Thread by @AlisonGeorge10

One of the most bizarre & troubling bits of the #ReopeningSchools saga is that @educationgovuk & @BorisJohnson have ignored every single plea from teachers, early years staff, pupils & their families to #MakeSchoolsSafe & wasted all the months they have had to do so. 1/14 🧵

https://twitter.com/Zubhaque/status/1363400419570053123

2)They’ve turned their backs on plentiful advice from #SAGE, @IndependentSage & @NEU.
Even @CMO_England has made his reservations as clear as he can from a rather difficult position.
But they’ve put their collective fingers in their ears & metaphorically said “La La La La”!

3) @GavinWilliamson & @halfon4harlowMP CLAIM the motivation for a speedy full opening of all school & early years facilities is the WELFARE OF CHILDREN!
They repeatedly cite educational, emotional, social & psychological needs.

4)But it doesn’t take much digging to see that this CLAIM is hollow & empty.

@RishiSunak still hasn’t confirmed how long the #UniversalCredit £20 uplift will last & almost every @Conservatives MP voted AGAINST #FreeSchoolMeals for vulnerable kids during school holidays.

5) Since 2010 the budget for Health Visitors has been slashed, removing a vital support for so many vulnerable families.
Referrals to CAMHS PRE-#COVID routinely took 9-12 months for a 1st appt.
Assessments for ADHD & other behavioural problems were also given a low priority.

6)IF the welfare of children is the driving force then #DfE would be willing to invest in improved #ventilation, the use of CO2 monitors & air filters.
IF the mental health of children was key, they wouldn’t want ANY child to experience serious illness in/the loss of a parent.

7) Knowing as little as we do about #LongCovid in both adults & children would surely make one act cautiously, not wanting even a few children to develop a debilitating condition for which we currently have no real treatment?

8) And IF your concern was about LOST EDUCATION you’d surely do everything possible to ⬇️ the chance of teachers being off sick or of schools having to partially close again?You’d presumably look at the use of extra spaces/the employment of more staff to help w/ a recovery plan?

9)The good news is that v few children are seriously affected by #COVID19 but as in adults, it can strike quite randomly. If you didn’t want to risk any child’s life or the stress 4 parents of watching a v sick child suffer you’d surely advise routine wearing of 😷s IN schools?

10) It is v clear from everything that has been said & done (or NOT done) that the health & safety of the entire education & early years profession is not important. They’re expected to work without #PPE & weren’t even prioritised for #vaccination. A SHAMEFUL disregard for life!

11) #PrimeMinister, your words are yet again meaningless & w/ out compassion.
Don’t “Alas, it is w/ a heavy heart” me, when cases start to rise again after 10M children return to school.
Don’t you dare blame a #CovidVariant for an ⬆️ in hospitalisations/deaths in coming weeks.

12) If you cared even one jot for the health & wellbeing of British children you would put money & effort into making schools safe, to protect not only the children, but also their families & the staff who’ve gone above & beyond during this crisis.

THERE IS STILL TIME!

13) I urge you to think again @BorisJohnson .
This is no longer an UNPRECEDENTED situation, ignorance is not an excuse!

Listen to #SAGE & read @IndependentSage’s plan for a phased return & @NEU’s Education Recovery Plan.

PLEASE leave no stone unturned to #MakeSchoolsSafe !

#COVIDisAirborne #MasksSaveLives #VentilationMatters #SafeEdForAll #SafeSpacesToLearn @SafeEdForAll_UK #handsfacespacereplace @10DowningStreet @susannareid100 @Conservatives @NEU @GMB @MaryBoustedNEU @NAHT @Kate_Green @wesstreeting @Parents_Utd @HoppySaul @HeadteacherNews END