The school are aiming to open for a small number of children who fit into this category but please be aware, we will only be able to achieve this if the number is small. As a school, we have already identified a number of staff who are in the ‘at risk category’ and therefore this provision may not go ahead if we have more children than we originally planned for. Should we be unable to remain open, you are advised to contact the local educational authority, to find an alternative setting for your child. Where possible, we would hope to avoid this happening

Many parents working in these critical sectors may be able to ensure their child is kept at home. Every child who can be safely cared for at home should be.

This is an offer to parents and carers and there is no requirement for parents and carers to send their children to school if they do not need or wish to do so.

For vulnerable children, your child’s social worker will work with you to assess the best option for your child.

The key advice from the government is that:

1. If your children can stay safely at home, they should, to limit the chance of the virus spreading.
2. 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 who need to attend.
3. The fewer children making the journey to school and the fewer children in educational settings, lowers the risk that the virus can spread and infect vulnerable individuals in wider society.   
4. We would therefore ask that if your work is critical to the COVID-19 response, or your work in one of the critical sectors listed and you cannot keep your child safe at home then please contact the school by 11am if you have not already done so and we will attempt to ensure that you are prioritised for provision.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers

Once we have clear numbers of children, and available staffing, we will contact families to confirm arrangements.

I hope that many workers will have had the support they need to work remotely from home. We do understand that this situation is difficult for families, however please appreciate that I have a duty of care to keep both children who need to attend and our staff safe as possible.

I would like to thank you all and particularly the dedicated staff at The Good Shepherd for their hard work in these challenging circumstances.

For children coming in to school as of Monday 23^rd March 2020, the following measures/precautions must be taken:

• School uniform to be worn which are fresh on – we recommend putting clothes straight in the washing machine once returning home from school to minimise and control the spread of infection.
• Up to date contact details for family members must be available within school and emergency contact details should your child become poorly/exhibit symptoms of contracting coronavirus.
• Your child will be dropped off to an allocated classroom (please be aware that they may not be working in their current classroom and with their current class teacher. They will be in mixed classes with available staff) 
• We must register your child in and out of the premises by somebody who either has parental responsibility or has been nominated by yourselves, as long as you are all fit and well and not showing symptoms of coronavirus.
• If you become unwell with coronavirus symptoms, you must immediately contact school and arrange for collection of your child.
• Social distancing must be enforced whilst your child is not in school if we are to prevent/minimise the spread of infection.
• School must be informed if you no longer fall within the critical worker list or you have been asked to self-isolate.
• Thorough hand washing to take place at home just before leaving the home.
• Children must be dropped off at 9:15 am and picked up at 2.30 pm
• KidsStop will not be offering wraparound care, however Omnipresence Nursery may be able to help you. Please contact them on 07933131452.

Yours sincerely,

Mrs C Dodds

Head Teacher