As members of Southwark’s community, the Government’s announcement that schools and childcare settings should begin reopening from June 1st strikes us as concerning and premature.

We trust the voices of those who have already been caring for our children, and see the NEU’s (the education union) 5 tests; lower number of Covid-19 cases, a national social distancing plan, comprehensive regular testing for children and staff, whole schools and childcare settings strategy when a case occurs, and protection for the vulnerable - as essential conditions to be met before children and teachers return to schools and childcare settings and nurseries.

The national government has fallen short on its own ability to test, track and trace the virus in closed sections of the country; how will this be possible on a national scale?

Southwark currently has one of the highest proportion of Covid-19 cases in London, alongside a BAME demographic who are more than twice as likely to contract, and die of the virus. Reopening schools and nurseries will place this community, and the children of key workers at risk by allowing the virus to re-enter circulation. Opening schools and childcare settings at this point is both irresponsible, and dangerous.

South Korea; which is often cited as a benchmark for dealing with Covid-19, has continued to educate its population digitally. Why, when our government has failed so badly in every stage of this crisis, should we be doing any differently? The DfE’s (Department for Education) hastily constructed guidelines for social distancing in schools and childcare settings are unachievable and fantastical, and place the children, their families and whole communities at risk.

The council must also advise that in the current stage of the pandemic it is impossible to make early years settings safe for children or staff and that private nurseries are to remain closed. The expectation that children of all ages, who are just as vulnerable to Covid-19, should be treated as canaries in a coalmine is abhorrent.

Southwark Council; please stand with the parents, teachers, support staff and wider Southwark community against the premature reopening of schools and childcare settings on June 1st.

We ask that our Councillors to support our demand that students and staff in primary and secondary schools as well as nurseries only return to their schools, childcare settings and workplaces when it is safe to do so.