PLEASE READ THE LETTER BELOW. IF YOU ARE ENTITLED TO A PLACE AND WISH TO CLAIM IT, PLEASE CONTACT THE SCHOOL OFFICE ON 01639 645414 OR EMAIL MELINPRIMARY@NPT.SCHOOL

Letter to parents closure 20th March 2020

Friday 20^th March 2020

Dear Parent / Carer,

There has been significant discussion over the last 24 hours over the way schools will open from Monday onwards.

Could I firstly emphasise that the purpose of closing schools is to restrict and minimise social contact and therefore reduce the risk of being infected by the coronavirus.

Therefore, if it is at all possible, please keep your children at home. 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.

We will ensure that schools will provide caring facilities for parents who are at the forefront of the national effort to fight the coronavirus disease. We want to ensure that these vital workers are given every opportunity to be in work and to get on with their efforts to protect our lives and wellbeing.

In accordance with the above, we will limit attendance at our schools next week to those who are employed within:

• Health and social care sectors.
• To education and childcare staff, including social workers.
• Key public services, ie those responsible for the management of the deceased.

Local and national government

• This only includes those administrative occupations essential to the effective delivery of the COVID-19 response, or delivering essential public services, such as the payment of benefits.

Food and other necessary goods

• This includes those involved in food production, processing, distribution, sale and delivery.

Public safety and national security

• This includes police and support staff, fire and rescue service employees (including support staff) and prison and probation staff.

Transport

• This includes those who will keep the road and rail passenger and freight transport modes operating during the COVID-19 response, including those working on transport systems through which supply chains pass.

However, let’s be very clear, we want to prioritise attendance at school to only those who absolutely need to be there and are eligible to be there according to this criteria. If you fall outside this criteria, schools will not be expected to receive your children. Please be considerate and understanding in these very challenging times.

Our schools will also be open to our most vulnerable learners who will be identified in discussion with headteachers and Social Services and your school will contact you personally on this.

We are confident that if this advice is followed, we will all make a significant contribution towards protecting our pupils and our staff.

We will review these arrangements very carefully with our schools on a daily basis and will keep you appraised of any changes through the usual communication and media channels.

Yours sincerely,

Aled Evans

Director of Education

Please read the letter below:

letter to parents on closure 19th March 2020 v2

We have now received further guidance from the local authority. The following plans are now being put into place.

On Monday, all schools will open to provide care / recreation / learning for children of essential workers.

This is the local authority list of essential workers

• health workers – all those employed within the NHS
• blue light / emergency service officers
• social care workers, those working in care homes, providing domiciliary care within the home setting, social workers.
• supermarket delivery drivers
• prison officers and other prison staff
• probation service staff
• school staff

Please contact the school if you are a worker within these essential services for our community, and thank you from us all for your continued efforts. Any queries, please contact school and we will try and help as much as we can.