I work in a school as a Teaching Assistant, I have no underlying medical conditions but both of my young children are asthmatic and my youngest spent a week in hospital a few months ago with pneumonia. Both DC’s asthma flares up when they have a cold. Data of covid-19 puts children at a reduced risk which lowers my anxiety. However I’m still deeply concerned about my children catching it while the NHS is under such immense pressure.

My husband is able to work from home, and we have distanced ourselves from friends and family during this period but I’m still being asked to go to work Monday along with all other staff.

My children are usually looked after by grandparents, however we have now stopped using them to reduce the grandparents risk. So as well as health, childcare is an issue for us. The school have said I can take my children in, but they are both under 4 so it would make my job impossible.

I work in a senior school and as the numbers stand, it looks as though we will have 50 students max in the coming weeks.

Am I being unreasonable to ask to work from home? Other staff who themselves are vulnerable are WFH already. I really don’t want to let my team down but I also would never forgive myself if one of my children became extremely poorly.