Mortimer Primary School – CoronaVirus school opening information
Dear all, these are unprecedented and worrying times, yet as a school community we have responded with calm and precision. We are proud of our staff and pupils; they have not flickered in the face of this event.
School closures are aimed at supporting the social distancing advice and suppress the spread of the Coronavirus. Therefore, we are closed as an education provider from the end of Friday 20th March until further notice.
From Monday 23rd we will be open to vulnerable children and pupils of key workers. This is a very different type of provision than we usually provide; for these pupils, it will be about care, not education. This is about keeping children safe and allowing key workers (such as NHS staff) to go to work and care for the sick, or to keep food supply chains moving. All expectations regarding educational provision have been lifted. Mortimer Primary is free to determine what the provision looks like and what we deem to be best for the pupils we are supporting.
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 on the Government website. 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.
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. However, if you are at home, even as a key worker, then so should your child(ren).
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.
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.
Key information for next week
All parents wishing to access the limited child care must complete the online form or a paper based version on the first day that they need access to the school. Current guidance is that only one parent needs to be a key worker to access this service. The form will follow later today.
The school will be open at 8:50 until 3:30pm each day.
To avoid all parents and children arriving at once, we will allow a staggered opening from 8:50 until 9:30 via the main entrance.
Children can be collected from 2:45 until 3:30pm, again via the main entrance.
Can we ask that you exercise social distancing, as defined by the government, when entering and exiting the building. As the first day may be busy we will plan to help ease this.
We will post a Facebook event for each day of next week and ask that you confirm your attendance for each day so we are aware of numbers. Please can you help us by confirming your attendance by 5pm the day before or as early as possible.
On the first day of using the service we will need to see evidence of your employment as indicated on your form. Examples could be: staff badge, payslip or a letter from your employer. Please read the government advice carefully and we encourage you to speak to your employer to ensure you are a key worker.
It is essential that we see this evidence.
Some parents, may be unsure of their needs day to day. We will do our very best to accommodate this. Levels of priority may need to be adhered to regarding which families require the care most. We may also be limited by the numbers we are allowed to safely have on school premises. Original figures were 20% of the school and we continue to reference this figure whilst further guidance is sought.
Parents MUST sign their child in and out of school each day. The yard will not be open for children to enter. All children must enter the school via the main entrance with their parent.
Children will not be allowed access to mobile technology during the day as per normal school procedures.
Please continue to order and pay for lunches via Parent Pay. The kitchen staff will endeavour to meet the requests but please prepare children that their preferred option may not be available.
We ask that children come dressed in school uniform, whilst attending.
Wrap around care is available from 7:30am till opening of school and till 6pm after school. This is a paid facility. Any enquiries should be directed to [email protected]
Thank you for your continued support and I hope this update is comprehensive and clear.
