I work with Key Stage 1 children. We have been told that, as we work with young children, we have to make our own personal decisions about how we manage social distancing with them. It has been made clear that whilst we do not have to be less than 2m away from a child, there will be situations where it will be difficult to maintain the recommended distancing. The majority of staff have said that they are happy to work alongside the children, give them a cuddle if they need it, they don't want the children picking up on anxiety at this uncertain time etc, they will follow good hygiene with hand washing. Nothing is being done to encourage our children to keep apart at all, they are playing, eating etc together closely.
I am not comfortable with this and wish to do all I can to keep myself and my family safe. I care about the children who come to our school and want to do my bit to keep the school open for them, so that their keyworker parents can go to work, however I cannot see why I should take unnecessary risks by getting close to the children. These children have parents who are frontline NHS workers and so will be at a much higher risk of being exposed to the virus.
We are working on a rota system so I am only in school for a few shifts each week. I have been told I can do jobs around school which don't involve working with the children, however I have also been told that I am being very anxious and that this could go on for some weeks, the implication being that I can't keep this up forever.
Any thoughts or advice very welcome as I feel that I am being seen as 'difficult'. Thanks.