Four teaching unions have told Isle of Man Newspapers that plans are being put in place to expand school attendance to children of non-key workers.

A joint statement on behalf of NASUWT, NAHT, Unite and Prospect said that the children would attend University College Isle of Man, with preparations due to take place next week.

However the unions say they are ’shocked that such preparations are being undertaken at the college in isolation from the rest of the education sector, on whom any such moves will clearly impact’.

A spokesman said: ’We call on the DESC to suspend any plans for the expansion of provision in any setting at this time and for the establishment of a joint Covid-19 response team to include all stakeholders.

’Its brief should be to establish guidelines to apply across the whole of the education sector in order to ensure the health and safety of all parties at every stage of this crisis. In order to produce an agreed, coherent plan for the reopening of schools when, and only when, it is safe to do so.

’In the meantime the Joint Unions would expect any such plans to be put on hold in UCM until such time as full and open discussions have been facilitated between the department and all stakeholders represented through the Joint Unions, who have members throughout the Department of Education, Sport and Culture.’

We have contacted the government for a comment on the unions’ statement.