Downing Road has warned mother and father to not take their youngsters out of faculty earlier than the time period ends, which comes as mother and father are pulling their youngsters out of faculty over considerations of the Omicron variant ruining Christmas.
Nonetheless, a college union stated No.10 can’t merely say that folks should ship their youngsters to highschool “with out taking the mandatory motion to reassure them that it’s secure for them to take action.”
In line with authorities figures nearly 236,000 youngsters weren’t at school on 9 December, which is up from 208,000 on 25 November.
This week college leaders have warned of the worst attendance ranges as a result of Omicron variant.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman stated, “The perfect place for youngsters – who’ve in lots of respects suffered essentially the most via this pandemic is at school, receiving very important face-to-face training.”
Geoff Barton, normal secretary of the Affiliation of Faculty and School Leaders, stated, “We’re positive that neither faculties nor mother and father want lectures from Downing Road.
“All people is doing their best to maintain training going as finest they will in more and more troublesome circumstances and amidst countless and unhelpful hypothesis.
“We agree that the perfect place for youngsters is at school however we’re additionally aware that there are very excessive charges of infections in lots of settings and areas that are inflicting large disruption.
“The Christmas vacation is simply a few days away and it might be good to get there with none extra finger-wagging.”
Paul Whiteman, normal secretary of faculty leaders’ union NAHT, stated, “We agree that youngsters must be at school and never lacking out on training.
“But when mother and father really feel nervous about sending their youngsters in to lecture rooms as a result of hovering ranges of Covid, that is a sign that the Authorities must do extra to regulate the unfold of the virus.
“The Authorities can’t merely say that folks should ship their youngsters to highschool with out taking the mandatory motion to reassure them that it’s secure for them to take action.”
