School closure update

Dear Parents and Carers,

The Government document ‘Coronavirus (COVID-19): maintaining educational provision‘ was released overnight. The document gives some clarity but raises many operational questions for schools, parents and employers.

It must be noted firstly that ‘If it is at all possible for children to be at home, then they should be’. Clearly the whole point of closing schools, is to limit social contact and prevent the rapid spread of the disease, so we ask you all to think carefully about whether it is essential to send your children in. ‘Schools to remain open only for those children who absolutely need to attend’.

If your work is critical to the COVID-19 response, or you work in one of the critical sectors and you cannot keep your child safe at home, then your children will be prioritised for school. We will be open from 8.40 a.m. until 3.10 p.m. whilst staff levels allow.

Teachers are already planning activities for children that have to attend school and more information will be sent to those parents who qualify later on today. You should have already been updated by your class teacher as to ‘Home Learning’ options – please see class pages on the website.

The guidance on Key Workers is that “if your work is critical to the COVID-19 response, or you work in one of the critical sectors listed below, and you cannot keep your child safe at home then your children will be prioritised for education provision:

Health and Social Care

Education and Childcare

Key Public Services

Local and National Government

Food and other necessary goods

Public Safety and national security

Transport

Utilities, communication and financial services

For full details please follow this link Government Link

Clearly, some of these categories are wide-reaching. It is for Headteachers to use their best judgement to determine which parents are eligible when we are approached. Please be patient and understand that we are doing our best and that our decision is final. Remember we are not making the rules we are simply trying our best to follow them.

1. We will assess all applications that we have had so far and determine whether they meet the essential criteria – someone from the office will contact you with the outcome today.
2. We will review new applications inview of the Government clarification which was published late last night. These need to be submitted by noon today in order for us to process them. Please use this form Critical Workers Form
3. It seems likely that next week will be a review stage where parents are asked for additional confirmation from employers. This may result in the offer of places being confirmed or places being withdrawn.
4. The guidance has so many elements that require additional clarification that I anticipate a process of review of decisions taking place throughout at least next week.

Please be assured that we will work over the coming week to make fair and consistent decisions that match the emerging national guidance and principles.  As ever, we are working tirelessly to ensure that children are at the heart of all of our decision making and we thankyou for your support and understanding so far.

Your sincerely

Miss Cook

Headteacher

Newdale Primary School and Nursery

Marlborough Way

Newdale

Telford

TF3 5HA

Tel:  01952 387720

Source: BBC News.

We believe this article useful by way of answering some of the questions you may have…

Why is my child’s school still open?

At the moment, the government is advising schools to stay open.

But the government’s chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, told MPs at a hearing on Tuesday afternoon that closing schools was still “on the table”, as one of the measures that could be used to fight the virus.

The UK’s approach is that children are not as vulnerable to the effects of coronavirus as adults.

The government is also concerned that closing schools would cause widespread disruption.

Many parents – including much-needed NHS staff – would have to take time off work to look after their children.

And there are concerns that if grandparents – a vulnerable group – were drafted in to help with childcare, infected children could transmit the disease to them.

There are also fears that vulnerable children, such as those in danger of neglect, could be at risk if schools were closed for a long period of time.

Could my child’s school be closed?

The government has the power to close schools.

On Monday, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson met head teachers about the challenges facing schools as a result of the coronavirus.

“The most immediately pressing challenge is the difficulty in keeping schools open with growing numbers of staff having to self-isolate,” head teachers’ leaders said.

“It is likely that a number of schools will have to close because there are too few staff available to teach, support and supervise children.”

Exactly what action schools are asked to take may differ around the UK.

Keeping England’s schools open is the “best course of action”, Mr Williamson has said.

We will of course keep you as updated as we can as things progress here at Newdale.

Miss Cook