Life over education

Amy Wolfs’s husband David, 40, has multiple sclerosis and has been shielding since March.

As a result, Mrs Wolfs doesn’t believe it’s safe for her five-yearold daughter Evie to return to school, and has decided to deregister her. She is also keeping her son Mason, two, out of nursery.

“It’s been terrifying. My husband is immunocompromised, so something as small as a chest infection means he would require hospital treatment,” said Mrs Wolfs.

“When the criteria for who would be ventilated were released at the beginning of the pandemic, he wouldn’t have made the cut due to the extent of his disability.”

Mrs Wolfs believes the risk of sending Evie to school, and potentially passing on the virus to her father, is too high. The Government has threatened parents who don’t return their children to school with fines, but Mrs Wolfs, a full-time carer, isn’t in a financial position to pay them. As a result, deregistering Evie and home schooling her is the only option.

“I feel it would be more damaging for Evie to know that she’s potentially put her father’s life at risk.

“I think the Government’s advice is too hasty. There’s talk of class bubbles of 30 children, but I’m not prepared to put my faith in 29 other sets of parents who may not be following the rules.”

Mrs Wolfs is insistent that she won’t send Evie back to school until more research is done into coronavirus transmission.

“I value my husband’s life – and for Evie to grow up with a father – over one year of education.”