Advice for Educational Settings

The Department for Education COVID-19 guidance for educational settings

School closures

• If it is at all possible for children to be at home, then they should be.
• If a child needs specialist support, is vulnerable or has a parent who is a critical worker, then educational provision will be available for them.
• 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.
• 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.
• Residential special schools, boarding schools and special settings continue to care for children wherever possible.

Full details around the closure of schools and other educational settings can be read here , this page contains the following information:

• Welsh Government, School opening times and services: coronavirus
• Welsh Government, Eligibility for ongoing provision for children who are vulnerable, or whose parents are critical to the Covid-19 response (20 March)
• Welsh Government, List of ‘key worker’ professions (27 March)
• Welsh Government, 5 things you need to know before sending your children to school or childcare
• Welsh Government, Free school meals: coronavirus guidance for schools
• Welsh Government, Health and well-being for school staff and learners: coronavirus
• Welsh Government, School staff and their employment: coronavirus
• Welsh Government, Coronavirus: support for the supply sector (1 April)
• Welsh Government, Information for school governing bodies
• Welsh Government, Examinations and assessments: coronavirus
• Welsh Government, Education safeguarding guidance: coronavirus
• Welsh Government, Vulnerable children and safeguarding: coronavirus
• Qualifications Wales, Coronavirus FAQs
• WJEC, Supporting teachers & learners during Coronavirus
• Children’s Commissioner for Wales, Coronavirus – information hub for families and children

What jobs are regarded as critical workers (key workers)?

In order to continue to offer critical services as part of the country’s ongoing response to the virus, children of workers who form a central part of effort – such as NHS workers, police and delivery drivers – will be able to continue to attend school, college or childcare provider.

Critical workers include NHS staff, police, farmers and food retail workers, who need to be able to go out to work – the full list of those included is here .

Limiting social interaction

We’re all in this together and whilst this will be a big change and a big challenge for many of our local families and the Secretary of State, has not taken this decision lightly but it has become clear that we must limit social interaction even more than we have been – to save lives by ensuring our NHS continues to have the capacity to treat the most unwell.

This is a very difficult time for all of us in Penistone and Stocksbridge and across our nation. The things we’re being asked to do will make our lives harder. But we’re doing this for each other, and only by working together will we get through this.

This page will be updated with further details as they arise – last updated 20th March