The move to end self-isolation for school pupils has been hailed by GB News presenters Kirsty Gallacher, Darren McCaffrey and education campaigners.
Chris McGovern, of the campaign for Real Education, said it was a "fantastic move", while GB News presenter Kirsty Gallacher said it was "music to my ears".
Speaking on The Great British Breakfast, Mr McGovern said: "What is in the best interest of children? Is it in the best interest of children to be isolating at home when they haven't got the virus? I think we know the answer to that.
"The education department are very slow learners... It's crazy that schools are sending children home, they're falling behind. Ending this bubble situation is good, even though there is opposition to that, particularly among teaching unions."
Talking to co-host Darren McCaffrey, Kirsty said: "My children break up at the weekend.
"Let's start afresh in the autumn, I think it will be too complicated to implement now."
Elijah and Jayden, year 3 students from Hollydale Primary School in London attend their breakfast club as Greggs launches its annual Breakfast Club Appeal, which encourages customers to donate 25p with any purchase to provide a nutritious breakfast to a child in need. Issue date: Monday May 24, 2021.
David Parry
Darren McCaffrey said the move "couldn't come soon enough". He said: "This is affecting children now. I'd like to see this change as soon as possible, why wait until the autumn?"
It comes as the new children's commission for England has called for an end to bubble arrangements and self-isolation for school pupils should end as soon as possible.
Dame Rachel de Souza said there was an urgent need for children to get back to normal as lockdown restrictions had been a “real trauma” for many young people.
Her call came as The Guardian reported ministers are preparing to overhaul the system for schools in England when they return in September following the summer break.
The paper said an announcement may be made in the coming days to allow schools time to prepare, with the requirement to quarantine expected to be replaced with a new testing regime. Currently children have to self-isolate for 10 days if another pupil in their bubble tests positive for coronavirus.
It has resulted in a sharp rise in pupils off school for Covid-related reasons, with the latest official figures showing 239,000 children in England missing classes – as the numbers trebled in the space of a week.
In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, Dame Rachel said the need for children to go in and out of isolation was “a really big issue” and was proving “incredibly frustrating” for pupils and teachers alike.
“With bubbles, I think everybody would like it if we could get back to normal, as soon as possible. Obviously we have to be safe, and we have to take advice, but it’s very very restrictive,” she said.
“The experience of lockdown has been a real trauma, and I think we shouldn’t underestimate it. Children are really troubled, and it’s right across the board.” Dame Rachel said young people, who had seen their normal childhood disrupted in order to protect older people, were now struggling with their mental health.
“They have done a huge amount for us, I mean they really were the least at risk of this and they’ve given up 19 weeks of their education, they’ve had all this anxiety and concern and exams cancelled; they’ve taken a big burden for us,” she said.
The commissioner said although adults largely assumed “kids are resilient, they’ll bounce back”, the results this year of a sweeping survey on British pupils dubbed The Big Ask showed “they are telling us that they have got these worries and we need to listen to them”.
- What do you think about the proposed move to end the bubble system in schools? Is it a good idea? Let us know in the comments below
