UPDATE ON PROVISION FOR CHILDREN OF KEY WORKERS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN

Following consultation and advice from the local authority, we will provide child care from Monday for the children of the key workers and vulnerable children.

It is important to note that the purpose of these measures are:

1. to ensure that key workers, who are essential in the management of the Coronavirus's impact, can continue to work.
2. to keep the number of children in school to an absolute minimum and therefore minimise the risk of infection.

Therefore, the provision will be available to children where:

• BOTH PARENTS ARE KEY WORKERS AND DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO ANY OTHER CHILD CARE.

OR

• THERE IS ONLY ONE ACTIVE PARENT IN THE CHILD’S LIFE, THEY ARE A KEY WORKER AND THEY DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO ANY OTHER CHILD CARE.

Key workers are:

• Front line NHS staff
• Delivery drivers of essential services e.g. food and medical supplies
• Care home workers
• Social Workers
• Police Officers and Community Support
• Prison officers
• Firefighters
• School staff who are required to provide child care

We do understand that it can be frustrating if you are not a key worker but do not have an accommodating employer. The Prime Minister has again today stressed the importance of employers being supportive of employees who may be self isolating or impacted by schools closing, in order for us all to do our bit in overcoming this crisis. Please feel free to share this letter with them.

If you think you are a key worker as described above and do not have access to any other child care, please call the school on 01388 451278 or email princebishops@durhamlearning.net or direct message through our facebook page. It is imperative that we know as soon as possible if children require child care so that we are able to organise staffing.

Thank you.

Mrs George and Mrs Patchett