The secretary of state for education has defended a decision to reopen primary schools from as early as 1 June after this was condemned by unions.
He said the decision was based on advice from Public Health England rather than from his own department.
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Gavin Williamson was responding to a question from Layla Moran, the Liberal Democrats’ education spokesperson, who called on him to “reassure us that these decisions are based solely on public health” and asked whether getting parents back to work had been the “main driver” behind the decision.
“When you have medical and scientific advice that is saying it is the right time to start bringing schools back in a phased and controlled manner, it seems only the right thing to do and the responsible thing to do,” Mr Williamson said.
“And in terms of pulling our guidance together, we’ve actually worked very closely with all of the teaching unions and the headteachers’ unions, we’ve worked very closely with the sector.
“But in terms of the hierarchy of controls that we have developed in terms of making sure that the risk of transmission of coronavirus is absolutely minimised within schools, we understand that the advice that we needed to seek was not within the Department for Education but was within Public Health England and also working with the scientific and medical advisers who every step of the way have been informing what the government does.
“And that is why when we created the hierarchy of controls about creating the safe bubbles for children and teachers and support staff to working, this was informed by them.”
Responding to a later question from Labour MP Mary Foy about Union concerns, Mr Williamson added: “The only consideration behind this decision is what is in the best interest of the welfare of children and those who work in schools.
“And we all recognise the importance of children being able to return to schools. And sometimes scaremongering and making people fear is really unfair and not a welcome pressure to be placed on families, children and teachers alike.”
