Vulnerable children at risk from coronavirus may be exempt from the UK government’s decision to send all pupils back to school.
That’s the view of campaign group the Good Law Project.
Catherine Wilson’s son Cayden has autism and asthma. She is concerned about the risk of coronavirus in school
The group is threatening court action if education secretary Gavin Williamson refuses to allow vulnerable children to be schooled at home.
The group is crowdfunding its legal challenge. By today (14 September) it had raised just over half its £30,000 target.
Vulnerable children’s rights
Lawyers Fiona Scolding and Yaaser Vanderman have been offering advice to the group.
The lawyers said it could be against the law for schools to issue fines for children not attending. This would, however, depend on the case.
They added that vulnerable children may have a right to home education.
The Good Law Project has also vowed to write to some councils and schools. It will ask them to issue guidance on vulnerable children.
Jo Maugham is the director of the Good Law Project.
He said he wants the government to “reintroduce Covid safety measures in schools”.
‘Very worried and scared’
Catherine Wilson, 34, from Westbury, Wiltshire, said she is “very worried and very scared”.
She has an eight-year-old son, Cayden, who has autism and asthma.
He was recently in hospital for a week with breathing problems, she said.
Wilson, who is a volunteer with support group Parents United UK, is concerned that Department for Education (DfE) guidelines are not strong enough to protect her son.
A spokesperson for the DfE said in exceptional circumstances headteachers can authorise an absence.
But the “classroom is the best place for their education, development and wellbeing”, added the spokesperson.
You can support the legal challenge here: https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/keep-children-families-teachers-safe/
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Published: 14 September 2021
