This is what Fife Today readers think about sending their kids back to school

Our survey asked people for their views on children returning to school

Fife Today 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 Fife - 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.

Half of Fife Today readers – 50 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 (12 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 17 per cent of readers in Fife 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 the Kingdom are looking forward to most is seeing family with 77 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.

How Fife Today readers say lockdown has affected their lives – and their biggest concerns

What Fife Today readers think about easing the lockdown

What Fife Today readers are most looking forward to post-lockdown

A message from the Editor:

While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you. In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you - wherever possible and providing it is safe for you to do so - to also please purchase a copy of our newspapers; the Fife Free Press, Fife Herald, St Andrews Citizen, East Fife Mail and Glenrothes Gazette.

Inevitably falling advertising revenues will start to have an impact on local newspapers and the way we continue to work during this period of uncertainty.

The support of our readers has never been more important as we try to make sure that we keep you connected with your community during this time. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. We need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Our team of trusted reporters are working incredibly hard behind the scenes - from kitchen tables and spare bedrooms - to look at how we can do this, and your continued support of our newspapers across Fife will help to protect their viability in the days and weeks ahead.

For more details on our subscription offers please visit email [email protected] or call us on 0330 4033004

Thank you

Allan Crow, Editor, Fife Free Press