Covid-19 update

Like all schools, as of Monday 23rd  March Huntingdon Nursery School will be closed due to the government’s Covid-19 strategy.

From Monday 23rd  March the Nursery School will be providing childcare to pupils whose parents/carers are key workers, and to vulnerable children (please see below for the governments definition of both).

The Nursery office will be staffed during normal school hours should you need to contact us.

01480 375216, office@huntigon-nur.cambs.sch.uk

Dear Parent,

We have been notified that the guidance the Local Authority agreed yesterday with the Department for Education around support for parents from Monday onwards, has been superseded and this letter outlines the current position (March 20^th am).

The most recent scientific advice on how to further limit the spread of COVID-19 remains clear. The government have requested these key principles are followed:

1. If it is at all possible for children to be at home safely, then they should be.
2. Parents should not rely for childcare on those ‘who are advised to be in the stringent social distancing category’. This includes grandparents, friends, or family members with underlying conditions.
3. 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.

The Government has requested that all schools provide optional care for a limited number of children. These are:

• Children who are vulnerable i.e. those who are:
  • Supported by Social Care
  • Children in Care – known as Looked After Children (LAC)
  • Young carers
  • Disabled Children
  • Or have an education, health and care plan (EHCP)
• Children whose parents are critical to the Covid-19 response and cannot be safely cared for at home.

All other children will need to stay at home, so we ask that you do not send your child into school from Monday onwards.

The government has also published an updated list of key workers which is attached to this letter.  The guidance has also be revised to outline that this support is for children with at least one parent or carer who are identified as ‘critical workers’ by the government.

Please complete the attached proforma and return to the school office should you fall into the Key/Critical Worker category.  No child care will be provided without completion of this form.

I want to reiterate the key message about the closure plans: Every child who can be safely cared for at home should be. We absolutely understand that families are worried about being able to work but these are extraordinary times and we are all having to make some very difficult decisions and sacrifices.  However, with the challenges we face with our own staff and the national social distancing policy, we wish to minimise any risks and the number of students attending should only be in circumstances where it is essential.

This remains an ever-changing situation and the position may well change again in the future.  We will continue to update you as the need arises.

I wish to thank all our school staff, volunteers, and Governors who have helped in recent days to keep the school open, and who will continue to do so over the coming months. I would also like to thank you for your continued support and understanding during this period.

Best wishes,

Definition of Key Workers

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 UK’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/personal protective equipment.

Education and childcare

This includes; nursery and teaching staff, teaching assistants, support 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 are to be included.

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, Ministry of Defence civilians, contractor and armed forces personnel (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), National Crime Agency staff, those maintaining border security, prison and probation staff and other national security roles, including those overseas.

Transport

This includes those who will keep the air, water, 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.

Utilities, communication and financial services

This includes staff needed for essential financial services provision (including but not limited to workers in banks, building societies and financial market infrastructure), 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 civil nuclear, chemicals, telecommunications (including but not limited to network operations, field engineering, call centre staff, IT and data infrastructure, 999 and 111 critical services), postal services and delivery, payments providers and waste disposal sectors.

For further information for parents and carers about school closures go to https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers

For the latest information about keeping yourself and your family safe go to https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

Please note that the website is currently being updated.

We are currently accepting applications for September 2020

If you are interested in a place for your child, please do get in touch and arrange for a visit, we’d love to show you around!

If you have recently moved to the area and have a child born between 01/09/15 – 31/08/16, do call us, as we occasionally have spaces which become free during the year.

Currently, all 3-4 year olds are entitled to 15 hours per week of government funded education/childcare during term time.  Children of working parents may be eligible for an additional 15 hours a week (30 hours free entitlement).  To find out if you are eligible please visit the government’s Child Care Choices website.

We will be offering some of these 30 hour places, click here for more information.