Dear parents,

Following the announcement by the Prime Minister, school is now closed to MOST children. His instructions were for people who can to: STAY AT HOME.

Online learning will begin for all children on Tuesday 5^th January and will continue until the end of lockdown.

We will be open for critical worker and vulnerable children ONLY.

If your child is entitled to Free School Meals, please contact the school to let us know if you wish to have a packed lunch provided to you. (This must be a daily commitment).

If your child attends school and you do not meet the government criteria, you will be contacted to collect your child immediately. (Evidence will be needed that both parents are needed at their place of work.)

Please read the following list carefully, adhering strongly to government advice that even if you do meet the criteria and can stay at home, STAY AT HOME and ensure your children access the online learning provided by their class teacher.

We would like to thank you for your support for the school, and we wish you well in this difficult time.

Kind Regards

Gr Gary (Chair of Governors), Mrs O’Meally & Mr Carroll (Head teachers)

Vulnerable and Critical Workers:

Vulnerable children and young people:

Vulnerable children and young people include those who:

• are assessed as being in need under section 17 of the Children Act 1989, including children and young people who have a child in need plan, a child protection plan or who are a looked-after child
• have an education, health and care (EHC) plan
• have been identified as otherwise vulnerable by educational providers or local authorities (including children’s social care services), and who could therefore benefit from continued full-time attendance, this might include:
  • children and young people on the edge of receiving support from children’s social care services or in the process of being referred to children’s services
  • adopted children or children on a special guardianship order
  • those at risk of becoming NEET (‘not in employment, education or training’)
  • those living in temporary accommodation
  • those who are young carers
  • those who may have difficulty engaging with remote education at home (for example due to a lack of devices or quiet space to study)
  • care leavers
  • others at the provider and local authority’s discretion including pupils and students who need to attend to receive support or manage risks to their mental health

Critical workers

Parents whose work is critical to the coronavirus (COVID-19) and EU transition response include those who work in health and social care and in other key sectors outlined in the following sections.

Health and social care

This includes, but is 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 distributors of medicines and medical and personal protective equipment.

Education and childcare

This includes:

• childcare
• support and teaching staff
• social workers
• specialist education professionals who must remain active during the coronavirus (COVID-19) response to deliver this approach

Key public services

This 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
• journalists and broadcasters who are providing public service broadcasting

Local and national government

This only includes those administrative occupations essential to the effective delivery of:

• the coronavirus (COVID-19) response, and the delivery of and response to EU transition
• essential public services, such as the payment of benefits and the certification or checking of goods for import and export (including animal products, animals, plants and food), including in government agencies and arm’s length bodies