MUMS whose children went in to school for one day before being sent home until February half-term say the decision to close them should have been taken earlier.

Some parents said their children found the late change confusing and upsetting after a new term started on Monday before a national lockdown was announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the same evening.

Among the schools that were open on Monday were The Rivers CE Academy Trust schools including St Clement’s, North Worcester Primary, Northwick Manor and St Peter’s Droitwich, as well as Regency High School in Carnforth Drive.

Claire Haden, whose son attends Regency, said: “Boris should have shut the school on Sunday so kids with special needs' routines could be kept as normal as possible. My son has autism along with other needs and he lives for his routine so going to school for one day and then him not going the following day is distressing, because his routine is disrupted.

“I don’t think anyone knows how upsetting it can be for a person with autism to have their routine disrupted unless they have been through it themselves. Boris said schools were safe so I sent my son, then hours later he said schools aren’t safe. He has put many students and their families at risk for sending them for that one day.

“Regency have been fantastic in communicating and sending work online and having a phone call off of them every week to check in on my son and our whole family.”

Other mums shared their frustration on social media. Vicki Lewis said: “My son doesn’t understand - he’s so confused, has complex needs and really not himself. It’s so sad having to see him like this yet again.”

Hannah Louise said: “Boris should have done it sooner.”

And Yvonne Paul added: “My daughter goes to Regency and has limited understanding. She went (on Monday) and is very distressed not to be going.”

Worcester’s MP has conceded that “with hindsight” it would have better to have made the decision earlier.

Robin Walker said: “Of course it would have been better if schools had not returned for the day but the reality is the government has to act on this information put in front of it. That information has changed.

"We were lower than the national average (on case numbers) in Worcestershire but just in the last week-and-a-half has been this big spike. With that backdrop this decision had to be taken. Of course I would have much rather the information had been available to take it (the school decision) sooner but that is not how these things work.

"I do feel particularly for headteachers, many who worked through holidays to reopen their schools and it is incredibly frustrating this news should have come when it did, but better to act and take pressure off the NHS than not to act, and regretting not taking these decisions in a few weeks time.”

Kate Brunt, the Rivers CE Academy Trust’s chief executive officer, said: “Obviously Monday night was a late announcement, however we are now focusing all our efforts on ensuring our pupils get the best remote learning opportunities moving forward and children of our key worker parents and our vulnerable pupils are catered for within our schools.”