PARENTS in Bolton have spoken out about the anxieties of sending children back to school after the summer holidays as the coronavirus crisis continues.

Many have said they now feel confident enough for their kids to return to school in September despite having concerns earlier in the pandemic.

But one single mum, who is identified as being at high risk if she catches COVID-19, vows she will continue home-schooling until a vaccine is found.

This comes after a Labour councillor said a “significant number” of parents had contacted him saying their children will not be returning in September.

Bolton Council’s director of people services told a scrutiny committee on Monday that the local authority is expecting that some parents will refuse to send their children back to school after the summer holidays due to COVID-19.

Single mum Alison Joseph, who lives in Johnson Fold, will not be sending her children, who attend Church Road Primary, back to school in September.

Coronavirus poses a high risk to her health due to obesity and severe asthma so her kids have been home-schooled and not left the house since February.

She said: “There’s no doubt about it. I’ll not be sending my children to school. If needs be, I’ll go to the court of human rights!”

“It’s not the schools I have a problem with. My concern is they have not found a cure for the virus.

“It only takes on child to cough and that schools is going to be off for 14 days.

“To me, that’s not going to do their education any good. At the moment, while the government don’t know what they’re dealing with, children should be educated at home. They’d get more of an education that way.”

Mum-of-three Victoria Berrido, who lives in Tonge Fold, said she took an “absolutely-not approach” until last month – but now, after seeing the lengths schools have gone to keep children safe, she is confident to let them go back.

She said: “Each week we received numerous videos off the head teacher speaking directly to the children encouraging and reassuring they’re doing all they can to keep the school environment safe.

“My 10-year-old has left Moorgate now and the lengths the school has gone to, to make a fuss of the year group, was overwhelming.

“Their approach to the whole pandemic has been A Star. I mean, what other headteacher uploads Tik Tok videos and daft dances to lift spirits?”

The Bolton News:

Measures at Moorgate Primary School which put Miss Berido’s mind at rest include social “bubbles” meaning children are separated, but not isolated.

Each bubble is given separate times to arrive at school and all four entrances are opened with a member of staff on the gates taking temperatures, she said.

Miss Berrido works at a care home and as a key worker, her children could go to school throughout the pandemic – but she did not want to take any risks, so they stayed at home with their father who was on furlough from work.

She said: “The anxiety of them catching it was what made me refuse to send them back in the first instance.

“Their health comes before education and whilst we knew very little about the virus, I didn’t want my children exposed.

“But after that, my main concern was that my children would be made to play completely alone.”