WITH a second lockdown starting today, parents have shared their views on the decision to keep schools open.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that the nation would be asked to stay at home for the second time after a rapid rise in coronavirus cases.

But schools, colleges and universities will stay open.

We asked our readers on Facebook what they thought about the decision, and more than 400 of you had your say.

Julie Sailing-Free said: “Where is the sense in keeping them open...crazy! All schools, colleges and unis should be closed during lockdown?”

Sarah Frampton agreed, explaining: “If its not safe to see family members knowing where they have been, how is it safe for children to be in a class all together where you don’t know where they’ve been. It makes no sense. Of course it’s going to effect them either way but health and protecting our vulnerable loved ones it must more valuable. Not going to school won’t kill them but a deadly virus is a totally different story for many people.”

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But Katie Bradley said schools should stay open because parents will still be working.

She explained: “What about the huge impact to families where both parents are still working full time? If it is safe for them to stay open, best for the children and the parents.”

Samantha Griffiths added: “Yes they should be open still. It will only be the same issue when we come out of lockdown. University should of done all of the work online as it is them that’s causing the issue.”

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Karen Williams said it should be down to the parents, explaining: “This should be a decision of each individual parent with no repercussions and no comments made either way about their decision. There are a huge amount of reasons for and against and a lot of them will be down to that individual child or family. Mental health of a child can be affected by both decisions, personally I have a daughter who is very worried about going back to college but I know other children worry about not being able to go back to school.”

Kirsty Hunt said: “My daughter is taking her GCSE’s next year. This is her most important year of study, having already missed so much it is vital she stays in education as to miss more would impact on her life chances.”

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Vanessa Riordan agreed, saying: “Kids need interaction not more isolation looking at a screen all day. Let’s not lose sight of the fact the risk of being seriously ill from this virus is still very low.”

Rachael Young also commented: “How on earth do you expect full time working parents to cope with four weeks of no school? If my employer is saying my role as a key worker needs me to be at work I might lose my job if I then have to ask to have four weeks leave!”

Kirsty Hunt added: “Also worth remembering that for some of these children school is their safe space and their homes do not offer them that. It is important that vulnerable children have professional oversight for them, so yes, schools should stay open.”

Sue Cooper agreed, saying schools should still be open.

She said: “Kids need their education and for both social and mental health wellbeing.”