THE Labour group in Worcestershire has called on the county council to resist government calls to reopen schools next month.

District councillor Samantha Charles has written to Marcus Hart, councillor responsible for education, calling for clarity on the return of pupils.

Cllr Charles said: "The Government has thus far been unable to provide evidence to support its assertion that schools can safely open further for some primary aged students from 1 June, and for even more primary and secondary students by the end of the summer term.

"In light of this, Worcestershire County Council should support the joint guidance put forward by the National Education Union, GMB, Unite and Unison, and supported by the British Medical Association, and to resist the Government’s attempt to introduce the wider re-opening of schools until it is demonstrably safe to do so.

"Everyone looks forward to when all schools can be safely reopened. However, until then, the safety of our young people and the wider community should be paramount."

READ MORE: Kindhearted Malvern girl Maisie raises thousand for NHS with ribbons

Cllr Hart responded to the calls saying: "The highest priority and consideration is the safety and wellbeing of Worcestershire’s children, young people, families and staff.

"We are in contact with the Department for Education (DfE) and have emphasised that our approach is rooted in doing the right thing for children, families and schools, ensuring that children return to school when it is safe for them and the staff in their schools."

Cllr Hart added the county council is working with school leaders to work on tailored plans for the safe re-opening of schools.

He said: "We appreciate the importance of education at this young age and are keen to minimise the impact of its loss, and we are committed to striving for the right balance in achieving the return.

"We are working very closely with a group of school leaders and other colleagues to ensure that each school has an individual tailored plan for re-opening, based on their individual circumstances as well as looking forward to the future."