Foodbanks and local area coordinators
Friday March 20th, 15:00 p.m
Please read the NEW and UPDATED letter from the local authority and Aled Evans, director of education.
Dear Parent / Carer,
There has been significant discussion over the last 24 hours over the way schools will open from Monday onwards.
Could I firstly emphasise that the purpose of closing schools is to restrict and minimise social contact and therefore reduce the risk of being infected by the coronavirus.
Therefore, if it is at all possible, please keep your children at home. Parents should not rely for childcare upon those who are advised to be in the stringent social distancing category such as grandparents, friends, or family members with underlying conditions.
We will ensure that schools will provide caring facilities for parents who are at the forefront of the national effort to fight the coronavirus disease. We want to ensure that these vital workers are given every opportunity to be in work and to get on with their efforts to protect our lives and wellbeing.
In accordance with the above, we will limit attendance at our schools next week to those who are employed within:
- Health and social care sectors.
- To education and childcare staff, including social workers.
- Key public services, ie those responsible for the management of the deceased.
Local and national government
- This 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.
Food and other necessary goods
- This includes those involved in food production, processing, distribution, sale and delivery.
Public safety and national security
- This includes police and support staff, fire and rescue service employees (including support staff) and prison and probation staff.
Transport
- This includes those who will keep the 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.
However, let’s be very clear, we want to prioritise attendance at school to only those who absolutely need to be there and are eligible to be there according to this criteria. If you fall outside this criteria, schools will not be expected to receive your children. Please be considerate and understanding in these very challenging times.
Our schools will also be open to our most vulnerable learners who will be identified in discussion with headteachers and Social Services and your school will contact you personally on this.
We are confident that if this advice is followed, we will all make a significant contribution towards protecting our pupils and our staff.
We will review these arrangements very carefully with our schools on a daily basis and will keep you appraised of any changes through the usual communication and media channels.
Yours sincerely,
Aled Evans