YVONNE FOVARGUE: Safety must come first in schools

Returning to school is a priority for the sake of pupils’ education and wellbeing. I share the concerns that the attainment gap and inequalities will widen further while schools are closed.
MP Yvonne FovargueMP Yvonne Fovargue
MP Yvonne Fovargue

But there are serious problems with the proposed plan to reopen schools on 1st June and it does not guarantee safety.

Concerns regarding many of the measures contained within it, including the feasibility of the social distancing measures proposed and protection of children, staff and parents, have been raised in recent days by parents, school leaders, teaching staff and trade unions.

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In Parliament, Labour has urged the government to work collaboratively with trade unions and parents’ organisations to create a series of practical safety conditions that must be met within schools before the government confirms a date for their reopening.

When schools do return, a package of academic and pastoral support will be necessary to ensure that those already disadvantaged going into this crisis are not disproportionately affected.

This could include enhanced pupil premium funding, a programme of emotional and well-being support to all students and modifications to next year’s curriculum and exams.

I am urging the government to work with the sector to get this right in the best interests of children, families and staff.

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The issues around the return to schooling also focus the mind on keeping people safe as the Lockdown is eased.

That’s why I support a ‘national safety standard’ for businesses, schools and other public services to show that they are safe to use and work in.

This standard should be developed and delivered in consultation with business groups, trade unions and other relevant organisations.

This should include a mass expansion of community testing and tracing by stating when the government will hit its daily testing target of 250,000 and recruiting 50,000 people as contact tracers, alongside the use of any workable apps and technology.

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For tracing to be effective, the government should set an ambitious target.

The plan should set out how we protect key and essential workers by ensuring supply chains are developed that guarantee personal protective equipment and facial covering to those who need it.

Additional support should also be made available to protect staff’s physical and mental wellbeing.

The support to protect people’s livelihoods, jobs and businesses should continue with bespoke support for people and industries facing significant challenges, such as the hospitality sector, the self-employed and unemployed.

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Ministers should urgently make the existing furlough more flexible to manage people’s gradual return to full and part-time work.

A structured approach to easing and tightening restrictions should be followed.

Any easing of restrictions should have advance warning to allow planning and be done in conjunction with all nations, regions, local authorities and elected mayors.

To maintain public confidence and safety, the government should be clear that it would rapidly reintroduce targeted restrictions where necessary.

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A national vaccines plan setting out how the government intends to ensure the manufacture and distribution of any resulting vaccine.

This plan should include the steps we need to take to develop the capacity and infrastructure required to deliver a vaccine when it is ready.

And finally, the plan must include preparations for winter flu.

Ministers must urgently publish a national plan for the winter flu season. Flu vaccines can take up to six months to produce. This year’s flu season is likely to put the NHS under huge strain. Early planning is therefore essential.