Ministers must narrow the definition of key worker status, scientists have demanded, after thousands of parents sent their children to school despite the national lockdown.
Newly-released figures show that one in three schools in the UK had more than 20 per cent of pupils in on Wednesday.
In March, during the first lockdown, only 1 in 100 schools registered as high a figure.
Reacting to the news, teachers expressed their concern, while the independent Sage group warned that Covid-19 infections will continue to spread through classrooms where high numbers of children are attending.
The group is calling for the definition of key workers to be narrowed and for increased financial support or furlough to be given to those who cannot work amid a large demand for school places.
Schools told to increase hours of remote learning ukauthority.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from ukauthority.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
There are “clear disparities” between remote learning opportunities being offered by schools, the Children’s Commissioner for England has said.
Anne Longfield said it is “not acceptable” that some children are unable to learn during lockdown and called for those learning remotely to have daily contact with their teachers.
Some schools have said they will not do any live sessions at all for younger children – citing safeguarding issues and staffing constraints.
In contrast, other schools live-stream what is happening in the classroom with the children of keyworkers, including some interaction for youngsters at home.
Others have a structured timetable and live lessons as well as pre-recorded video clips in between.
The Education Secretary has provoked anger among school leaders after telling parents they can report schools to Ofsted if they are unhappy with their child’s remote learning provision during closures.
Gavin Williamson told the House of Commons that the schools watchdog would enforce legal requirements for state schools in England to provide high-quality remote education during the lockdown.
He said schools are expected to provide between three and five hours teaching a day – and if parents feel their child is not receiving enough learning they should complain to the school first, and then ultimately to Ofsted.
School leaders’ union NAHT said the threat was “nothing short of disgraceful” while the National Education Union (NEU) said teachers do not need the “spectre” of Ofsted looming over them during the pandemic.
Education Secretary outlines plans to support young people
Pupils to receive set number of hours of remote education each day and Ofsted to inspect where it has concerns
From:
6 January 2021
Support for the continued education of young people has been outlined by the Education Secretary today, following the announcement that attendance at schools and colleges is now limited to all but vulnerable children and children of critical workers.
During the period of national lockdown strengthened remote education expectations will be put in place, with schools expected to provide a set number of hours of high-quality remote education for pupils, supported by further deliveries of laptops and tablets for the most disadvantaged.