This is what Falkirk Herald readers think about sending their kids back to school

Falkirk Herald readers have had their say on how they feel about sending their kids back to school.

Our online lockdown survey asked readers 25 questions about how the coronavirus crisis has shaped the lives, opinions and habits of people in Falkirk district - and what they’d like to see happen in the coming weeks and months.

One of the questions in the survey focused on children - asking readers whether they would feel comfortable about their kids going back to school in early June, although First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said reopening Scottish schools “might not be possible at all this side of the summer holidays”, meaning a return for pupils may not be until August at the earliest.

However Prime Minister Boris Johnston suggested last week that some children in England may return to school in early June.

The majority of Falkirk Herald readers – 53 per cent – said they felt “not at all comfortable” about their kids returning to school in early June, which is the timeframe the Prime Minister has announced for those living south of the border.

Readers who felt “slightly comfortable” in the minority (14 per cent).

Across Scotland, 45 per cent of respondents said they felt “not at all comfortable” with their children returning to school in early June.

Around one fifth of respondents (19 per cent) feel “not very comfortable” about the idea, with just 19 per cent saying they feel “very comfortable” and 15 per cent saying they feel “slightly comfortable”.

When asked which element of everyday life they were most looking forward to as restrictions ease, “your children going back to school” was presented as one of the options.

Only 19 per cent of readers in Falkirk District said that they were looking forward to this.

Across Scotland, just 16 per cent of respondents said they were looking forward to their kids going back to school, with the most popular option being seeing family, which 75 per cent of respondents chose.

The everyday activity readers in Falkirk district are looking forward to most is seeing family with 80 per cent of participants choosing this option.

Tomorrow we will be publishing more results of what local people had to say in our lockdown survey.

You may also be interested in:

How Falkirk Herald readers say lockdown has affected their lives – and their biggest concerns

What Falkirk Herald readers think about easing the lockdown

What Falkirk Herald readers are most looking forward to post-lockdown

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