'Not all' Portsmouth primary schools will be ready to reopen on June 1, council warns

Under government guidelines, primary schools and early years settings can open once again on June 1, with secondary schools following suit on June 15.

But while staff have been working to get everything ready, Portsmouth City Council has warned that not everywhere will be opening immediately.

It comes following concerns from headteachers that they have not been given enough information to protect pupils and staff.

In a statement posted online today, a spokeswoman for the city council said: ‘Not all settings and primary schools will be ready to open from June 1 – some will be opening later, up to June 15, when secondary schools will also start to be open to more children.

‘Please wait for your child's school to get in touch with you to let you know when it will be possible for your child to return.

‘Given that not all teachers are able to come into schools, and more keyworker children are expected to need a place, not all primary schools will be able to offer places to children in all of the year groups allowed back by the government.’

According to Hamsphire County Council, responsible for schools in Fareham, Gosport and Havant, every school that does open on Monday will have undertaken a thorough health and safety risk assessment to identify the measures they will need to have in place to reduce the risk of spreading infection.

This includes having smaller class sizes and avoiding mixing between groups.

Councillor Roz Chadd, the council’s executive member for education and skills, said: ‘It is a complex task and early education providers, school leaders and their governing bodies have had to work hard to plan and implement measures that will ensure that staff, children and young people can adhere to national guidance and operate as safely as possible.

‘In so doing, they’re allowing for local flexibility within schools in terms of class size, staffing, and the constraints of school buildings.’

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