Vulnerable parent fears King's Lynn school decision increases her coronavirus risk

A high-risk parent spoke of her fears of catching coronavirus following surgery, and a Lynn’s school’s refusal to let her son stay home.

Tayla Collison, 27, of Lynn, was hoping to let her son, Oscar, continue his schoolwork at home for two weeks after two Covid cases were confirmed at Whitefriars Primary Academy.

She said: “I want to protect myself and I am petrified that my child would bring Covid home and I would become poorly as I have three auto-immune diseases, have just had surgery and have a very low immune system.”

“I only wanted two weeks to protect myself and my health whilst there is Covid in the school. But I’ve been threatened, even had the headteacher call me at 8pm on a Friday night.”

Tayla was told that she would either need to take Oscar back to school or begin home schooling him, or face prosecution.

She said: “On Sunday, I received a message saying that someone in my son’s bubble has tested positive so they need to be off for two weeks. It could have been someone who came into contact with Oscar.”

Oliver Burwood, chief executive of the Diocese of Norwich Education and Academies Trust, said: “Government guidance is very clear that all children should attend school except where a bubble is isolating. This applies even where a parent has a shielding letter. Given the disruption which occurred to their education earlier in the year, it is very important that children are not missing any more school at this stage.

“Staff at Whitefriars have made a number of suggestions to the parent in question to reassure her that the pupil can attend school safely. Norfolk County Council’s attendance officer has advised the head teacher that should the parent decide to keep the child away from school, they would have no choice but to take fast-track action in relation to the absence.

“We do understand that there is considerable ongoing concern about Covid. All of our schools are working hard to keep children and their families safe. But the government guidance is clear: unless their bubble is isolating, there is an expectation that children should be in school.”