City’s gratitude for ‘heroic’ school and nursery staff

Brighton & Hove City Council’s lead councillor for children and young people has expressed his profound gratitude to the city’s schools and nurseries for the ‘incredible’ work they are doing during the current COVID-19 (Coronavirus) restrictions.

Councillor John Allcock, chair of the council’s Children, Young People and Skills committee, has also called on families in the city to fully respect government guidelines on social distancing and self-isolation. 

Thank you

He said: “I would like to express my profound gratitude to all the staff in our schools and nurseries for the incredible work they are doing to keep schools open for pupils and families who really need support at this difficult time.

“The availability of childcare in schools and nurseries is a critical factor in enabling staff in key services to work - such as our NHS staff, refuse collectors and care workers.

Vital role

“Our schools and nursery staff are playing a vital role in helping prevent the spread of COVID-19 and thus saving lives. They really are heroic, and it’s hard to find words to express how much I appreciate their efforts.”

“At the same time, it’s vital that any school or nursery staff who may be at extra risk in health terms should not be in work. They should stay at home.”

Details of the categories of people who should stay at home are on our website and apply to all staff in schools and nurseries. 

Stay at home

The council’s Director of Families, Children and Learning, Deb Austin, added: “I cannot overstate how important it is for parents and carers to keep their children at home if at all possible.  

“Our schools and early years providers are doing a brilliant job in very difficult circumstances and we need to support them as much as we can.

Key workers

“Children should only attend school if they are in households where all adults are key workers – for example single parents or two parent households with two key workers.

“If someone in the family can stay at home to care for children they should do so.

“As many children as possible should be at home – this is the best place for them to be.”