to think this is mad!

[y3dmm]

I work in a school. Our head has told us if we have to shut due to Swine Flu, the children will be unable to attend but TEACHERS HAVE TO!!! Unless your own child has flu, then you can stay home too!

This can't be right or AIBU?

But it is NOT the head's decision. It is a public health matter, and the local authority should be issuing specific instructions based on the environmental health department's advice.

From the Government's 'Planning for a human influenza pandemic: Guidance to schools'

"Children are highly efficient ?spreaders? of respiratory infections, both among themselves and to adults in their families. There is some evidence that such infections spread less among children in holiday periods than in term-time. So, closing schools and childcare settings for a period might significantly reduce the number of children infected.

"School managers (normally the head teacher if the governing body delegates this to the head) would make the final decision on whether to close a school during a pandemic.

"What should staff do if schools close to pupils?

"In line with workers in all other sectors, staff should come into school, unless ill, caring for dependants or authorised to work elsewhere."

Yep, small petri-dish right enough.
Still a fraction of the whole school population when the kids are absent though.

Has your LEA/local council not got a emergency plan? We have, and those of us not ill ourselves or caring for children/ill people would be redeployed to other areas within the council.

Our council's emergency plan appears to consist of a link on their website to the leaflet I quoted....

DH's school is currently closed due to a pupil in year 7 having swine flu. I think the headteacher may find that if the department of health says that the school should be closed and deep cleaned (as is happening in Downend) then no one will be there.

FWIW - all students and teachers have remote access via the website to ensure exam work is completed etc.