Robert Halfon welcomes “phased approach” to opening schools but only if science is right
Education: Secondary / Sat 16th May 2020 at 03:34pm
HARLOW MP Robert Halfon has supported the idea of pupils returning to school in early June.
Mr Halfon was speaking to broadcaster Ian Payne on LBC.
Mr Halfon said: “I would agree to schools opening but that is only if R rate is lower than one.
“I welcome the intervention of the children’s commissioner, Anne Longfield and think we should listen to her.
“I am really concerned that vulnerable children are being deeply effected by not being at school.
“We are heading for a safeguarding crisis and children may be exploited by gangs.
The Harlow MP was asked for his views on the opinions of the teaching unions?
He said: “Some are trying to find a solution and others less so.
“I understand the NEU are not engaging.
“It is all down to a reasonable approach.”
“I am surprised that the British Medical Association (BMA) is backing the teachers’ unions.
“SAGE have backed a cautious approach, if R is under 1 and that is, as I say, a reasonable cautious approach as we aim to see the schools,
open, phase by phase.
tony edwards
2020-05-17 21:20:55
Presumably we will we get to see "the science" before the schools are opened, or is that a naive assumption? My reason for asking is that the Your Harlow Headline on May 14th was "Government’s science boss tells Harlow MP “not assessed whether guidance on reopening schools is effective” In the same report the Education committee chair Robert Halfon reportedly asked what scientific evidence base underpinned the decision to reopen schools to pupils in reception, year 1 and year 6, and what modelling had been done. “The department has not done any modelling,” Rahman replied. “One of the SAGE groups has done various bits of modelling for different scenarios on what years you can bring back. My understanding is those will be published in due course.” Halfon responded that “surely you must have scientific evidence the base underpinning the department’s decision?”, to which Rahman responded: “That was a cabinet decision following advice from SAGE.” If there is no "evidence" - then what was the basis for the "advice". Surely parents and teachers should have the opportunity to see the "evidence if it exists and/or any reasons for the Sage advice" so as to allow them to make an informed decision regarding when it is right for children to return to school.
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