UNION leaders fear staff are being exposed to Covid-19 risk because schools are caring for far more pupils than the first national lockdown.

Trade union Unison claims at many schools, any idea of “guaranteeing safe and consistent bubbles which can protect children and staff, seems to be vanishing”.

Schools are open to vulnerable children and children of key workers while all others are taught at home.

The union is now calling for council and school leaders to make sure schools are “genuinely safe” before allowing all students to fully return, with the goal initially set for after the February half-term.

Unison Southend branch secretary, Clare Wormald, said the union had “said all along that schools are a high risk environment”.

She added: “Our message to head teachers and the council is that despite the sadly ineffectual guidelines from central government, they still have all their responsibilities under Health and Safety law and we expect them to protect staff.

"That means reinforcing the need to minimise contact and numbers of pupils and workers within schools.”

Dad Daniel Cowan suspects the growing number of children in school this lockdown largely comes down to high demand for key worker roles.

Mr Cowan, who is also a councillor for St Laurence ward in Southend, also suspects the rise is down to more children being classed as vulnerable.

It comes after PM Boris Johnson would not guarantee schools would reopen before April’s Easter break.

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Mum Claire Shelton, 41, from Hullbridge, said: “I can see why there’s more kids at school this lockdown. I think people co-parented a lot more before. 

“My best friend and her partner are both key workers and didn’t send their kids in the first lockdown. It was just a disaster, with them both on different shifts.

“This lockdown they have said we’re both key workers, they’re going to school. That way when they have their days off together than can enjoy it as a family rather than cleaning up and sorting out chores.”

Basildon Council leader Gavin Callaghan says no school in Basildon should re-open until all the critically vulnerable have been vaccinated and had their cooling off period. This is expected to be in early March. 

He said: “The infection rates are finally falling in Essex. Opening schools will reverse that trend. As we approach the home straight, learn the lessons, don’t repeat the mistakes.”

Katie Scarnell, head of Greensward Academy in Hockley, added: “The Government will decide when they think it is safe for schools to open but they’ve promised to give us two weeks notice so we can plan for a safe return.”