• I AM a parent of a child at Thomas Coram Nursery.

I received a letter from the head informing parents that the school would be closed on Wednesday due to the teachers’ strike.

This surprised me as I was not aware there were that many teachers at the school; most of the staff are early years educators.

I asked a member of staff who said that out of a staff team of over 40 there were only three teachers who were members of the National Education Union and who would be striking.

I am therefore puzzled as to why the decision was made to close the whole school and have made no contingency plans to cover the very many vulnerable children who attend the school who could be safely looked after by staff not on strike.

The decision to strike will mean children who have lost out on so much education already due the Covid-19 pandemic will lose another day and it will cause further hardship for low-income working families who will lose a day’s pay as they stay home to look after their children. This does not seem in keeping with the spirit of Thomas Coram.

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