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'A defining moment' for schools: Praise for phenomenal coronavirus response

The first week under coronavirus lockdown has gone relatively smoothly for schools, although there have been reports of headteachers having to challenge some parents over the definition of “key worker”.

A snapshot survey of schools by SecEd has found that, on the whole, fewer pupils than expected turned up on Monday morning. However, there are examples of schools that have been forced to turn parents away who did not meet the government’s definition of key worker.

In the face of the coronavirus outbreak, the government acted last Friday (March 20) to close UK schools to all pupils except for the children of key workers, vulnerable children and those with Education, Health and Care Plans.

However, the government also urged all key workers and parents of children with SEN to keep their children at home if at all possible in a bid to ease the pressure on schools.

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