TWO primary schools are in a "stand-off" with a council after their plans to get children back to school were rejected.

Angry parents and pupils from Kingslea and Heron Way primary schools in Horsham protested outside the Horsham District Council office today.

The schools said there had been "unwavering support from the whole school community" for their plans to bring Years 2 to 5 back to school on Monday on a part-time basis.

But parents were told yesterday the plans had been postponed after West Sussex County Council raised an objection.

The schools could have faced legal action if they pushed ahead.

The Argus: Parents say two schools in Horsham should be allowed to reopen to Year 2 and Year 6 pupils. Photo: Mary BennisonParents say two schools in Horsham should be allowed to reopen to Year 2 and Year 6 pupils. Photo: Mary Bennison

Mother-of-three Mary Bennison said it was crucial all pupils get some time back in school before the summer holidays, including her ten-year-old daughter Kitty.

"It's about the social and mental wellbeing of our children," said the 41-year-old.

"This was about them having some resolve for the end of the year.

"Our children have their own lives at school and they have had that completely taken away from them.

"I know the school has worked really hard to facilitate a system so they could get the year groups all back, obviously only for a limited time."

Ms Bennison said schools and the county council had interpreted Government guidance differently.

The Argus: Parents protested outside the Horsham District Council building today. Photo: Mary BennisonParents protested outside the Horsham District Council building today. Photo: Mary Bennison

A county council spokesman said Kingslea and Heron Way schools had gone against Government advice by not consulting the county council before it announced its planned reopening.

"We have made this clear to all schools, including Kingslea and Heron Way, who decided to go against this advice in inviting all pupils to return on a part-time basis without consulting with us, something neither the Department for Education or the council is able to support," the spokesman said.

"We have been supporting all West Sussex schools to follow Government guidance and prioritise provision for children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 6, as well as continue to give places to children who are vulnerable, disadvantaged and those of key workers.

"The latest national guidance is clear that this should be on a full-time basis for these core groups, and that only if schools then have additional capacity they can accommodate pupils from other year groups, if their own risk assessment shows this can be safely managed.

The Argus: West Sussex County Council said the schools had not consulted it before announcing its plans for a wider reopening. Photo: Mary BennisonWest Sussex County Council said the schools had not consulted it before announcing its plans for a wider reopening. Photo: Mary Bennison

"Everyone involved in education in West Sussex shares the same aim, to get children back to school as soon as the national health advice shows it can be done safely."

But in a letter to parents yesterday Kingslea headteacher Alexis Conway and chairman of the governors James King criticised the council's stance, quoting Government guidance which states: "Schools are not required to use this guide, and may choose to follow alternative approaches to preparing for wider opening, or to use some sections of this guidance alongside other approaches."

In a joint statement, the head teachers of the two primary schools said: "Wellbeing is the school's top priority and there has been unwavering support from the whole school community for the plans that both schools had in place to open the school to Year 2 to Year 5 from Monday June 29."

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