Reopen parliament (without social distancing) before our schools.

We petition the government to fully reopen the House of Commons and House of Lords (without social distancing and with compulsory attendance) before sending the our children back to schools where this contagion may spread.

Since you started your petition the House of Commons has returned, and rules allowing all Members to participate in proceedings virtually have fallen. The House of Commons has agreed that Members who are unable to attend Westminster for medical or public health reasons related to the pandemic can attend proceedings virtually.

Arrangements for the House of Lords is a matter for that House, and not the Government or House of Commons, and decisions about attendance is a matter for individual Members and Peers.

You might be interested to know that the Government has said that it strongly encourages children and young people in the eligible year groups and priority groups to attend, as requested by their school or college, unless they are self-isolating or there are other reasons for absence. However, the Government has also said that parents will not be fined for non-attendance at this time.

If you want the Government to delay opening schools, you might like to sign some of the following petitions:

Keep schools closed until Covid 19 is no longer a threat: Keep schools closed until Covid 19 is no longer a threat

Halt the reopening of schools until the NEU's 5 tests are met: Halt the reopening of schools until the NEU's 5 tests are met

Delay the reopening of schools to September: Delay the reopening of schools to September

Reopen schools in August with shorter summer holidays for a transition period: Reopen schools in August with shorter summer holidays for a transition period

Keep schools closed in the UK until an effective Cov-19 vaccine is available: Keep schools closed in the UK until an effective Cov-19 vaccine is available.

Delay opening of schools until Test Track and Trace for Covid 19 is working: Delay opening of schools until Test Track and Trace for Covid 19 is working

Shut schools completely to stop putting teachers, TAs and pupils at risk: Shut schools completely to stop putting teachers, TAs and pupils at risk