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The Government has sent the following guidance to schools
The eligibility criteria for free school meals can be found on apply for free school meals.
What about infants that receive a free meal under universal infant free school meals?
It is right that schools concentrate their effort and resources on those who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals at this time. There is no requirement to continue to provide universal infant free school meals to pupils in reception, year 1, or year 2 who are unable to attend school. Children in those year groups who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals will be supported.
The Government has sent the following guidance to schools
The eligibility criteria for free school meals can be found on apply for free school meals.
What about infants that receive a free meal under universal infant free school meals?
It is right that schools concentrate their effort and resources on those who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals at this time. There is no requirement to continue to provide universal infant free school meals to pupils in reception, year 1, or year 2 who are unable to attend school. Children in those year groups who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals will be supported.
Free School Meals Vouchers
The free school meals vouchers that are being distributed by the school are for the parents that have applied for free school meals based on the means testing application form submitted to Somerset County Council. Somerset County Council have provided the school with the information and data for all pupils that have qualified for this support.
This is different from Universal Infant Free School Meals that are provided to pupils in Key Stage One, which is not a means tested provision.
Refunds for School Residentials
All monies for the school residentials have been paid to the organisations hosting these events. We will need to wait for refunds from these companies before school can refund the money to parents. School will contact you when we have received the refund from the organisations where the different school residentials were taking place.
PLEASE NOTE
Government Advice schools have received
Government has asked parents to keep their children at home, wherever possible, and asked schools to remain open only for those children who absolutely need to attend.
It is important to underline that schools, colleges and other educational establishments remain safe places for children. But the fewer children making the journey to school, and the fewer children in educational settings, the lower the risk that the virus can spread and infect vulnerable individuals in wider society.
Schools are, therefore, being asked to continue to provide care for a limited number of children - children who are vulnerable and children whose parents are critical to the Covid-19 response and cannot be safely cared for at home.
Vulnerable children include children who are supported by social care, those with safeguarding and welfare needs, including child in need plans, on child protection plans, ‘looked after’ children, young carers, disabled children and those with education, health and care (EHC) plans.
Parents whose work is critical to the COVID-19 response include those who work in health and social care and in other key sectors. Many parents working in these sectors may be able to ensure their child is kept at home. And every child who can be safely cared for at home should be. PLEASE NOTE THIS ADVICE DOES NOT SAY IF ONE ADULT IN THE HOUSEHOLD IS A KEY WORKER THAT YOU QUALIFY FOR CHILDCARE PROVISION. IF AN ADULT IN THE HOUSEHOLD IS NOT A KEY WORKWORKER THE SAME EXPECTATIONS OF CARE FOR YOUR CHILD WILL BE AS IT IS FOR ALL OTHER PARENTS WITHIN THE SCHOOL.
PLEASE NOTE
Government Advice schools have received
Government has asked parents to keep their children at home, wherever possible, and asked schools to remain open only for those children who absolutely need to attend.
It is important to underline that schools, colleges and other educational establishments remain safe places for children. But the fewer children making the journey to school, and the fewer children in educational settings, the lower the risk that the virus can spread and infect vulnerable individuals in wider society.
Schools are, therefore, being asked to continue to provide care for a limited number of children - children who are vulnerable and children whose parents are critical to the Covid-19 response and cannot be safely cared for at home.
Vulnerable children include children who are supported by social care, those with safeguarding and welfare needs, including child in need plans, on child protection plans, ‘looked after’ children, young carers, disabled children and those with education, health and care (EHC) plans.
Parents whose work is critical to the COVID-19 response include those who work in health and social care and in other key sectors. Many parents working in these sectors may be able to ensure their child is kept at home. And every child who can be safely cared for at home should be. PLEASE NOTE THIS ADVICE DOES NOT SAY IF ONE ADULT IN THE HOUSEHOLD IS A KEY WORKER THAT YOU QUALIFY FOR CHILDCARE PROVISION. IF AN ADULT IN THE HOUSEHOLD IS NOT A KEY WORKWORKER THE SAME EXPECTATIONS OF CARE FOR YOUR CHILD WILL BE AS IT IS FOR ALL OTHER PARENTS WITHIN THE SCHOOL.
WHERE ALL THE ADULTS IN THE HOUSEHOLD ARE KEY WORKERS.
We will do all we can to stay open, as childcare facilities, for children of families where all the adults in the household are key workers. The Government want us to keep these numbers as low as possible so as to reduce the chance of spreading the virus.
if a provision for your child has not been agreed by the school in advance do not turn up on Monday
Holway Park School
Information on School closure
Holway Park School will close at the end of the school day on Friday 20th March 2020 until further notice
We are still waiting for the government to confirm which children will qualify to be able to come into school from Monday. The school will contact parents directly if their child/children qualify under government guidelines to come to school on Monday.
If you think you are a key worker and your partner or husband is also a key worker please call the school to leave your name.
We will also confirm once clear, if one parent is a key worker but their husband or partner is not; whether the expectation is that the other parent will have their child at home, unless they are also a key worker. Single parents who are key workers will obviously be entitled to a school place.
Government Guidance
COVID-19: Guidance for education settings
16th March 2020
Government guidance now is that if any member of the family has a temperature above 37.8 or a new continuos cough- the whole family must self isolate for 14 days.