Vaccination plan a ‘game-changer’ for special schools
PARENTS AND TEACHERS BACK MOVE TO MAKE STAFF PRIORITY
SPECIAL school staff in Nottinghamshire will get their Covid-19 vaccinations early after a move by the county council.
Officials said the staff in 11 schools will be sent letters of invitation asking them to book an appointment.
The special school staff vaccination programme has now been approved.
Matt Rooney, principal of Saint Giles’ special school in Retford, welcomed the news, saying it was a “game-changer” in the battle against the virus.
“For Nottinghamshire to have listened and to understand where we are coming from and to treat us in an equal way to people who are working with the same groups in adult care is fantastic,” he added.
Although the vaccinations are not Government policy, parents and teaching unions insist that getting teaching staff vaccinated should be a priority.
Parent Richard D’amelio said it was a “big step forward” as schools were due to open next month.
He said: “I agree with the decision
– I think it’s a game-changer.
“You want to get the schools opened and I think you have to start looking at staff who work there.”
His 17-year-old daughter, Sally, has been attending St Giles’ for ten years.
“I think this would protect the staff and children at the same time,” Mr D’amelio added.
“I think it’s hard to keep children separated at school anyway, so this is definitely a big step forward.”
However, Mr D’amelio thinks that the vaccination programme should be extended to mainstream schools as well.
He said: “It’s great to see local education leading on that – it’s
really inspiring.
“But the next step should be vaccinating everyone linked to a school.”
He said reopening schools should be a priority, and thinks that all measures must be applied to ensure that staff and pupils are safe.
He added: “I know it’s a big task, but it should be a priority to vaccinate all vulnerable teachers, staff and children.”
The Department of Health and Social Care is now considering whether to prioritise jabs to workers in certain occupations under phase two of the vaccine roll-out.
Phase two will start after all of the nine at-risk groups have been offered a first jab.
Osama Rahman, the Department for Education’s chief scientific adviser, said the department was working with the Department of Health “to ensure that the education and childcare workforce is considered for prioritisation in the rollout of the vaccine and this subject is regularly discussed by our ministers”.
Jane Crich, district secretary for the Nottinghamshire branch of the National Education Union (NEU), added: “Notts NEU Nottinghamshire welcomes any safety measures which can be put in place for schools in order to keep students, staff and the wider community protected.
“The inclusion of special school staff is reassuring for parents of CEV children and families of workers.
“We would urge the Government to consider a full vaccination programme for education workers before the wider return of schools.”