HEADTEACHER Emily Armstrong stressed that her pupils’ safety was of the ‘utmost importance’ in the wake of Government plans for some primary age children to return to school next month.

From June 1 the Government is asking nurseries and other early year providers, including childminders, to begin welcoming back all children, and primary schools to welcome back children in nursery (where they have them), reception, years 1 and 6.

Mrs Armstrong is the headteacher at Bexton Primary School in Knutsford.

She said: “Although we are all desperate to see the children and to return to some sort of normality, we are very aware that this has to be carefully planned in order to keep our children and staff safe.

“We have therefore been spending time this week taking advice and gaining a better understanding of the details and expectations of the government’s plan.

“The children’s safety is of utmost importance to us and the measures we put in place will reflect this.”

The Government said: “We have provided guidance and support to schools, colleges and childcare settings on implementing protective measures in education and childcare settings to help them to reduce the risk of transmission as more children and young people return.

“To prevent the spread of coronavirus, schools and other settings will use a range of protective measures to create safer environments in which the risk of spreading the virus is substantially reduced.

“Whilst such changes are likely to look different in each setting, as they will depend upon individual circumstances, they are all designed to minimise risks to children, staff and their families.

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“We have provided guidance and support to schools, colleges and childcare settings on implementing protective measures in education and childcare settings to help them to reduce the risk of transmission as more children and young people return.

“To prevent the spread of coronavirus, schools and other settings will use a range of protective measures to create safer environments in which the risk of spreading the virus is substantially reduced.

“Whilst such changes are likely to look different in each setting, as they will depend upon individual circumstances, they are all designed to minimise risks to children, staff and their families.”