A primary school has become the first in the country to make all children wear face masks when they start the new term next month.
The head of the school has also informed parents they should send their children to Hogwarts – Harry Potter’s school if they’re not taking the coronavirus pandemic seriously.
Only children in reception class will not be required to mask their faces, according to the edict sent out by Warren Harrison, chief executive officer of the Premier Academy’s Eaton Mill Primary School.
In a newsletter sent to parents on Monday, Mr Harrison slammed the government for doing everything on the hoof and said the Premier Academy was acting with common sense, logic and reason in the face of coronavirus.
All children in year one upwards who return to the school, in Bletchley, near Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, on September 8 will have to wear masks or visors but the plan goes against government guidelines which state children under the age of 11 don’t have to wear masks.
The newsletter, which was signed off with “Stay safe, mask up and stay classy”, states “All staff, children, parents, carers and visitors must wear a mask when on-site or they will not be granted access.
Face coverings are not acceptable and they recommend the N95 or surgical masks and once in their bubbles, children and those members of staff in close contact with children will shift from a mask to a nominated shield which will be provided by the school, anyone may, however, stay in a mask if they prefer.
Reception aged children will not be mandated to wear a mask or face shield, however, the school are urging parents to encourage them to do so at the current time and when walking around the school, masks or shields must be worn, for example, visiting the toilets.
When not in the classroom, masks may be removed for eating purposes and when outside the building during the bubble’s daily walks. All cross bubble contact between children and staff will need all parties to wear a mask.
At dismissal time all shields should be left on desks with water bottles so that they can be washed efficiently and children will be dismissed in masks to adults wearing masks.
They also went on to urge everyone to attempt and maintain a 2-metre distance and said face shields would be named and given by the school. They also said to make sure that their child understood why they’re wearing a mask.
While children have been wearing a mask when they’re out when shopping or on a bus, I’ve noticed that they’re forever touching their masks and parents are repeatedly telling them not to touch it, so for younger children, this will definitely happen.
And it really isn’t their fault if they do touch their mask because at the end of the day it’s something they’re not used to and having something over their nose and mouth is uncomfortable.
