Thread by @cv_cev

Nadhim Zahawi has written to School leaders.

Focus = attendance

This is particularly concerning attendance targets are already driving many headteachers to threaten vulnerable households with fines and prosecutions.

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content.govdelivery.com/attachments/UK…

He emphasises the fact that schools must not use the following mitigations: bubbles or isolation of contacts.

Whilst insisting on the need to improve attendance "maximising school attendance a top priority" in a #Pandemic.

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Next, something we have been pushing for (if only it wasn't in that same paragraph demanding attendance). An acceptance that vulnerable children have been impacted more than others. * although no mention of children in vulnerable households.

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"This is not only crucial for ensuring that all children and young people, including the most vulnerable, are taking advantage of the education recovery programme, but also for their own physical and mental wellbeing."

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Children in CV/CEV households have been disproportionately impacted by lost learning through shielding and and increased sensitivity to potential symptoms. We welcome the recognition of the specific need to support their education and wellbeing.

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"Communicate clear and consistent expectations around attendance to families and working with your LA, make full use of enforcement actions where appropriate. During the height of the pandemic, suspending the use of these measures felt most appropriate, ..."

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"but as we push now to maximise school attendance, it is important that they are once again being applied across the country."

Apparently we are past the height of the pandemic (Germany, with less cases, wouldn't agree) & yes, schools tried to fine and prosecute us then too.

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Maximising school attendance implies that it is suboptimal currently. Perhaps Nadhim is missing some important causal factor?

Schools are encouraging sick children into school and administering Calpol to those with Covid symptoms.

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Individual and class attendance awards (discriminatory to those with medical conditions) are being used to bribe and peer pressure the sick into school.

This idea of measuring headteachers on attendance needs to go, because that is the fuel. Especially during a Pandemic.

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"Identify pupils who are reluctant or anxious about attending or who are at risk of disengagement and develop plans to re-engage them - especially those who are or at risk of being persistently absent."

"Anxious" has always been a code word for those facing a risk to life.
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Persistent absentees are likely to be predominantly from Clinically Vulnerable households and the long term sick @LongCovidKids. Perhaps the press could get a breakdown for us?

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"Develop plans to re-engage them"
This is ominous.

On past form, it includes school and LEA staff calling and emailing. Demanding we sign contracts. Unannounced doorstepping. Finally involving Social Services threats of fines & prosecutions. Constructive off-rolling.

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Families compelled to withdraw children are losing their Human Right to formal education.

Places in special school are allocated on need. Selective and competitive schools are also in high demand. Withdrawal risks permanent loss of school places, a community and friends.

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"Use the additional recovery funding, including for tutoring,as well as existing pastoral & support services,attendance staff &resources & pupil premium funding to put measures in place for those families who will need additional support to secure pupils' regular attendance."
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We really want to read this as a positive. But what "support" and "measures" will be implemented to "secure regular attendance"?

Remote learning is the dream. No mention of that, which suggests more of the above, leading to more withdrawals thus improving attendance.

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Mitigations hold the longterm answer we all need to improve attendance.

#2vax4kids💉💉
#HEPA💨
#MasksInSchool😷
#IsolateHouseholdContacts

But without funding and the desire to make these improvements, in class attendance for some families will remain off the cards for now.
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"We are at a crucial point in the pandemic and must collectively act now to ensure lower levels of attendance do not become the accepted norm. I hope you agree on the urgency around tackling school attendance issues and that you will do all you can to address this."

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"We are at a crucial point in the pandemic"

Because Winter is coming and infections are high?

Because children are unvaccinated / only partially protected against a novel virus making them more Vulnerable with each infection?

No.

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Because, apparently, there is an urgent need for schools to improve attendance *in a Pandemic*.

Look at the graph 👇

Most of those infections are in children and their parents, exposed through unsafe schools.... and yet "maximising school attendance is a top priority".

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