Registration for Key workers only
Letter to parents: Preparations to support key workers through the provision of childcare
At the end of the school day on Friday 20th March 2020, all schools in Monmouthshire will close for the near future; we do not know when the return to school will be.
The Government has stated in its latest advice:
‘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.’
From Monday 23 March 2020, we are establishing nine provisions across the county that will enable us to provide support and care for the children of key workers across the county.
This will enable those workers to continue to make their key contribution in the fight against COVID-19 and is in line with the strategic objectives of our response to the emergency. We have chosen this scope of provision because it maintains the key objective of school closures i.e. reducing the transmission of the virus.
The nine schools (selected for their size and location) will be:
- Deri View Primary School (Abergavenny)
- Llanfoist Fawr Primary School (Abergavenny)
- Dewstow Primary School (Caldicot)
- Rogiet Primary School (Caldicot)
- Overmonnow Primary School (Monmouth)
- Kymin View Primary School Monmouth
- Thornwell Primary School (Chepstow)
- Pembroke Primary School (Chepstow)
- Raglan Church in Wales Primary School (Raglan)
Monmouthshire will follow the UK Government’s definition of ‘key’ workers – this can be found here. MCC will be sharing a registration form online this afternoon and all parents presenting on Monday morning are expected to present an id of a relevant service or industry sector.
The provision will be available for children in the following school years: reception to year 8 and will be open from 8.00 (breakfast club) – 3.30.
Members of staff from all of Monmouthshire’s schools will work in these settings not only the ‘host’ school. The aim is to ensure that there is familiar face for all pupils. It is our intention, through working with the schools to establish a shift pattern to ensure that there can be a continuity of provision capable of withstanding increasing illness and self-isolation. Members of the CYP Directorate will also support these provisions and we will review our capacity and potentially look to utilise the skills and talents of our youth service.
Pupils eligible for FSM
From Monday 23March 2020, we will also be able to provide a lunch to all of our children who are eligible for a free school meal. This will be made available from each of the schools above and will be either a hot meal or a packed lunch on a ‘grab and go’ basis. This will be available between 12pm and 2pm.
Secondary aged pupils who are eligible for free school meals and are not in one of the hub schools should collect their lunch from their normal school at the normal time.
The situation we face is challenging and dynamic, these plans, as set out above, are in place for the first week. At all times we will be reviewing the capacity of this offer to ensure that it remains suitable to meet its objectives. We have additional schools on standby to augment the service.
All schools across Monmouthshire have made proactive plans to identify all vulnerable learners and staff who are not working at these hubs will be responsible for maintaining contact with these learners during the time of school closures.
Please refer to www.monmouthshire.gov.uk for details of registration, these will be available later this afternoon.
Thank you for your patience as we have worked to develop these contingencies, as I have said we will keep them continually under review and we can develop this offer is necessary.
Yours sincerely
Will McLean
Chief Officer
Children and Young People