Coronavirus Update
To all of our school community
20 March 2020
This update follows on from the one we sent yesterday. The government has now issued information which we are sharing in full with you and summarising in this update.
· This link takes you to the information for parents and carers:
· This link takes you to the guidance for schools, colleges and local authorities on maintaining educational provision and this includes the full list of critical workers:
Information for all parents
· Both documents make it clear the government are asking parents to keep their children at home, whenever possible and are asking schools to remain open for those children who absolutely need to attend. This is because the fewer children making the journey to school and the fewer children in educational settings the lower the risk the virus can spread. The information for parents and carers (see 1.8 of the guide) says every child who can be safely cared for at home should be.
Information for parents of vulnerable children
· The guidance confirmed vulnerable children are those with EHC plan and those with a Social Worker. It also notes schools will want to support other vulnerable children and each school is identifying who these children are.
· The government guidance states there is no requirement for parents to send their children to school as every child who can be safely cared for at home should be. It also states your child’s social worker will work with you to assess the best option for your child.
· Hillingdon Council have written to schools and said vulnerable children (those with a social worker) are expected to attend school.
Critical workers definition
· The full list is in the guidance for schools, colleges and local authorities on maintaining educational provision.
· Children with at least one parent or carer who is identified as a critical worker can send their child/children to school if there is no alternative child care.
· We have summarised the list here to help.
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§ Doctors § Nurses § Midwives § Paramedics § Social Workers § Care workers § Machine workers producing medicines / medical personal protective equipment § Support and specialist staff as part of medical administrative support who categorically cannot work from home § Nursery staff § Teaching staff § School staff and school catering staff who must remain active during the COVID-19 to deliver this approach § Social workers § Food distributors § Food processors § Food delivery drivers § Police and support staff § Ministry of Defence civilians § Contractor and armed forces personnel who are 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) § Workers responsible for the management of the deceased |
§ Health & social care supply chain workers § Support and specialist staff as part of medical administrative support § Food sale § Those involved in the production, distribution, sale and delivery of hygienic or veterinary medicines § Oil, gas, electricity and water (including sewerage) workers § Waste disposal sector workers § National Crime Agency staff § Border security § Prison and probation staff § Other national security roles including those oversees |
§ Those running the justice system § Air, water and road workers § Freight transport workers operating through COVID-19 responses § Telecommunications including call centre staff for 999 and 111 critical services) § Specialist education professionals who aren’t school based § Civil nuclear and chemical workers § Network operation and field engineering workers § Payment providers § Charity workers providing support and relief in relation to COVID-19
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§ Religious staff § Journalists providing public service broadcasting § Broadcasters providing public service broadcasting § Local and national government administrators delivering essential public services such as the payment of benefits including in government agencies and arms-length bodies. § Rail passenger workers § Essential financial services provision (including but not limited to banks, building societies, financial market infrastructure) § Information technology and data infrastructure sector and primary industry supplies to continue during the COVID-19 response § Postal services and delivery workers |
· If you have already returned the form we sent yesterday- thank you. You don’t need to resend it if you have identified as a critical worker as defined by the guidance. Each school will contact you to check you are unable to keep your child/children at home.
· If you now believe you are a critical worker please complete the following and return back to school or telephone the school office to provide this information.
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Child/children names |
Name of person completing this form |
Your occupation |
Which critical worker definition does your job fit into |
Your employer |
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· The school will be open on Monday and we will write to you again later today to let you know the opening time and any other arrangements.
Yours sincerely,
Mr D Davies
Head of School