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Leicester lockdown: Schoolchildren cannot cross border

Sonia Kataria
BBC News

Some children who live in the Leicester lockdown zone but attend school outside of the area will not be able to cross the border, the Department for Education (DfE) has confirmed.

From Thursday, only vulnerable children and children of key workers can travel across the boundary in either direction for school or appointments with social workers. Other children have been asked to stay at home.

The DfE said: "If you are a child or young person (other than a vulnerable child or child of a critical worker) that lives in Leicester but attends school or college outside the affected area, you must stay at home."

Some children who attend St Luke’s Primary School in Thurnby, Leicestershire, which is outside the zone and will be open as normal tomorrow, are from within the boundary.

Headteacher Paul Galvin said he was "deeply sorry" to the families of those affected.

He said: "It might be difficult for families who are inside the lockdown zone - as we are just outside the boundary - especially if they are not children of critical workers."

He added the school has "adapted and will keep adapting to changes" during the coronavirus pandemic.

The school has been open since the lockdown in March for vulnerable children and children of key workers, and reopened for Reception and Year 1 in June.