PRESS RELEASE: Lib Dem Spokesperson calls for primary schools to move to temporary remote learning

Zöe Franklin, the Guildford & Cranleigh Lib Dem spokesperson, is calling for all primary schools to move to remote learning until 18th January and for Government Ministers to use that time to "get ahead of the virus" and publish a clear plan to open schools safely.

While Zöe and the Liberal Democrats want schools to remain open for vulnerable children and those of key-workers, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader and Education Spokesperson Daisy Cooper has warned the Tories have "squandered every opportunity to get ahead of the virus" and are "wreaking havoc on people's lives".

The Liberal Democrats are urging the Government to review testing strategies in schools and publish a plan that includes a move to single-school transport and a new pupil bubbling strategy to tackle the new, more transmissible strain.

Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesperson for Guildford and Cranleigh, Zöe Franklin said:

"I fully support the calls from my Lib Dem parliamentary colleagues, from education unions and public health experts including SAGE, who are calling on the Government to move primary schools to remote learning and bring them in-line with secondary schools.

"The science has been clear for some time that schools are one of the ways that covid can spread between households. With the R rate well above 1, and with the new, highly infectious strain of covid circulating, we cannot afford any further delay. The government needs to act decisively and move primary schools to remote learning until mid-January, by which point government advisors are saying they will be able to provide analysis on what is required to control the new strain of the virus.

"I have full confidence in local school heads and their staff that they will do everything in their power to protect our children and young people. However, I am deeply concerned that the Government's decision to keep primary schools open will cause problems for our local NHS services and the wider community. It is no surprise that parents and school staff are posting comments on social media that they are anxious about the return to school this week.

"It is not good enough for Surrey County Council, our local education authority, to be abdicating their responsibility and sitting on their hands. The County Council and our local MPs should be using their influence on this issue and backing up any and all local heads who take the decision to delay in-person teaching.

"Moving primary schools to remote learning until 18 January would create time to work out new pupil bubbling strategies, ensure that all school-transport is single-school only, and build trust in the Government's school COVID testing strategy so schools can open safely."

4th January 2021