Are all independent schools in England reopening on 1 June?

[MotherOfDragonite]

Just that really. Would love to know what your children's primary/prep schools are doing and if they have communicated why!

Most are planning to that I know of. I would imagine like our prep, that they have polled parents to gauge opinion on this, but most are planning towards opening, in accordance with government advice.

Have any decided not to open?

Ours aren't. They say they're only opening the years the government tell them to.

My son's independent school is planning to open nursery, reception, Y1 and Y6. Not the other year groups yet.

Ours initially was opening for y6 y1 and R but have decided not to now as most people weren't going to send their kids back - staying open as were for key worker kids.

Ours isn't opening

Private prep opening for R, P1 and P6 only and I've been told that my P4 DC in unlikely to be back at school until Sept.

Independent schools are apparently not allowed to do anything different to what the govt is stating, which is a shame, because our P6s have no need to go back in (most are just going up to the senior school in Sept and all they normally do this half of the summer term is put on a play. It would be MUCH better if P3, P4 or P5 could go back instead.

The vast majority of parents at our school, have opted for return. 90% plus.

Only the years that the government has said. It actually makes no sense for the year 6s to return as it is a prep/senior school, so the transition happens at the end of year 8.

I don't think the senior school will go back at all as the school year finishes at the end of June anyway.

Opening nursery, R, Y1 and Y6. About 80 per cent of children coming in, on top of keyworkers

School were told they would invalidate insurance if they open up for years outside what government said to do.

As soon as they are allowed to open up other years they will.

Independent schools can open for any year groups they like as they are private businesses.
Similarly they couldn't be forced to close on 20th March but it was deemed too risky not to go with the flow and the government closing the state schools just in case a child caught the virus and the school could be deemed negligent for not following gov advice.

My dds school is not reopening until September for any years

Our private prep school is letting R, year 1 and year 6 kids back. For reception and year 1 they're only allowed back for a 90 minutes (yes 90 minutes ) each day, purely to play together. They're still relying on parents to homeschool kids, providing unengaging online lessons

@Kasecabanos 90 mins? Is your school full of SAHP who can just wait around for 60-75 mins?

No, the majority are 2 working parents and many parents live up to half an hour away from the school, so have already said they won't be sending their kids back. They have basically done the bare minimum to make it look like they're doing something. We've had a small fee reduction, but not enough to make a real difference.

Ours has said they’ll open (if allowed to) after a parent consultation to see if there was a demand for it. They’ve been open to children of key workers throughout. I’m not sure what’s happening with the boarding house though. If they’re allowed to open it I guess it would only be the year 6 children of whom there are very few full time boarders so I don’t imagine they would.

Ours intends to open with a comprehensive plan in place that has been shared with us. Over 90% of parents in the first three year groups to return voted yes when asked if they will be sending their children in.

@Kasecabanos as you say it’s worse then nothing. You’d literally have to park up and just wait for them.

Ours are both opening, and same as strawberry's school, they apparently tried to open for Year 8 (for transition) and Year 5 (because ISEB tests will be taken in the autumn) but insurance would be invalid because against govt advice, and the govt wouldn't give any flexibility on Year groups. So DS2 is going back 8.30-2pm, 5 days a week, in a bubble of 10 kids and a teacher but DS1 will stay home from his prep that is opening just for year 6 as they don't have a pre-prep. It sounds like all pupils returning (who are in the UK).

Over 90% of parents are sending their DC back at our school too.

Ours (nursery to Y13) will only be opening year groups as per the government guidance. They are currently planning for June 1st.

I work in a prep and we are reopening to N, R, 1 and 6 (we’ve been told insurance won’t cover other year groups until the government give it the go ahead). We have theoretically been open to key workers the whole time but in reality it’s only 2 kids from the same family who have only done a couple of dates. Think we will have a few more key workers from other year groups though come June, as some have teacher parents who will be required to return then. We have most of the younger ones signed up to come back but few y6s.

Most prep schools In our areas are opening but I know of one which isn’t - I know the head and apparently most parents said they wouldn’t return and she didn’t want to open anyway so made the decision to stay closed.

Ds prep school has been open all the time for keyworkers (including boarders), and are opening for nursery, reception, y1 and y6 on June 1st.

Nursery, reception and year 6, the rest asap. About 80% of kids will be back according to surveys, which is the perfect number to have bubbles with around 14 kids :)
The ones staying at home are either shielding themselves, or have parents shielding.

Sorry, year 1 as well!