Close nurseries to all except vulnerable and key-worker children, says UNISON

Pre-schools including nurseries must be closed except to educate the children of key workers and those who are vulnerable, says UNISON (@unisontheunion) today (Tuesday).

The union is urging the government to reconsider its decision to keep early-years establishments open​, despite concerns over a new Covid strain.

Early-years staff should also be made a priority for vaccination and mass testing says UNISON, and employees should not be expected to go into work until these safety measures are put in place.

In addition, the union says protection must be extended to employees in schools open for the children of key workers and ​for vulnerable ​pupils and students. 

This includes special schools where many children have health issues that make them vulnerable to infection, and schools ​with ​pupils outside mainstream education where pupil behaviour and social distancing is a challenge.

UNISON head of education Jon Richards said:

“Keeping nurseries and other pre-schools open puts staff and communities at risk.

“Social distancing is impossible with young children and the government has yet to publish the scientific evidence to justify ​nurseries being treated differently to schools.

“​The decision seems ​to have been taken with little regard to the health and safety of ​employees.

“Ministers must treat ​nurseries the same as schools, as in the first lockdown. Staff must be ​a priority​ for vaccinations and mass testing.”