Dear Parents & Carers.
Re: Phased reopening of primary schools
We would like to thank you all for your patience at this difficult time.
As I am sure you heard today, the Chief Minister announced that Primary schools will reopen from next Tuesday 13th April 2021 to children who are designated as ‘vulnerable’ or are the children of ‘essential workers’ only.
Under current proposals all children could return to school from Monday 19th April, but this decision will depend on the latest data and advice from Public Health. A final decision will be made by the Council of Ministers next week.
Remote learning will continue until schools fully reopen.
From Tuesday 13th April 2021 children who are identified as vulnerable or whose parents/carers work in the sectors identified in the appendix to this letter, can attend school. I would like to reiterate that children of essential workers should only attend school if you must attend your workplace and have no alternative childcare provision available.
It must also be emphasised that we should all work together to keep Covid out of our schools and the community and that children suffering from any Covid symptoms must not be sent into School. If in any doubt, children suffering from symptoms should be kept off school and you should seek advice from the 111 helpline.
Further details about symptoms and what to do can be found on the Government Covid website at: https://covid19.gov.im/about-coronavirus/symptoms-...
How to Apply
Access to places will only be available to vulnerable children and children of essential workers who must attend their workplace and have no alternative childcare provision available.
If you believe you are an essential worker, as identified in the appendix and have no alternative childcare provision available, please email the school requesting a place on
Monday 12th April 2021. If a place is confirmed by the school, you will be emailed a short declaration form which must be completed and presented to the school on the first day of attendance.
On Tuesday 13th April 2021 we ask that children attending school arrive on the playground where they will be met by a member of staff. The same times of the school day apply as usual.
School catering services are intending to provide meals in school as usual for children who attend school and payments should be made via ParentPay as normal.
Mitigations in place for the week of 12th April
Social distancing and additional cleaning arrangements will be put in place. We will continue to promote good hand hygiene practise to students of all ages and staff on a regular basis. The use of face coverings will continue to be encouraged for students and staff alike where appropriate, in line with the latest Public Health advice.
Mitigations in place once schools fully reopen
Additional cleaning arrangements will remain and we will continue to promote good hand hygiene practise to students of all ages and to staff on a regular basis. Staff and students will still be able to wear face coverings should they wish, with ventilation being encouraged.
Thank you for your continued support and understanding. We will still be here for you during these difficult and unprecedented times. We know you will work with us in partnership and hope you will help us in implementing the arrangements above.
Useful Health & Well-being Resources:
The pandemic has caused a lot of changes for our children and young adults – from schools and exams, to socialising and future plans.
The Department of Education Sport and Culture have collected these resources to help you, or a young person you to know to navigate these difficult times.
Anxiety & Coronavirus: Department of Education Sport and Culture document, designed to provide guidance and support for families, children and young people
Anna Freud Advice for Young People to Support their Mental Health: Helping children, young people and their families during the current pandemic
Advice for Parents and Carers: Advice and guidance for parents and carers on how to support wellbeing during the current pandemic
On My Mind: Details self-care strategies to help children and young people manage their wellbeing
A number of other resources are available including the ‘Are you ok?’ survey and tips:
https://covid19.gov.im/health-and-wellbeing/
We look forward to seeing the children as soon as possible. Yours Faithfully
Tamara Quayle Acting Headteacher
Essential Workers List:
Appendix 1
Work Sector |
If your work is critical to the COVID-19 response, or you work in one of the critical sectors listed below, and you cannot keep your child safe at home then your children will be prioritised for education or childcare provision. For the avoidance of doubt, the provision is only available to pupils who have no parents or guardians in the household due to working in a critical sector, and only when that parent or guardian are required to attend their place of work during the school or working day. It is essential that if you can work from home you do so, and that your child remains at home for the school or working day. |
Health and social care |
This includes but is not limited to doctors, nurses, midwives, paramedics, social workers, care workers, and other frontline health and social care staff including volunteers; the support and specialist staff required to maintain the Island’s health and social care sector; those working as part of the health and social care supply chain, including producers and distributers of medicines and medical and personal protective equipment. |
Education and childcare |
This includes childcare, support and teaching staff, social workers and those specialist education professionals who must remain active during the COVID-19 response to deliver this approach. |
Key public services |
This includes those essential to the running of the justice system, religious staff, charities and workers delivering key frontline services, those responsible for the management of the deceased, and journalists and broadcasters who are providing public service broadcasting. |
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, including in government agencies and arm’s length bodies. |
Food and other necessary goods |
This includes those involved in food production, processing, distribution, sale and delivery, as well as those essential to the provision of other key goods (for example hygienic and veterinary medicines). |
Public safety and national security |
This includes police and support staff, contractor and (those critical to the delivery of key defence and national security outputs and essential to the response to the COVID-19 pandemic), fire and rescue service employees (including support staff), those maintaining border security, prison and probation staff. |
Transport |
This includes those who will keep the air, water, road and freight transport modes operating during the COVID-19 response, including those working on transport systems through which supply chains pass. |
Utilities and communication |
This includes essential staff from the oil, gas, electricity and water sectors (including sewerage), information technology and data infrastructure sector and primary industry supplies to continue during the COVID-19 response, as well as key staff working in the telecommunications sector (including network operations, manufacturing and engineering, call centre staff, IT and data infrastructure, 999 and 111 critical services). |
Miscellaneous Services |
This includes those that are required for essential commercial cleaning staff who are deployed in any of the working areas of the categories listed above in order to allow them to function. |
General Guidance |
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 |
The letter is available to download: Reopening Schools