposals (the return of P4-P7 on March 22 and the return of all pupils on April 12) is being deferred until Tuesday.

The deferral could give school leaders and parents only three working days to prepare for the return of the P4-P7 age group if that proposal is approved by the Executive on Tuesday, a situation the News Letter understands Mr Weir had hoped to avoid.

:: More reaction to come.

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