A BRADFORD nursery has caused controversy – with at least one member of staff having left already – by saying employees can only work there if they have been double vaccinated.

Private Day Nursery and Preschool, Ashfield House, in Eccleshill, has made it a condition of employment that by September 1 everyone must be either fully vaccinated or agree to become fully vaccinated in the shortest possible time.

With this also applying to existing staff, it is understood one member has already handed their notice in after the announcement of the ‘Covid Employment Policy’ was made on Tuesday, July 20.

As it stands, it is not against the law to go without a jab, but the Government is firm in encouraging everybody does.

Acas working for everyone, a workplace expert, insists ‘it’s a good idea for the employer to get legal advice before bringing in a vaccine policy’.

One source said: “It has had such a huge impact on friends and family who work here or have children who go. Staff and families will be distraught at this news.

"ACAS are clear in their statement concerning vaccinations in a workplace and this will open up a whole world of issues for them (the nursery) in terms of employment law.

"I would imagine they would request parents to have their vaccinations too, as they should also want to protect their workforce, not just the children.”

When approached by the T&A, owner Rosemary Izzard outlined the policy: “I do appreciate that the introduction of this policy may have, for whatever reason, a negative impact upon some staff and I hope that its introduction will not result in any loss of staff.

“With effect from September 1 all adult candidates for employment with us must be either fully vaccinated or agree to become fully vaccinated in the shortest possible time as a condition of employment.

“From the same date, existing staff in both locations will also be required as a condition of employment to be either fully vaccinated or at least to have received one jab with another planned to be taken within the shortest possible time.

“The only exception to the above policy would be where there is a clinically confirmed reason that the vaccination would prove to be a serious risk to health.

“The safeguarding of the children placed in our care is paramount and while the current medical opinion is that the risk to their health is quite low for now, no-one can be certain about what variants of the virus might yet develop.

“Each nursery location needs to give as much reassurance as we can to parents that their child or children placed with us is in as safe an environment as we can possibly make it and also less likely to be prone to temporary room closures. We cannot afford to employ additional staff to cover against such eventualities.

“Thirdly, and equally as important, is the assurance the new policy will give to all members of staff working in close proximity with colleagues that their safety is protected as far as the vaccination can provide.My trust is that everyone understands that each nursery cannot continue to experience the recent level of disruption without placing its existence at considerable risk.”