#NotOK

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Saying No To Disproportionate Covid-19 Measures

#NotOK

We are campaigning to challenge measures in schools which are disproportionate and damaging to children.
Clear and compelling evidence from across the world demonstrates that children play a minimal role in transmitting COVID-19.

Additionally, studies show that children are at extremely low risk from the virus, and nor are they major transmitters of it.

We believe that measures in schools which disproportionately impact children should be dropped.

Leading medical organisations and experts overwhelmingly agree schools should remain fully open.  The evidence for schools being closed or socially distanced is weak and the risk to children’s future – and indeed present – far outweighs any risks of schools remaining open.

DfE
We believe that the DfE Guidance is unfit for purpose and must be revised with those who have children’s welfare at heart.
Balance
We believe that “each of the measures with the potential harms to children arising from the measures themselves.
Measures
We support sensible hygiene precautions in schools but not excessive safety precautions and measures such as mandatory masks and social distancing which are disproportionate and potentially damaging to children.
Schools
Full return to school, with proper wraparound care, is vital to the revitalisation of the economy and to the ability of men and women to work.

Key Actions

The Government now agree that schools must go back in a fortnight, full time, and on a mandatory basis.

In June, all the signals were that blended learning would be the ‘new normal’ for September.  With your help we pressed hard against this outcome to the key policy-makers and influencers and we think by giving a voice to the unheard parents and children in this way we heavily influenced the Government’s decision to commit to full-time school.

In May we shared the clinical psychologists letter prepared by an Italian team with leading experts who then put together a UK signed by hundreds of psychologists.
350 NHS doctors supported and coordinated by UsforThem wrote to the Government urging against school closures and calling for the needs of children to be prioritised.
In late June, following weeks of work with our lawyers, we issued an unsigned, final draft pre-action letter to the Department for Education articulating detailed legal arguments against school closures and social distancing in schools and arguing for a full and mandatory reopening of schools. Three days later, on 25th June, Boris Johnson confirmed that the goal of the Government was for schools to open fully in September and that schooling would be placed on a full-time, mandatory footing once more.
In July, thanks in part to YOUR many letters and emails, Anne Longfield the Children’s Commissioner, came out in favour of removing social distancing for younger children.
In July, our Wales and Scotland groups both successfully overturned in-progress blended learning plans and forced the devolved governments to make a full-time school commitment.
In July, following tireless campaigning from our groups in all four nations, we were able to meet with senior Government officials on both sides of the border to press home our concerns and aspirations.

“In all actions concerning children...the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration.”

Article 3, UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Resources for parents and teachers

Leading medical organisations and experts agree the evidence for keeping schools closed or socially distanced is weak and the risk to their future, and indeed present, far outweighs the risk of reopening schools.
RCPH statements on schools re-opening
"Children and young people are the part of the population least affected by COVID-19 and their risks of contracting serious illness from COVID-19 are very low."
BMJ Paediatrics Open
"School closures may have a limited impact on preventing deaths in adults. The closure of schools and confinement to home has multiple impacts on children in terms of education, social isolation..."
We Can't Ignore the Harms of Social Distancing
"The social distancing policies are harming people—not potential harms, but real harms. Economic harm is a euphemism..."
A paradox of social distancing for SARS-CoV-2
"Higher levels of social engagement represent a protective effect against the inflammatory immune response to respiratory viruses."