20^th March 2020

 

Dear Parents/Carers,

 

Re: Coronavirus update

 

We have now been given further advice regarding which pupils should be accessing schools during the foreseeable future. Schools are being asked to continue to provide care for a limited number of children – children who are vulnerable and children whose parents are critical to the Covid-19 response (Keyworkers) and cannot be cared for safely at home.  Further information for parents is available https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers

 

The Government has asked parents to keep their children at home, wherever possible, and asked school to remain open only for those children who absolutely need to attend.  Fewer children making the journey to school, and the few children in educational settings, lowers the risk that the virus can spread and infect vulnerable individuals in wider society.

 

Vulnerable children

 

Vulnerable children include children who are being supported by social care, those with safeguarding and welfare needs, including Child In Need Plans, on Child Protection Plans, ‘Looked After’ children, young carers, disabled children and those with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans.

 

Key Workers

Parents whose work is critical to the COVID-19 response, are outlined below.  Many parents working in these sectors may be able to ensure their child is kept at home and every child who can be safely cared for at home should be kept at home.

Key workers include the following roles:-

 

• Health and social care - includes but not limited to doctors, nurses, midwives, paramedics, social workers, care workers, and other frontline health and social care staff including volunteers; the support and specialist staff required to maintain the UK’s health and social care sector; those working as part of the health and social care supply chain, including producers and distributers of medicines and medical and personal protective equipment.
   
   

 

 

 

• Education and childcare - includes nursery and teaching staff, social workers and those specialist education professionals who must remain active during the COVID-19 response to deliver this approach.
• Key public services - includes those essential to the running of the justice system, religious staff, charities and workers delivering key frontline services, those responsible for the management of the deceased, and journalists and broadcasters who are providing public service broadcasting.
• Local and national government  - only includes those administrative occupations essential to the effective delivery of the COVID-19 response or delivering essential public services such as the payment of benefits, including in government agencies and arms length bodies.
• Food and other necessary goods - includes those involved in food production, processing, distribution, sale and delivery as well as those essential to the provision of other key goods (for example hygienic and veterinary medicines).
• Public safety and national security - includes police and support staff, Ministry of Defence civilians, contractor and armed forces personnel (those critical to the delivery of key defence and national security outputs and essential to the response to the COVID-19 pandemic), fire and rescue service employees (including support staff), National Crime Agency staff, those maintaining border security, prison and probation staff and other national security roles, including those overseas.
• Transport - includes those who will keep the air, water, road and rail passenger and freight transport modes operating during the COVID-19 response, including those working on transport systems through which supply chains pass.
• Utilities, communication and financial services - includes staff needed for essential financial services provision (including but not limited to workers in banks, building societies and financial market infrastructure), the oil, gas, electricity and water sectors (including sewerage), information technology and data infrastructure sector and primary industry supplies to continue during the COVID-19 response, as well as key staff working in the civil nuclear, chemicals, telecommunications (including but not limited to network operations, field engineering, call centre staff, IT and data infrastructure, 999 and 111 critical services), postal services and delivery, payments providers and waste disposal sectors.

 

If workers think they fall within the critical categories above they should confirm with their employer that, based on their business continuity arrangements, their specific role is necessary for the continuation of this essential public service.   Please be aware that evidence of employment is required, i.e. letter from employer, payslip, ID) if you will be sending your child into school.

 

Free School Meals

If your child is entitled to a free school meal but will not be attending school due to not meeting the criteria above, we can offer a free packed lunch which can be collected from school each day, details regarding collection times to follow.  This is only for pupils eligible for Free School Meals and does not include KS1 Universal Infant Free School Meals.

 

What parents need to do now:-

 

• If your child meets the criteria above or you are a keyworker and will be sending your child into school please email normandyadmin@normandy.bexley.sch.uk to confirm by 3pm today where possible.
   
• If your child will not be in school but is eligible for a free school meal please email normandyadmin@normandy.bexley.sch.uk to let us know if you would like to collect a packed lunch.

 

 

Access arrangements and timings will remain as normal for the present time.  You will be notified of any changes.

 

Please be aware that the school being open is subject to change and Government guidance. We will keep you updated of any changes and relevant information as it arises.

 

Thank you again for your continued support and patience.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Mr A. Hogarth

Executive Head Teacher