Dear Parents/Carers,
Thank you again for your patience during this extraordinary and challenging time for us all.
The Vine Trust schools have decided to come together to give extra clarity and consistency around the critical worker list. The Government’s definition of a ‘critical worker’ and a ‘vulnerable child’ is extensive and, unless we prioritise, we may not be able to support families and workers that require this help the most.
We have put together a tiered system from 1 to 4 and have prioritised our staff to tier 1. Although this is an agreed tiered system, we will make decisions case by case in our schools based on our staffing capacity and this may change on a day to day basis.
We must emphasise that the government guidance states that ‘if your work is critical to the Covid-19 response, or you work in one of the critical sectors AND you cannot keep your child safe at home then your children will be prioritized for educational provision. 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.’
Doctors
Nurses
Midwives
Paramedics
Social workers
Care workers
Machine workers producing medicines
Support and specialist staff as part of medial administrative support
Nursery staff
School staff
Social workers
Food distributers
Food processors
Food delivery drivers
Police and support staff
MoD
Contractor and armed forced personnel
Fire and rescue
Workers responsible for management of deceased
Health and social care
Food sale
Those involved in the sale and delivery of veterinary medicines
Oil, gas, electricity and water workers
Waste disposal sector
National crime agency
Boarder security
Prison and probation staff
National security
Justice system workers
Air, water and road workers
Freight transport workers operating through COVID19 responses
Telecommunications for critical services
Specialist education professionals
Civil nuclear and chemical workers
Network operations
Payment providers
Charity workers providing COVID-19 relief
Religious staff
Journalists
Broadcasters
Local and national
Government administrators
Rail passenger workers
Essential financial services
Information technology and data infrastructure as part of the COVID-19 response
Postal workers
The key points however are summarised below.
• Schools are now closed and, where possible, children should stay at home.
• Schools will remain open for children of critical workers and vulnerable children where they can
• 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. If it is at all possible for children to be at home, then they should be.
• Children with at least one parent or carer who are identified as critical workers by the government can send their children to school if required.
• It is important to underline that schools, remain safe places for children. 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.
PLEASE E-MAIL THE ADMIN ADDRESS IF YOU NEED YOUR CHILD TO BE SUPERVISED, IN SCHOOL, FROM NEXT WEEK.
Thank you for your support. Again, I would like to urge that where at all possible children should stay at home to prevent the spread of the virus anymore. In order for us to remain open for our critical workers I also have to ensure staff remain fit and healthy so would ask you to consider this carefully.
Yours sincerely
Miss S Jones – Headteacher
Newsletter 14 – March 2020