A Leeds mum with a premature baby says she is 'fuming' that parents have no choice when it comes to children and schools - even when Covid-19 poses a serious risk to her family.
Despite the government insisting that schools are safe, the National Education Union (NEU) said all primary schools and secondary schools should stay closed for a further two weeks following the Christmas and New Year break.
Although a small number of schools in Leeds remain closed, most are following the government guidance to welcome pupils back this morning.
And mum Kirsty Vater, 28, was left feeling helpless this morning as she was forced to send four of her children back to school.
Kirsty, a mum of five, has a baby who was born eight weeks premature - and says Covid-19 could be fatal for her newborn.
She said: "If one of the children contracted Covid-19 it could be fatal to the baby, his lungs are underdeveloped, he was given steroids and magnesium sulphate at birth to protect them, coronavirus is known to attack the respiratory system.
"The government stating children must attend school leaves parents with no choice otherwise we get threatened with the law.
"We wanted to keep them off school and isolate, however, the school have not agreed and advised us we would be fined for doing so.
"I am fuming that only certain schools are closing and only by teachers' choice but parents' decisions aren't considered.
"It shows how serious this is and yet we are still demanded to take our children to school if the teachers are happy to work. So many officials are fighting for closure so why are they not doing it?
"I feel sick to my stomach that we don't get a choice as parents, the fear that one of the children could contract this virus because we are forced to send our children to school is very real.
"We make, carry and raise a child we should have a choice in how we protect our children yet we are expected to bow and listen to those high and mighty. Why should we as parents put our children at risk?"
Kirsty, from Aireborough, said a lockdown would be a better solution instead of planned mass testing in schools.
She said: "Children shouldn't have to go through the trauma of mass testing.
"If they weren't in school the risk wouldn't be high and they would be in the safety of their own home. The best solution would be a full national lockdown for at least six to eight weeks to slow the infection rate down.
"All we can do at this point is make sure everything is sanitised, remind the children about social distancing and keep them off school if they show any signs of being poorly.
"We don't take the children anywhere other than school, we take every precaution possible to keep our children safe but in regards to school, we are left with no choice."
Kirsty's partner Ben said: "Sadly we are ordered to send the children back to school despite conversation that there are two high-risk people in the house. - one being a premature baby.
"My view is given the statistics, schools should have never reopened in the first place, I believe schools are the number one cause in the rise of coronavirus cases and deaths.
"When the schools are closed, parents and children across the country are not out in the streets every morning between 8:45am - 9am and 2:45pm and 3pm, lining up waiting for schools to open their gates. This is where the mass spreading is coming from."
