In a letter sent today they ask the government to urgently consider raising the priority level for all staff in early years, school, college, adult education, and independent training provider settings.

The signatories say these staff must be prioritised because: 

• fully reopening education settings is a national priority – the moment it is safe to do so
• learning often takes place indoors and in close contact with large numbers of students in multiple groups, putting staff at high risk of both catching and transmitting the virus
• vaccination prioritisation, combined with mass testing, would reduce transmissions, remove any further disruption to the education of young people and support the resumption of economic activity by reducing the burden of home schooling on working parents.