Wigan mum shares fears about Covid in schools with MPs

Informal parents' group SafeEdForAll, is concerned about inadequate safety measures in schools to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus and says changes need to be put in place now, sent a document to the APPG for its most recent hearing on Covid-19 in education.

The Wigan mum told MPs she had been threatened with her children being off-rolled if she did not send them into the classroom.

She also said the school attended by her children, who have not been in since last March due to her fears about safety as she is vulnerable, has had problems with Covid-19 cases and accused the establishment of not sending bubbles home to isolate when there were positive cases.

The 39-year-old wrote to MPs: “It seems that some head teachers are using a good dose of common sense whereas others aren’t. It’s a head teacher lottery. How can there be one rule for one and another for another parent?

“If only local councils and schools put as much effort into chasing the Government to mitigate for aerosol transmission in schools as they did parents who are protecting their children from a deadly virus. The stress has been intolerable.

“I have been threatened with fines, prosecution and unlawful off-rolling by the head teacher at my children’s school.

“Parents like me who are willing and able to teach their children remotely for the time should be supported, not bullied. We certainly shouldn’t be treated like criminals.”

She said she was able to support her children’s learning at home and has sent daily updates on their progress made remotely.

SafeEdForAll wants a number of measures introduced including reduced class sizes, having masks worn, better ventilation in schools and flexibility on remote learning.

Cath Pealing, director of education at Wigan Council, said: “We acknowledge some families will have concerns about sending their children back into schools throughout different lockdown periods.

“Our schools have all completed comprehensive risk assessments to ensure children and their staff are as safe as possible when returning.

"Schools must follow government guidance when encouraging attendance of pupils at school, this has changed over time but we are confident all of our schools are doing this.”

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