Lewisham mum’s petition to get nursery staff vaccinated gains 700 signatures

A petition calling for nursery staff to be vaccinated against Covid-19 has reached more than 700 signatures.

Alice Klein, 38, started the petition after becoming concerned about the safety of the staff at Seedlings Day Nursery in Forest Hill – where her two-and-a-half-year-old daughter Sydney Swainston is a student. 

The nursery has been open throughout the whole pandemic, and many teachers have to commute by public transport.

Ms Klein, who lives in Honor Oak Park, is really appreciative of the work that the nursery does, saying: “My daughter absolutely loves nursery – it’s absolutely brilliant.”

But she is worried about the danger the staff are put in, adding: “It seems really unfair that every day they have to commute into work, often on the bus, exposing themselves to the virus.

“There’s cooks, there’s cleaners and there’s managers. They’re putting themselves at risk every day to look after our children and it seems unfair that we aren’t protecting them.”

The government aims to start vaccinating adults younger than 50 in the spring, but no decision has been made about whether teachers will be prioritised. 

There are fears that even if teachers are vaccinated, early years educators will be overlooked.

Elizabeth Kohut, manager of Seedlings Day Nursery, said: “We are substituting for childrens’ lost experiences in terms of holidays, family gatherings etc, so we have to put a lot of thought and energy into this.

“But it is worrying and I know that there are colleagues who are scared to come in. You can’t do your job 100 per cent if you have it in the back of your mind, am I going to pick up this virus and take it home? It’s difficult. At the same time you do this for the love of your work and you’re not recognised and valued as you should be.

“Nobody is thinking to support us. If we have to be here, we have to be vaccinated. The general public is told to stay at home, but we are here, we are commuting into work every day and we get no recognition.

“I’m glad we are here and we want to be open, but we are just not supported.”

Ms Klein is also calling for nursery staff to be tested onsite rather than travelling to a test centre where they are put at risk further.

All staff are required to take a Covid test at Catford Civic Suite twice a week, which is over a mile from the school.

Testing at the nursery would also relieve pressure on teachers, who have to care for extra children while their colleagues are out getting tested.

The Women’s Equality Party has also called for early years workers to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

Mandu Reid, Leader of Women’s Equality and mayoral candidate for London, said:“I am calling for early years and school staff to be prioritised in the next round of COVID-19 vaccinations. 

“The Prime Minister announced a few weeks ago that early years settings should remain open to everyone, but that is impossible without urgent support. Already many early years settings have closed their doors, either temporarily or permanently, because of funding cuts, lack of testing and staff shortages. If we want schools and nurseries to open safely, then we have to make vaccinating these frontline workers a priority.”

“Some childcare providers have had to scale back the number of places they can offer which will greatly impact on our children’s futures, widening existing gaps in education. The childcare sector is losing more funding, while mothers are at breaking point as they take on more and more unpaid care. It’s simply not sustainable.”

Cllr Chris Barnham, Cabinet member for Children’s Services and School Performance said: “If the Government really does believe that education is a national priority, it requires bold action. 

“Serious consideration should be given to prioritising education staff for vaccination. This would reassure staff and their families, and give schools and nurseries the support they need, as many are suffering from Covid related absence.”

In response to the request for onsite testing, a Lewisham council spokesperson said: “Lewisham Council has contacted all voluntary and private early years centres in the borough offering support for their staff to access rapid testing. In addition to the rapid testing sites in Catford and Downham the Council has offered to work with nurseries to establish additional testing options for their staff.”

The petition can be signed here: chng.it/CLBSpdk6 

Pictured top: Staff, parents and children at Seedlings Day Nursery, with a banner made by the children