More than 450,000 people have signed a petition demanding parents be able to keep their children away from schools when they reopen next month Boris Johnson wants Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 pupils back in class from June 1, and all primary school pupils to spend a month in the classroom before the start of the summer holidays.
But the move has been blasted as “irresponsible”. Labour and teaching unions say the Government has not reassured parents, teachers or children they will be safe.
And hundreds of thousands of people have signed a petition asking for a choice about when their children should return to school.