among all the schools discourse today, spare a thought for TAs & SEN support staff, who can’t do their jobs without constant close contact & significantly heightened risk - a reality that is always conveniently left out of the conversation

regardless of whether schools are shut to most, TAs & SEN support staff will be required to go in as normal on Jan 4th & provide close physical support to the vulnerable kids in our care all day - we are frontline workers in every sense of the word, but we are not treated as such

the govt has stated that that teachers won’t be required to administer Covid tests to schoolchildren. the guidance also says that schools should use “existing staff” where possible to do so - realistically this could only mean TAs & other support staff??

every TA & member of SEN staff at my school in London is BAME; all but 2 are 50+; we all support vulnerable kids & most go home to vulnerable family members - giving us the vaccine would straightforwardly save lives. why is no one calling for this before we go back in *6 days*??