During lockdown, I will be writing a series of threads on minimising the harms of the second wave and of the second lockdown.

Part 2. We must put our children first and keep schools open.

Although my heart sank when I heard we were going back into lockdown, I was very relieved to hear that schools would be staying open and I congratulate both the government and the opposition for putting our children first and not giving into the irresponsible demands of unions.

Although the decision to close schools first time was understandable when so little was known about the risks to children, teachers, parents / household members and their role in community transmission, we now know that schools are safe for children and the best place for them.

The best news for me from this pandemic is that the risk to children of dying from COVID is almost zero. (They are more likely to die from flu.) Although there are some reports of ‘long COVID’ in children, it is not common and its harm is far less than that of not going to school

The other good news is that that the ONS have shown teachers are at no higher risk of infection than other key workers and at lower risk of dying than the general population. (Teachers should of course have a risk assessment and, if at high risk, given appropriate duties.)

Evidence to date also shows that children are not significant drivers of community transmission.
Of course the risk of ‘COVID harm’ is not zero but the risk of harm to children by not attending school is much greater – both to their physical/mental health - and their education.

It is a trade-off but, just as we keep schools open every year during flu season despite the known risks of community spread, so we should now - because the benefits outweigh the harms. And those asking for schools to close need to prove that this would cause less overall harm.

Knowing how much damage the school closures have done - especially to those from disadvantaged backgrounds with the widening of educational inequalities, I was disappointed to see some unions calling for schools to close - but very pleased that most teachers disagreed with them.

A good education is the only route out of poverty for most children- as I know from my own experience. As a child on free school meals, my chances of going to Cambridge & becoming a doctor were almost zero but my life chances were transformed by a good school & inspiring teachers

Like many children now, I would not have had access to the resources home-learning requires and the only way to ensure that all children are given the same opportunity is by them being at school with their teachers. The government should hold its nerve and keep schools open.