COMMUNITY leaders have revealed their thoughts on Romsey schools preparing for a phased reopening today.
This comes after Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, announced the Government intended to reopen them for early years pupils, Reception, Year 1 and Year 6.
Schools initially closed on March 20, except for key workers' children and vulnerable children, as coronavirus continued to spread across the UK.
Now one community leader has said pupils "need to get back to school" so they can start to get back into a routine.
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Romsey town centre manager and governor at The Mountbatten School, Mark Edgerley, said: "It is a matter of personal choice because I have got grandchildren and one of them is in that age group.
"Children seem desperate to get back to school because that is their norm and it is not necessarily all about lessons, although younger children are much more enthusiastic about schools than we believe, but is about them seeing their mates and getting out of the house.
"I do understand if someone else in a pupil's house is vulnerable and they will worry about bringing coronavirus into their house, but we have to find a way of getting all children back into education.
"The ones who are suffering are the vulnerable children like the ones in that are in unsuitable households, such as where this is domestic violence.
"We also have children who are in houses and flats where they do not have much space and room to get away from others and we all need that space."
He added: "Opening schools will be done safely and teachers are professionals who will not put themselves at risk."
Cllr Dorothy Baverstock, who is a governor at Cupernham Infant School, said: "It is one of the most important times in a child's life where they are developing motor skills, learning words, how to read and other skills teachers are able to concentrate on.
"I just feel that, providing all of the things are in place like the rules and regulations, children will make progress and it is amazing how much progress the will make in the five or six weeks left in the term.
"I am all for the schools reopening and I know that schools have gone the extra mile to make sure everything is secure, so I'm sure everything is up to speed."
Romsey Abbey C of E Primary School, Church Lane, and Stroud School, Highwood Lane, both confirmed they would be reopening to Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 when approached by the Romsey Advertiser.
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Headteacher of Romsey Abbey C of E Primary School, Julie-Anne Palfrey, said the school "will open to pupils in Years R, 1 and 6 on Monday, June 1".
She added: "Vulnerable children and those of key workers will also continue attending with the same provision as they have had at the school for the past 7 weeks.
"Pupils in Year 2, 3, 4, and 5 will continue with home learning."
Headteacher of Stroud School, Joel Worrall, said: "A safe and happy environment is the absolute priority for the whole community and we have engaged with our staff and our parents in the planning process.
"The phased reopening will create a Stroud like none of us have seen, or wish to see in the long term, but we should console ourselves that we will bring it back to our ‘normal’ as soon as is possible."
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