Atherstone parents ARE listening over keeping children off school during coronavirus outbreak

PARENTS in Atherstone and district have been thanked for their "responsible approach" to keeping children off school during the coronavirus outbreak.

The 'stay-at-home' diktat issued last week by Government has seen numbers of learners still attending educational establishments reduced to a trickle.

Only a few dozen children of key workers from the Nub News area with designated "essential" status are thought to be still attending state-funded schools.

Out of a total of 85,055 learners at those establishments in the county, only 1.7 per cent – 1,445 – were on site on Wednesday, many of them children of critical workers. Of the children at the 161 open schools, attendance was reduced from 2.7 per cent on Tuesday to 2.06 per cent a day later.

Almost all schools, colleges and early years settings have remained open to take the children and young people designated as eligible learners. These include children of critical workers and children and young people classed as vulnerable.

The transport network has also been maintained enabling the young people to be taken to school while school meals have also been provided.

Where settings have had to close as pressures on staffing grow with increasing absences of staff, alternative arrangements in local settings have been provided.

Education lead Councillor Colin Hayfiield told Nub News: : "This is a fantastic response which the Regional Schools Commissioner has commented on favourably.

"I would like to thank parents and carers for their responsible approach in keeping their children at home wherever they have been able to.

"Government has stressed repeatedly that it is essential that this happens.

Meanwhile, teachers' leaders have warned live-streaming lessons to pupils at home during the coronavirus crisis is likely to be "completely impossible".

With schools across the whole England now closed to all but vulnerable youngsters and the children of key workers, most of the nation's pupils are now attempting to keep up with their studies at home.

School leaders and teachers have been preparing different materials and ways that youngsters can do some work at home.

But there are concerns about live-streaming lessons – which would mean a teacher giving a class in real time to children in their own homes, via the internet.

Nansi Ellis, assistant general secretary of the National Education Union, said there had been "a lot of different concerns", including around teachers' online safety, adding: "We don't want to put our members in any position where they could end up having their image shared."

Screen grabs could be taken, she said as an example, of the teacher, and posted to other sites. There are also issues with access, Ms Ellis added.

It could be "completely impossible" for both teachers and pupils, she suggested, with other siblings, parents working from home and internet access all likely to be factors that could cause difficulty.

Ms Ellis also said that some children "won't have internet at all", adding: "If you've got parents working from home or other siblings, you might not have enough kit for everyone to join in."

Children could listen in to the lesson at a different time, but this may also be stressful for them if they feel they are missing out.