The leader of the Isle of Wight Council has said he would be surprised if headteachers decided to issue fines to parents whose children are missing school due to serious COVID concerns.
Many parents have taken to social media over the past few days to express their worries about sending children back to school for the new term, citing that the COVID-19 pandemic is at such a crucial point and the virus is continuing to spread at an alarming rate.
Whilst some schools have announced partial closures to certain years groups, others are remaining open for all children. This has left parents in a difficult position of ensuring their child’s and their family’s safety, whilst also balancing the risk of fines, lost education and childcare issues.
Councillor Dave Stewart has confirmed that Isle of Wight schools will be following the national guidance regarding schools re-opening, which takes into account all of the scientific evidence.
Responding specifically on the question of fines for non-attendance, Cllr Stewart has said:
“Teachers are well aware that the decision to fine anyone is made by the Headteacher themselves, with the Local Authority completing the administration on their behalf, without making any profits. That said, I would be surprised if any Head Teacher would look to impose fines for anyone with real COVID concerns, so my message is for any concerned parents to have a conversation with the Headteacher to discuss their concerns before making any decisions”
“We know the importance of children returning to school but we also know the importance of doing so in a safe environment. Care of our community includes all our school staff as well as pupils and I know our lead member for Children’s Services, Councillor Paul Brading, is in constant dialogue with our senior officers to ensure everyone is kept safe.”
“The council will continue to work with Island Schools to ensure the best outcomes for everyone”.
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Cllr Stewart says that secondary schools are already preparing for the roll-out of mass testing.
Don’t expect headteachers to do something just tell them you will not complete the administration of the fines. Dave it’s time to grow a pair
As for having conversation with headteacher dream on
Seems grossly unfair that as most parents who do work and who have to pay their own rent and council tax, one of the largest drains on incomes will have to send their children to school as neither can afford to stay home.
Whereas those on benefits or doing the ‘token gesture’ minimum 16 hours work each week and then claim ‘child tax and working tax credits’ not only have all or most of their rent and council tax paid, BUT then receive around a hundred pounds per week per child, along with child allowance, and yet, apparently still can’t afford to feed them.
But they have the ability to be home to look after their children, safe in the knowledge that their home will be secure whatever happens as the state will always keep a roof over their families heads, yet workers paying a rent or mortgage don’t have that security despite being the ones paying in to fund those getting the best of both worlds, safe children, home all, or most of the week and knowing the family home is secure.
Get real, you are supposed to be looking after the Island and its population which include children and school teachers, anyone can see that with the rapid speed of the new varient and increasing numbers in our one small hospital which can very easily be overwhelmed YOU as our elected council should act NOW and stop issuing such woolley statements and sitting on the fence.
Or is it the case that you are far too close to our MP who should have resigned months ago for breaking lockdown rules back in the first lockdown!
Sad to say but all parents are not in ‘the same boat’.
Most would love to be at home looking after their children, but if not on any benefits, then both parents ‘have’ to work to pay for the rent or mortgage and council tax on their homes.
It is easy to keep your children at home, if, as many are, you are not working or one parent isn’t or are only doing the minimum 16 hours a week work to then claim the maximum benefits AND free rent and c.tax.
Also you can ‘juggle’ your short working week to fit in with child care or family.
Those of us who both have to work, without the support of a heavily subsidised or free rent and council tax, paid by the state, and then have working tax and child tax credits, along with child allowance and free meals for all the children, haven’t even the luxury of having free time to ensure our children’s full safety, despite being the ones who pay in the most and yet receive the least.
Yet the case seems to be the ‘squeakiest wheel, gets the most oil’ and many of such know how to squeak.
Science says you are unlikely to get Covid
Science says if you do, you have a 99.97% survival rate
Science says masks don’t work
Science says asymptomatic transmission doesn’t exist
Science says even if it does, it’s a minor factor
Science says the Vax won’t stop transmission
Stop listening to the paid actors…It is an on-going experiment.
not true Real islander. i had the same thoughts as you from the start but now my self and my wife have this virus. Don’t kid your self buddy this virus isn’t nice. Im sure we will be ok but its here and in my eyes is not a hoax, i feel like iv been hit bay a bus.
Oh but influenza and pneumonia have disappeared altogether…funny that.
I agree there is something far more to this than we are being told, perhaps authorities know it was a deliberate man made virus etc and are afraid of the repercussions if such is released as many countries have deep secrets, but to say this is not a massive danger to us, without real proof is incorrect imo.
None of us know how much this is being ‘played’ for political or fiscal gain by leaders, but we are still the pawns, and consequently even if this is ‘over blown’ WE will be the ones at risk, even if lesser than what we are told by those using CV to their gains of control, ending private businesses, distributing wealth, ending the use of cash, forcing us into eventual cyber currency, ending the wealth of the masses to keep car ownership and holiday travel just for the well to do, or whatever other ‘reason’ which can only be guessed at by us limited knowledge people.
Best to be careful for now, and all those who are unlikely to be right that this is overly hammed flu, can riot, or whatever after a year or two once the rest of us have been injected.
Let those who want to be injected have such and those who don’t no prob, as once vaccinated then even if others catch it, those vaccinated won’t, so no problem.
Perhaps if we had transparency it would help. There are thousands of professionals who would disagree with the narrative and they are heavily censored. Try looking up Dr. Mike Yeardon ex Pfizor,very interesting what he says…the truth.
The virus was caused in China and the person reported it to their superior who was told by chinese officials keep quiet about it. It does exist make no mistake about that and you are not safe unless you take precautions if you want to go on pretending it is a hoax I wonder what your relations are going to say when you catch it and die. I lost my mum to this I honestly wish it were a hoax but it is not!