Dear Parent/Guardian
We have today forwarded a copy of an e-mail received today from Gaynor Davies, Director of Education to all parents by way of e-mail regarding the revised childcare arrangements which will apply as from Monday 18th January 2021.
Please note that if you qualify under the new criteria and the conditions issued by RCTCBC and you wish to secure a place for your child/children, you must let us know no later than 3.30 p.m.. on Monday 11th January 2021. either by contacting Mr Gardner via Class Dojo or by e-mailing us at admin.capcochprimary@rctcbc.gov.uk
A copy of the e-mail can be accessed by clicking on our "News & Events" tab and then by further clicking on "Newsletters".
Places will be limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
Kind regards
Dear Parent/Guardian
We have today compiled a note from information on the Gov.Uk website about free increases to mobile data allowances in order to support children in the current pandemic by various mobile phone companies. This note has been sent to all parents by way of e-mail this afternoon.
If you would like us to apply for this on behalf will you please either let Mr Gardner know by way of your child's class Dojo or alternatively,by e-mail at admin.capcochprimary@rctcbc.gov.uk with the information required No later than next Friday 15th January 2021 and we will look into this for you.
The note can be accessed by clicking on the "News & Events" tab and then by clicking on the "Newsletters" tab.
Kind regards
Dear Parent/Guardian
We have received a number of queries regarding the criteria that needs to be met to qualify for a educational face to face place at the start of this term. The guidance from the RCTCBC states that for the first two weeks of term, schools will only be providing school based learning not childcare provision for the children of critical workers. However, if restrictions are extended beyond the two week period RCTCBC may review this position.
The legislation states that only one parent is required to be a critical worker to apply for school based educational provision. Although the list is quite extensive, RCTCBC have informed us that for this period of the academic year the Critical Worker criteria will be limited to those persons employed in the following capacity:-
Health and social care workers
All NHS and social care staff, including:
• doctors, nurses, midwives, paramedics, social workers, care workers, and other health and social care workers including volunteers organisations involved with patient discharge, transport and hospital transfers
• the administration, support and specialist staff required to maintain the UK’s health and social care sector including those third sector workers in an NHS or care setting
• those working as part of the health and social care supply chain, including producers and distributors of medicines, and medical and personal protective equipment
• NHS Blood and Transplant frontline staff (blood donation staff, specialist nurses for organ donation, staff running therapeutic apheresis services in NHS hospitals)
• those providing ancillary support to NHS workers (such as hotel accommodation for NHS staff)
Public safety (emergency workers) and national security workers
• British Transport Police and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency
• Fire and Rescue Service employees (including support staff)
• Ministry of Defence civilians, contractors and armed forces personnel (those critical to the delivery of critical defence and national security outputs and critical to the response to the coronavirus pandemic), including defence medical staff
• National Crime Agency staff, those maintaining border security, prison and probation staff and other national security roles, including those overseas
• police and support staff
• staff of organisations required in the national security aspects of water in Wales
Education and childcare workers
• all workers in childcare settings (to include day nurseries, creches, childminders, play groups, Cylch Meithrin, after school clubs and holidays clubs)
• Further Education (FE) and Higher Education (HE) lecturers
• social workers
• specialist education professionals,
• support staff on site at schools, FE and HE settings such as catering, cleaners, caretakers, maintenance staff all those involved in schools/FE/HE institutions to operate
• teaching staff
• learning support staff
• Work Based Learning trainers and assessors
• Youth workers
We will of course, keep you advised of any changes/developments as and when we are informed by RCTCBC.
Kind regards
Dear Parent/Guardian
We have today received a letter from RCT with a questionnaire attached regarding funding for schools to support service children in education. This letter and questionnaire has been sent out to all parents by way or e-mail this morning.
The questionnaire needs to be completed and returned to us no later than 15th January 2021 by way of e-mail.
In addition, the letter and its questionnaire can be accessed by clicking on our "News & Events" tab and then by further clicking on the "Newsletters" tab.
We hope that 2021 will be a better New Year for all
Kind regards
Dear Parent/Carer
Apologies for writing to you during the holiday period, but in light of the current Tier 4 restrictions and following a meeting with Welsh Government officials yesterday and today, it is necessary to revise the arrangements for our schools next week.
The revised position is aimed at keeping our children and staff safe, and is summarised as follows:
• The new school term will start on 4th January. The 4th and 5th of January will remain as planning days so that schools can prepare for the delivery of remote learning and on-site provision for vulnerable learners and the children of critical workers. This will also provide an opportunity for school leaders to update their risk assessments and plans to keep learners and staff safe. No remote learning will be provided for your child/ren on these dates.
• All schools, including mainstream and special schools, and pupil referral units, must provide remote learning opportunities for all learners from the 6th to the 8th of January, and beyond, if face to face learning is not possible for all learners in school settings. Provision should also include remote wellbeing support where this is deemed necessary. Education will not be provided on school sites during the first week of term unless your child is identified as a high priority vulnerable learner or critical worker eligibility is met.
• All schools, including mainstream and special schools, and pupil referral units, delivering education via remote learning must make school-based provision for high priority vulnerable children during core school hours.
• All schools, including mainstream and special schools, and pupil referral units, delivering education via remote learning must also make provision for the children of critical workers in school settings. The regulations now stipulate that provision for the children of critical workers must also be made in secondary schools. This provision will be for core school hours, including breakfast club provision in primary schools.
• Based on current information it is still anticipated that from the second week of term (w/c 11th January) most schools will be providing face to face learning for the majority of pupils, leading to a full return by the 18th January at the latest. However, further detail will be provided for parents and carers later next week following further meetings with Welsh Government officials.
As schools will not be open to all learners during the first week of term, your child’s school will be expected to make special arrangements for high priority vulnerable learners from the 6th of January. Eligible children include high priority children:
• that have additional learning needs;
• are looked after;
• are young carers;
• are in need of care and support; or
• with child protection needs.
Your school should have notified you already of whether your child is considered to be a high priority.
Critical worker provision will be made available in all primary and secondary schools, special schools or PRUs for the first week of term as schools will not be open to all year groups. Your child’s school will notify you, on Monday the 4th January, of this offer for the following eligible workers:
• Blue light workers, including NHS, Police, Ambulance and Fire Service staff;
• Social care workers (including care homes); and
• Childcare or education staff.
This provision will be available for eligible children of all ages in primary, special school and pupil referral unit settings. In mainstream secondary schools, this provision will be made available for mainstream learners in years 7 and 8 only, and for the children of critical workers attending key stage 3 and 4 learning support class provisions only.
Please only apply for this provision if you clearly meet eligibility and are scheduled to work and have exhausted all possible childcare avenues. All schools have been asked to directly notify parents/carers of their provision for critical workers on the 4th of January 2021 and to make appropriate arrangements for delivery from the 6th of January onwards. This provision will cease once schools are open to all learners.
A further update will be sent to you later next week to advise you of plans for the week commencing the 11th of January. At present, it is hoped that the majority of pupils will be accessing face to face learning during the second week of term and that all learners will be back in school by the 18th of January, subject to the local position and transmission rates.
A Healthy and Happy New Year to you all.
Gaynor Davies
Director of Education and Inclusion Services