20th March 2020
20 March 2020
On Wednesday evening the Government announced that schools are being asked to step up and provide a vital service to help our country/community in a time of need - something we are proud to do.
At the end of today, our school doors will close to many pupils but remain open for others, for the foreseeable future and throughout the Easter Holidays.
The most recent scientific advice on how to further limit the spread of COVID-19 is clear. If children can stay safely at home, they should, to limit the chance of the virus spreading. That is why the government has asked parents to keep their children at home, wherever possible, and asked schools to remain open only for those children who absolutely need to attend. It is important to underline that schools, colleges and other educational establishments remain safe places for children. But the fewer children making the journey to school, and the fewer children in educational settings, the lower the risk that the virus can spread and infect vulnerable individuals in wider society.
Following the government’s guidance at 12:11am this morning, St George’s Catholic School will be offering a child care service from Monday 23rd March for pupils who meet certain criteria.
If you can keep your child off school, please, please support us by doing this.
Pupils in the following categories will be eligible to take up a child care place at the school:
1. Children who have an Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP)
2. Children who have a social worker and children in care
3. Children whose parents are ‘key workers.’
These are:
Health and social care
Education and childcare
Key public services
Local and National government (though this list is quite restrictive)
Food and other necessary goods
Public safety and national security
Transport
Utilities, communication and financial services
In light of the announcement, I urgently need to know who will need the support from the school so that I can put a plan together.
Next week, at no cost, we will be open from 8am - 4pm daily for the children of the key workers as defined by the Government. There will be no breakfast service however, at the moment we are trying to provide a hot meal at lunchtime.
If you are a key worker and will require our support from Monday onwards, please can you try to complete the form below this morning or e-mail the school by 4pm today, at the latest. You will need to let us know your child’s name, child’s class, names and job roles of parents. We will then assume you will need our support all week unless notified otherwise.
To try and minimise the risks to staff and children, the same rules apply as before regarding everyone’s health, which is if any of your family have any symptoms then you will all need to self-isolate for 14 days. This will also apply to the staff and we will do our utmost to remain operational.
Not all staff will be able to work due to guidance of enforced isolation because of medical conditions of themselves or their families.
Thank you all once again for your really kind emails and messages of support, we are all in this together and we will get through together.
Best Wishes
Mark Braund
