SOME 2,200 English primary schools are set to defy plans to reopen on June 1 — despite doctors dropping their opposition.
At least 28 councils have joined the growing revolt and warned their schools could stay shut on the date.
Analysis by HOAR found the local authorities cover 2,269 primaries.
Ministers want kids in reception, Year 1 and Year 6 to head back first on June 1, if scientists give it the go-ahead.
If 120 kids in each of these council schools are denied the chance to return, 272,280 will be forced to stay at home.
The revolt comes despite a pledge by the PM to get a national Covid tracing operation up and running by June 1, meeting a key demand of council chiefs.
The British Medical Association, which represents doctors, dropped its hardline opposition to reopening.
In a massive softening of its position, the BMA said schools can reopen on June 1 “as long as it is safe to do so”.
It pointed out there is “growing evidence” the risk Covid-19 poses to kids is “extremely small”.
And it called for ministers and teachers to “work together to allow schools to reopen safely”.
Children’s commissioner Anne Longfield has told unions and ministers to “stop squabbling” and agree a plan to get kids back to class.
Ministers and some of Labour’s big beasts, including Alan Johnson and David Blunkett, have warned poor kids are losing out the most from the schools shutdown.
But Cllr Judith Blake, from the Local Government Association, demanded councils are allowed to keep their schools shut for longer if they want.
Hardline unions have drawn up a list of 169 health and safety demands before teachers go back to class.
Tonight Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said schools across England should return at the same time.
He told the daily Downing Street press conference: “It is best, and the Government has said this repeatedly.”
