'The best place for children to be is at home' during lockdown - Leeds Council education spokesman

The best place for children during the coronavirus lockdown is to be at home the council's education spokesman has warned.
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His words come as teachers across the city head to work, despite a lockdown, to make sure that so-called ‘key workers’ can still get to their place of work and vulnerable children are getting the support they during normal term-time.

Coun Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s executive member for learning, skills and employment, said: “The council is working closely with schools, academies and early years settings and supporting them to share the important message with parents and carers that the best place for them and their children, including teenagers, at this time is at home.

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“Our understanding is that parents and carers, including those that are keyworkers, are following this advice, which we really appreciate.”

Schools are staying open for the children of key workers in Leeds.Schools are staying open for the children of key workers in Leeds.
Schools are staying open for the children of key workers in Leeds.

However, there has been concern expressed from teaching staff about their own safety and the clarity of the guidelines over keyworkers and when it is appropriate for their children to be sent to school.

They said it was hard to maintain the two metre distance as recommended when caring for children as young as two years-old and that they may be putting themselves, and subsequently their own families, at risk of contracting the disease.

They say they have been told to shower and wash their clothes when they get home but there has been very little other guidance.

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A spokesperson for the National Education Union said that “along with NHS workers”, teachers were putting themselves at risk.

Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, has called for testing of all schools that are remaining open, coherent rotas and intensified cleaning programmes at the schools.

She said: “Our priority as a union is to our members and the children and young people they work with. We are concerned that Government advice for schools is not currently strong enough. We have got to get on the front foot if we are to slow transmission and flatten the curve.

“This means testing of all education staff, and that no one at heightened risk attends schools and colleges. No staff should attend who are vulnerable or would go home to family who are vulnerable. We also need to see coherent rotas for those who continue to go to their place of work.

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“Our members’ lives are doing enormously brave work right now. As with NHS workers, they are putting themselves at risk. Our ethical responsibility is to them. The NEU will do everything in its power to protect members at this critical time.”

Coun Pryor said school staff were “playing a crucial part” in national strategy while also juggling the health of themselves, staff and their own families.

He added: “Headteachers, principals and staff in all early years and learning settings across the city are working incredibly hard and playing a crucial part in the national Covid-19 strategy by supporting those parents that are keyworkers to continue to attend work. They are also ensuring that our most vulnerable children and young people continue to get additional support, including continued access to a free school meal, whilst also prioritising looking after the health and wellbeing of their own staff and their families.

“We want to extend our thanks to all staff in schools and other learning settings for everything they are doing to help keep vital services in our city functioning at this challenging.”