300,000 sign petition calling for parents to be given a choice about sending kids back to school

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced plans for reopening schools in Sunday’s speech.

He said schools may begin to return from the earliest of June 1 - starting with those in reception, through to year 6.

But teaching unions in Lancaster and Morecambe said last that schools are a long way off returning to normal.The National Education Union (NEU) has been contacted for comment.

Lucy Browne who started the petition on Change.org said: “Many of us have lost confidence in the Government's handling of this crisis and feel it is too early to return children to schools.

"As a mum I don’t want to face serious repercussions for making a choice I feel affects the safety of my daughter during a global pandemic.”

Lucy’s daughter is at primary school in London and would be one of the first to return.

Deborah Mawer who signed the petition said: “I have a child with asthma and asthma myself and would not feel safe sending them out to potentially then have us both very very ill.”

Teaching staff are also raising concerns over the government's plans.

Michelle Forster who signed the petition wrote: “I am a teacher and believe that we cannot return to school safely as we do not have the correct equipment, space or resources to manage the pupils and ensure social distancing measures and PPE.

"Returning to school before it is safe puts thousands of pupils, families and staff at risk.”

The petition has over 300,000 and has been the fastest growing petition on Change.org UK since the Prime Minister's speech on May 10.

Lucy’s petition can be found at Change.org/WhenSchoolsOpen.