Thread by @MPDNUT

Union groups must insist that #schools reduce #COVID19 risk. Read in full from the #Martin4DGS website martin4dgs.co.uk 1/15

We all want the new academic year to be a return to ‘normality’ without the stress and disruption of the last eighteen months. But the #DeltaVariant and Government failure means that sadly won’t be the case. 2/15

Just as last year, we’ll be returning to poorly ventilated, closely packed classrooms, prime conditions for spreading an airborne virus. Without mitigations, an acceleration of transmission in schools, and then back into our communities, is inevitable. 3/15

Yes, vaccinations are certainly making a difference. But protection is not guaranteed. A proportion of our diverse population will still suffer serious illness, especially those who have existing conditions that leave them at greater risk. 4/15

Death & hospitalisations have been rising since June. Even a small percentage of a large population of vaccinated adults - or unvaccinated children – still equates to significant numbers. These are risks that schools have a responsibility to assess – and then to mitigate. 5/15

Education unions have called for urgent investment in ventilation measures, just like countries like Germany and the USA have done. But the joint letter was only sent in mid-August. Most classrooms will remain poorly ventilated next term. 6/15

Having correctly identified the risk, unions now need to insist schools act to protect against airborne transmission. If CO2 monitors and/or air filters are not in place, the simplest and most effective mitigation is the wearing of face coverings in classrooms. 7/15

Everyone wants disruption to education to stop. But declaring that close contacts under 18½ don’t have to self-isolate won’t stop disruption. Nor will failing to carry out contact tracing in schools … 8/15

… nor will waiting until 5 individuals in a class test positive for COVID-19 before taking any action. Yet this is exactly what the latest @educationgovuk guidance advises, without providing any scientific justification. 9/15

@educationgovuk Following @educationgovuk operational guidance simply means that infections will go undetected and transmission will spread, leading to more disruption and illness. 10/15

But again, having correctly identified the risk, unions now need to insist schools have in place safe systems for isolation, contact tracing and, when necessary, staffing to support online learning 11/15

The absence of mitigations and the DfE’s reckless guidance will be causing real concern to staff and students who are at greater risk to serious illness, as well as to those who live with family members who face those risks too. #LongCovidKids 12/15

The DfE guidance does at least state that “no pupil should be denied education on the grounds of whether they are, or are not, wearing a face covering” and certainly no school management should prevent the voluntary wearing of masks. 13/15

Unions have made clear throughout the pandemic that high risk or vulnerable staff have a right to an individual risk assessment and protective measures being put in place to address those risks, including being able to work from home. 14/15

But individual union members can best be backed by the strength of the collective union group insisting on an overall risk assessment that protects both individuals at greater risk as well as the health, safety and welfare of staff and students as a whole. 15/15