Stop Preschools, Nurseries, Reception and Year 1 classes being reopened in June
This petition had 16,657 supporters
Boris Johnson and the UK government have proposed that Early Years Settungs including Reception classes will be the first to go back as lockdown restrictions are eased. These children aged 4 and 5 have little or no concept of social distancing and best ptactice in teaching this age range promotes social interactions and play based learning (impossible with socially distanced methods). Returning these children first will not benefit their learning, their social or emotional needs and will put teaching staff at risk. In year 1 many of the children are the same age as those in reception classes with summer born children being only a few days past 5!
This age have already been identified by our amazing NHS as "virus super spreaders" and hence they are given free vaccine during flu season even though they again suffer lesser symptoms. This move would place our staff at added risk of contracting the virus as well as these children potentially bringing it home to adult households.
Staff in Reception cannot meet the complex needs of this age range if they have to wear PPE.
Sign this petition to show that we do not want our very youngest children to be the guinea pigs in the covid 19 crisis and we definitely do not want our teachers offered up as sacrifices. Reception age children should not be the first back and should not be back until it is totally safe to do so in a way that supports their learning and their personal needs.