Welcome to Jarvis Brook School!
You should now only send your child to school if you have to, because your work is critical to our COVID-19 response. If you are able to keep your child at home, you should.
Sending your child to school in the current emergency, unless there is absolutely no safe alternative and because your job is critical front-line work, may cost lives and undermine the life-saving work of the NHS. Please think first.
The government has set up a special hotline for any parents, pupils or staff who have concerns:
Further guidance which parents and pupils may find useful includes:
Ian Bauckham CBE
CEO Tenax Schools Trust
Dear Jarvis Brook Families
We have now received the official ‘Key Worker’ list from the Government. The list is quite long - but the guidance makes clear that parents should only ask for their child to be at school if it is absolutely necessary for them to be there.
So, to clarify, schools have closed because the Government has asked that everyone who possibly can to isolate themselves as fully as possible. The aim of this whole exercise is to minimize social contact as much as possible and we should be doing everything possible to support this. Some minimal school attendance may be necessary in the circumstances set out here but ONLY when strictly necessary.
Sending children into school should be seen as a last resort if it is the ONLY way that a critical worker can get to work themselves and it should not be a routine expectation.
You should only consider sending your child to school IF
1) You cannot provide safe care for them at home AND
2) You fall into the CRITICAL worker groups listed OR
3) Your child has an Education, health care plan (EHCP)
Any children in school will be supervised - and, if possible, follow the remote learning offered by the school through it’s website. They will NOT be receiving regular lessons.
A LIMITED lunch MAY be available depending upon numbers attending school. This will be confirmed in due course.
EVEN if you are a key worker or parent of a vulnerable child you must consider:
Can you provide safe care for your child at home?
Yes –STAY AT HOME – use the school website for daily learning
No – Are you working in a role defined as critical by the Government OR does your child have an EHCP?
Yes- School is open between 9.00 am and 3.00 pm
No - STAY AT HOME – use the school website for daily learning
Critical worker list - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision
Ensure that you’ve read the full guidance if you have any questions - for example, remember point 1.8 - even if you’re a critical worker or your child has an EHCP - there is no requirement to come to school. This is our school joining in a national effort to support those children of critical workers at this time IF that help is required.
You’ll understand that we need to plan carefully for school being open – IF you are a key worker AND you cannot provide safe care for your child, you need to inform school as soon as possible.
It must be emphasised that as the school has a part to play in minimising social interaction that the offer at school is supervision – it is NOT a full timetabled school day. A skeleton staff will be in school - most of our teachers, teaching assistants and office staff will be working from their home in line with Government advice. Staff who are in school will work on a rota through the week if necessary.
Please see article in full below:
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Note key principles: If it is at all possible for children to be at home, then they should be. Also note: If workers think they fall within the critical categories above they should confirm with their employer that, based on their employer’s business continuity arrangements, the parent’s specific role is necessary for the continuation of this essential public service - and let the school know as soon as possible. |
Guidance for schools, colleges and local authorities on maintaining educational provision
Published 19 March 2020
Published 19 March 2020
As a country, we all need to do what we can to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
That is why the government has given clear guidance on self-isolation, household isolation and social distancing.
And 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.
Schools are, therefore, 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 and cannot be safely cared for at home.
Vulnerable children include children who are 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 education, health and care (EHC) plans.
We know that schools will also want to support other children facing social difficulties and we will support head teachers to do so.
Parents whose work is critical to the COVID-19 response include those who work in health and social care and in other key sectors 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.
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Please, therefore, follow these key principles: 1. If it is at all possible for children to be at home, then they should be. 2. If a child needs specialist support, is vulnerable or has a parent who is a critical worker, then educational provision will be available for them. 3. 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. 4. Parents should also do everything they can to ensure children are not mixing socially in a way which can continue to spread the virus. They should observe the same social distancing principles as adults. 5. Residential special schools, boarding schools and special settings continue to care for children wherever possible. |
If your work is critical to the COVID-19 response, or you work in one of the critical sectors listed below, and you cannot keep your child safe at home then your children will be prioritised for education provision:
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 distributers of medicines and medical and personal protective equipment.
Education and childcare
This 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
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, and 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 COVID-19 response or delivering essential public services such as the payment of benefits, including in government agencies and arm’s length bodies.
Food and other necessary goods
This 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
This 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
This 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
This 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.
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