Please see the letter below received on Friday 16 October. Please can anyone with legal qualifications clarify for me if the school has a leg to stand on with these threats?! The whole letter is so mis-informed it's almost laughable.
Dear Parents and Carers Covid – 19 Chalfont St Peter Infant School Governors 16th October 2020 Please can I ask that you read this letter, whatever your views of Covid-19. As governors, we have a duty to protect the health and wellbeing of our staff, our pupils and our families. Covid-19 is getting close to our School. As of yesterday, there were 18 confirmed cases in Chalfont St Peter. Our staff do not have a choice about coming to School every day to teach our children. Regardless of their own fears, they do so willingly and do their absolute best to make our children feel safe and secure. We have a number of clinically vulnerable members of staff. We also have staff with vulnerable family members at home. We are a small school; if a member of staff catches Covid, not only could it have a devastating impact on them and their families, it is likely that a bubble will have to close. Are you absolutely sure that the person next to you in the queue does not have Covid? Two of our parents have tested positive – one with no symptoms and one with only a mild fever. Do you know what the family circumstances of the person standing next to you in the queue are – are they clinically vulnerable, extremely clinically vulnerable, are they supporting people who rely on them? Do you know for absolute certain that you don’t have Covid? Parents have been asked to wear face coverings when dropping off and picking up. Whilst we understand that a small number of parents may be exempt, a number of parents are choosing not to do so. Wearing a face covering, however inconvenient for you for that short space of time you are on School property, demonstrates basic respect and care for our staff and other parents. It makes our staff feel safer – whether they are or not in reality and whatever your personal views. It makes them feel safer and shows them that you care about them. We did not ask for Covid, we are simply doing our very best to look after your children, keep everyone safe and keep the school open. Please wear a face covering at School. Whilst face coverings outside are not currently a legal requirement, we will do everything we can to protect our staff and families. We will look at all options, including asking those unable to wear face coverings not to enter School premises. We will keep it under review and hope that this will not become necessary. With very best wishes on behalf of the Governors of Chalfont St Peter Infant School