Question: Do we need to prioritise children?

Answer passage (source: UK):
page_title: Guidance Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak
section_headers: Prioritising pupils
Is it necessary to prioritise children?
section_content: The first aim of the partial school closure measures was to reduce the overall
population of children moving around local areas, in order to further reduce
the number of social interactions, and thus flatten the upward curve of the
coronavirus outbreak.
However, the second aim was to continue to care for children whose parents are
critical to the coronavirus response, so that they can continue to work where
alternative childcare arrangements cannot be made, and for children who are
vulnerable.
Now that we have made progress in reducing the transmission of coronavirus we
are encouraging all eligible children to attend – it is no longer necessary
for parents of eligible children to keep them at home if they can. These
priority groups remain eligible to attend as schools open to more students.
In the first phases of wider opening, we will prioritise younger children, for
several reasons. Firstly, because there is moderately high scientific
confidence in evidence suggesting younger children are less likely to become
unwell if infected with coronavirus; and secondly because evidence shows the
particularly detrimental impact which time spent out of education can have
upon them.
The three year groups within mainstream primary have been prioritised because
they are key transition years – children in Reception and year 1 are at the
very beginning of their school career and are mastering the essential basics,
including counting and the fundamentals of reading and writing, and learning
to socialise with their peers. We know that attending early education lays the
foundation for lifelong learning and supports children’s social and emotional
development. Year 6 children are finishing Key Stage 2 and are preparing for
the transition to secondary school, and will benefit immensely from time with
their friends and teachers to ensure they are ready.
From 1 June, as more children return to schools, we appreciate that each
setting’s circumstances will be slightly different. Any setting that cannot
achieve the small groups recommended as part of the protective measures
guidance should discuss options with their local authority or
trust. If necessary, settings have the flexibility to focus first on
continuing to provide places for priority groups and then, to support
children’s early learning, settings should prioritise groups of children as
follows:

early years settings - 3 and 4 year olds followed by younger age groups
infant schools - nursery (where applicable) and Reception
primary schools - nursery (where applicable), Reception and year 1


Reviewer feedback on this answer:
This answers the question directly and give multiple ways to protect our kids and gives guidance on why they are doing this
This is a direct answer to the question. It contains information on which children should be prioritized and the reasons on why they should be prioritized during the first phases of wider opening of educational setting.
States age groups must be considered as children are prioritized.

Reviewer ratings:
Excellent
Excellent
Acceptable