The rapid spread of COVID-19 is disrupting the education of many children. We’re calling on the Government to keep pupils safe to help keep them in school.
The rapid spread of COVID is disrupting the education of many children.
- School-aged children have the highest rates of infection of any age group
- Hospital admissions are 33% higher for those aged 5 to 14 years than in January 2021
- 77,000 children aged 2 to 16 are reported to be suffering long COVID
- Education staff are more likely to test positive for Covid than the general population
As a result over 200,000 pupils were absent for COVID-19 related reasons on November 25 alone, with warnings that rates could get worse in January.
In addition, workload pressures as a result of the high levels of infection in schools, are impacting on the mental health and wellbeing of staff, risking a work-related stress epidemic as well as a viral pandemic.
The government could be introducing a range of measures to reduce risks including:
- Providing air filtration devices for all schools reducing the risk of airborne transmission
- Face coverings in all areas of secondary schools, as is the case now in Wales and Scotland
- Support for close contacts required to isolate to reduce risk of Covid spreading. This must include full pay for parents and staff needing to isolate
- Ensuring schools are given the resources to ensure effective contract tracing can take place
The government say its priority is to protect face-to-face learning, but it is not doing enough to achieve this, as infections continue to soar in school.
It is clear that additional mitigations are urgently needed alongside the vaccine. In addition, recovery/catch-up funding for schools is inadequate – current plans simply take per pupil funding back to 2010 levels.
What you can do
On Thursday 9 December, we are asking parents, staff and pupils to urge their MPs to tell the government to bring in additional safety measures in schools to protect face-to-face education.
1. Post a picture on social media 📸
We want to create a groundswell of pressure on Thursday 9 December. If you have views about what should be happening – it’s time to speak up…
A small handwritten message, posted on social media – that’s what we need. We want to flood social media with the message that we need to keep pupils safe to help keep them in school.
Download and print our template sign
Take a picture of you holding the sign, post on social media (Twitter, Facebook or Instagram would be best) and don’t forget to use the hashtags #ProtectPupils #ProtectEducation.
2. Tweet your MP 💬
We need the government to take further action. Tweet your MP using our simple tool – it’s time to pile on the pressure and ask your MP to get involved in the campaign.
We’ve drafted some tweets – but feel free to write your own. Be honest – ask your MP to take action and put pressure on the government to act.
Remember to use the hashtags #ProtectPupils #ProtectEducation.