I'm very concerned about this, and would like any other Teaching Assistants or Teachers to share their perspective, and what is happening in their schools. Also others who are concerned. Just to point out this isn't about lock down lifting - no agenda at all apart from supporting the students affected right now.
So, I am a Teaching Assistant at a large high school and have been working here for over 12 years. We pride ourselves on our pastoral provision, and we have a high proportion of both SEN students and those identified as high risk/vulnerable. We have been open since lockdown, also during the Easter holidays, and we are seeing very few at risk students in school. The last 'rota' shift I covered had only 4 of the many at risk students in school. We are doing all we can regarding contacting homes/notifying agencies etc., but the agencies themselves are overwhelmed.
It is now in the news, widely reported that on average only 5% of those at risk students are in school.
For some of our vulnerable students, school is a safe pair of hands, and the "Stay Home" message is really not what they need.
Thank you for reading.