A MUM has called on education chiefs to allow her daughter to go back to school.

Schools across the district are set to re-open on Monday, with pupils in nursery, reception, Year 1 and Year 6 returning to the classroom.

The Government wants Year 6 pupils to resume because it represents a transitional year for those children within a two-tier system, ahead of their switch from primary to secondary school in September.

Parent Fiona Healey claims the plan has overlooked the three-tier system, which operates in both Hexham and Haydon Bridge school partnerships.

Her eldest daughter Charlotte Reynaud, a Year 4 pupil at Whittonstall First School, will make the transition to Corbridge Middle School in September, but her year group is currently not among those due to return to the classroom.

“I would like my child to go back to school to prepare for her transition,” said Fiona, who lives in County Durham.

“Charlotte is devastated that, at the moment, she is not able to. She has missed so much schooling, and this is a critical time.

“We want Charlotte to have the same right to schooling as Year 6 pupils do. In a three-tier system, Year 6 is not a transitional year.”

Last week, the Courant reported how Hexham parent Karen Varty was worried about the imminent re-opening of schools. She said her 10-year-old son Christopher was scared to go back because of the coronavirus.

But Fiona said the time was right to return, provided safety measures were in place.

A Department for Education spokesman said the Government had to adopt a single system, and that this approach promoted uniformity across the country, with all Year 6 pupils returning.