Pupils in Horsham protest again over school closures

Pupils and parents queued up around the council's offices in a socially distanced protest

Parents and children from two Sussex primary schools have held a second protest over halted reopening plans.

Kingslea and Heron Way schools in Horsham were meant to be open part-time to all pupils on Monday 29 June.

On Thursday West Sussex County Council put a stop to it, and said the schools had gone against government advice.

Protest organiser Anna Harris said the children were "devastated" and parents' plans to return to work were left "in tatters with two working days notice".

Gonzalo Dibello Moragues from Heron Way school

On Monday at midday children and parents behind the Don't Burst Our Bubble campaign grabbed their placards and formed a socially distanced chain beginning outside Horsham District Council's offices in Parkside, Chart Way.

The campaign name is a reference to the reduced class sizes that group the pupils into "bubbles" to help limit the spread of the virus.

Some wore their uniforms to show they were ready for school.

Oliver and Benjamin Parker

The schools had planned to open part-time for all pupils.

However on Thursday the council said Years 2-5 should not return unless Years 1 and 6 were offered full-time provision.

A council spokesman said the government guidance was "clear" that children in these core groups - as well as reception, vulnerable children and the children of key workers - should be offered schooling on a full-time basis before schools were opened up to any other pupils.

Kingslea and Heron Way, it stated, "went against this... without consulting us".

Mabel and Primrose Hardwick want to return to school

A statement from parents supporting the campaign said: "Our schools have gone above and beyond in putting together plans to enable all our children to return to their classrooms.

"We feel it is hugely important to give every child this opportunity to reconnect with school.

"The children were excited by the prospect of returning to class... They have been left confused and upset after what has been an unsettling time."