Many thanks @dailyecho @CllrSteveF for reporting on Hampshire’s school attendance issues.
You will see from DfE data that Hampshire has an illness absence problem, both children and teachers. In fact it is higher the national average.
1/ Ht @jneill @1goodtern @hantsconnect
I note that the latest report from DfE titled “Pupil absence in schools in England”, published May 2024, explains that the majority of pupil absence in schools 🏴 is due to illness
#SafeAirSchools
2/ @DamianHinds @CllrSteveF @jneill @1goodtern
@DamianHinds @CllrSteveF @jneill @1goodtern I’ve been discussing this for some time with former Minister of State for Schools @DamianHinds. In fact my children and I met with him to explain how it feels to breathe air this toxic.
3/
◼️ The Inquiry has listened to admissions from key figures stating that they were aware children would be harmed by infection, yet child victims of Covid-19 are turned away from module 8 of the Covid Inquiry
We knew that children could experience lasting harm from Covid19…
@covidinquiryuk Inquiry admission, Prof Graham Medley, Chair of pandemic preparedness committee in UK Dept of Health, & chair of a subgroup of SAGE which provided evidence to the UK Covid-19 response
We knew from the outset there were likely to be post-infection sequelae…
My daughters school ran out of supply teachers on Wednesday due to illness
Solution? Mix 2 classes (58 kids) in 1 room
Today my daughter has
🔺a fever
🔺soreness to breathe deeply
🔺sore throat
🔺exhaustion
🔺aching
No one else in the household is sick. Yet.
1/
Her symptoms began yesterday.
The DfE states schools should be monitoring CO2 levels. They aren't. Is yours?
Baroness Baran (Minister for the School System & Student Finance) states one way to improve absence is via ventilation.
@educationgovuk @dianabarran @hantsconnect
2/
Opening windows in my daughters school isn't enough. We know this because we've been monitoring CO2 levels ourselves with our @aranet_home which is used by industry experts.
I’ve just received this through my child’s school.
Hand hygiene is not enough @HIOW_ICS. Please amend to include ventilation and air filtration.
Hampshire school
@Carolyn_CIPFA please see my email correspondence re: CO2 levels exceeding workplace safety limits in my daughter’s school, and attached thread in tweet below. How can we help our local schools and communities?
It was great to meet in person with Education Secretary and Member of Parliament, Damian Hinds
My young daughter came with me & we listened to her explain how it feels to breathe and learn in classrooms with indoor air quality this poor
@DamianHinds
#CleanAir
1/
We showed Mr Hinds my daughter's CO2 monitor and, referencing our simple poster with facts about air quality, she explained why every child deserves to learn in well ventilated classrooms.
#CleanAirClassrooms
@erbrooker @CleanAirClassrm
2/
We also gave him a copy of this @educationgovuk document. We talked about diminished pupil attendance and that persistent absence rates were primarily driven by illness during the 2022-2023 academic year.