Solution for the issue of opening schools - Use summer holiday clubs as a soft start

Although the science indicates that the majority of infected children are either asymptomatic or experience only mild symptoms of COVID19 when they catch it, the evidence around children's ability to spread it is unclear at this time leading to uncertainty and concern about schools reopening.
There is considerable pressure to resume schools in August to allow parents to return to work properly and begin to repair the damage to children's education that missing an entire term will have had. The question is how do we do that whist keeping the rate of infection down, just like with the contact tracing app we need to test it on a small scale first in a controlled environment.

My suggestion is that this could be done by using summer holiday clubs in July/August with the same precautions schools plan to take when term starts. I have two kids myself but I also own two after school clubs in Edinburgh and run a summer holiday club program. I, along with a number of other providers I have talked to, would be happy to work with the schools and the government to trial the proposed school precautions. Steps would include:
-Staff using PPE such as face guards, gloves etc.
- Consider how children arrive at the setting, reduce any unnecessary travel on coaches, buses or public transport.
- Ensure groups of children are kept as small as possible, stagger lunch times, break times, and the movement of children round the setting,
- Discourage parents from gathering within the setting, drop off and pickup done outside the setting following social distancing guidelines
- Using the new government contact tracing app for staff and families using the service to ensure any infection is detected and responded to quickly.

Children resuming school is important for a wide range of reasons, if children are at school parents can return to work. Home schooling is naturally inconsistent leading to gaps in education, isolation negatively effects children’s development.

Naturally keeping everyone at home has been an important step in limiting the spread of COVID-19 however according to the UNCRC isolation at home goes against a number of children's rights:
Article 3 - The best interests of the child must be a top priority in all decisions and actions that affect children. (If children do not get serious symptoms of the virus is it in their best interests to be in isolation?)
Article 15 - Every child has the right to meet with other children and to join groups and organisations, as long as this does not stop other people from enjoying their rights.
Article 28 - Every child has the right to an education. Primary education must be free and different forms of secondary education must be available to every child. Discipline in schools must respect children’s dignity and their rights. Richer countries must help poorer countries achieve this
Article 29 - Education must develop every child’s personality, talents and abilities to the full. It must encourage the child’s respect for human rights, as well as respect for their parents, their own and other cultures, and the environment.
Article 31 - Every child has the right to relax, play and take part in a wide range of cultural and artistic activities.