CHS - Covid 19 Updates
Steven Quinn Update 3rd February 21
Dear Parent/Carer
Yesterday, the First Minister outlined plans for a phased reopening of schools and nurseries for some groups of children and young people in the coming weeks.
I wanted to share the proposals with you and to confirm that they are subject to continued progress on suppressing virus levels in the community. If levels continue to move in the right direction, the First Minister will confirm these plans at the next review of coronavirus protective measures, which is expected to take place on Tuesday 16 February.
From Monday 22 February, it is proposed that:
The government provided a high-level outline on a phased reopening of schools and nurseries. Once greater detail is available, we will be able to share what this means in practice for your child, especially regarding the limited return of senior phase pupils and pupils who attend our ASN schools.
The First Minister also announced that home testing kits will be made available for staff and senior phase pupils. Further information regarding how pupils will access and use the kits will be shared when this is available.
The announcement yesterday relates provisionally to a change from week beginning Monday 22 February. In the meantime, the current arrangements in place for all children and young people will continue.
I know this situation is difficult for all parents and carers and once again I can only offer my sincere thanks for your continued support and patience.
Yours sincerely,
Steven Quinn
Director of Children’s Services
Yesterday, the First Minister outlined plans for a phased reopening of schools and nurseries for some groups of children and young people in the coming weeks.
I wanted to share the proposals with you and to confirm that they are subject to continued progress on suppressing virus levels in the community. If levels continue to move in the right direction, the First Minister will confirm these plans at the next review of coronavirus protective measures, which is expected to take place on Tuesday 16 February.
From Monday 22 February, it is proposed that:
- Children attending nursery and early learning centres can return full time;
- P1 to P3 pupils can return full time;
- A small number of pupils in the senior phase (S4 to S6) will return part time and on a limited basis to allow access to learning that must take place in school; and
- There will be small increases in the existing provision for children and young people with significant additional support needs.
The government provided a high-level outline on a phased reopening of schools and nurseries. Once greater detail is available, we will be able to share what this means in practice for your child, especially regarding the limited return of senior phase pupils and pupils who attend our ASN schools.
The First Minister also announced that home testing kits will be made available for staff and senior phase pupils. Further information regarding how pupils will access and use the kits will be shared when this is available.
The announcement yesterday relates provisionally to a change from week beginning Monday 22 February. In the meantime, the current arrangements in place for all children and young people will continue.
I know this situation is difficult for all parents and carers and once again I can only offer my sincere thanks for your continued support and patience.
Yours sincerely,
Steven Quinn
Director of Children’s Services
Steven Quinn Update 20th January 21
Dear Parent/Carer
Yesterday, the First Minister announced that schools and nurseries will remain closed for the majority of pupils until mid-February as part of lockdown measures across mainland Scotland. These measures will be reviewed by Scottish Government on Tuesday 2 February. This means remote learning will continue for the majority of children and young people in Renfrewshire. Our schools and nurseries will remain open for children of key workers and for those children who social work and school teams determine are
vulnerable and in need of a place. I want to reassure you that schools and nurseries continue to follow all national
guidance to ensure that our children and young people, their families and our staff are safe and feel confident in their environment. Since children and young people returned in August, our schools and nurseries have worked incredibly hard to ensure everyone's safety and we have robust safety and hygiene measures in place. They have also worked with NHS public health and the council's environmental health teams to ensure that all close contacts of anyone who tests positive for Covid-19 are
identified and asked to self-isolate.
Transport and school meals
Home to school transport will continue for any child who normally receives this service and is currently attending school as a child of a key worker or a vulnerable child or young person. When schools and nurseries return, home to school transport will be available as normal for all children and young people who normally receive this service. School meals will continue to be available for those attending school, either to buy or to receive a free school meal if they are eligible to receive one. For children and young people eligible for a free school meal on the basis of low income, we will continue to make financial payments in lieu of free school meals. We will update our website with the latest dates as soon as we can.
Thank you for your continued patience and support.
Yours sincerely,
Steven Quinn
Director of Children’s Services
Yesterday, the First Minister announced that schools and nurseries will remain closed for the majority of pupils until mid-February as part of lockdown measures across mainland Scotland. These measures will be reviewed by Scottish Government on Tuesday 2 February. This means remote learning will continue for the majority of children and young people in Renfrewshire. Our schools and nurseries will remain open for children of key workers and for those children who social work and school teams determine are
vulnerable and in need of a place. I want to reassure you that schools and nurseries continue to follow all national
guidance to ensure that our children and young people, their families and our staff are safe and feel confident in their environment. Since children and young people returned in August, our schools and nurseries have worked incredibly hard to ensure everyone's safety and we have robust safety and hygiene measures in place. They have also worked with NHS public health and the council's environmental health teams to ensure that all close contacts of anyone who tests positive for Covid-19 are
identified and asked to self-isolate.
Transport and school meals
Home to school transport will continue for any child who normally receives this service and is currently attending school as a child of a key worker or a vulnerable child or young person. When schools and nurseries return, home to school transport will be available as normal for all children and young people who normally receive this service. School meals will continue to be available for those attending school, either to buy or to receive a free school meal if they are eligible to receive one. For children and young people eligible for a free school meal on the basis of low income, we will continue to make financial payments in lieu of free school meals. We will update our website with the latest dates as soon as we can.
Thank you for your continued patience and support.
Yours sincerely,
Steven Quinn
Director of Children’s Services
Message to parents and carers on reopening arrangements for schools and nurseries in January and February 2021An update on the phased opening of schools during January and February from Steven Quinn, the director of children's services on Tuesday 5 January 2021
Dear Parent or Carer
Following the most recent COVID announcement by the First Minister on Monday 4 January 2021, I wanted to provide you with the most up to date information prior to the start of term.
It has now been confirmed that schools and nurseries will remain closed for the majority of pupils until Monday 1 February. This will be reviewed by the Scottish Government in the middle of January. All of our schools and nurseries will remain open for children of key workers and for those children who social work and school teams determine are vulnerable and in need of a place.
Our schools and nurseries continue to follow all national guidance to ensure that our children and young people, their families and our staff are safe and feel confident in their environment. Since children and young people returned in August, our schools and nurseries have worked incredibly hard to ensure everyone's safety and we have robust safety and hygiene measures in place. They have also worked with NHS public health and the council's environmental health teams to ensure that all close contacts of anyone who tests positive for Covid-19 are identified and asked to self-isolate.
Update on reopening dates School and nursery staff will return on Wednesday 6 January to plan the support needed for remote learning and make necessary arrangements for the children of key workers and vulnerable children and young people.
From Thursday 7 January, schools and nurseries will reopen only for vulnerable children and young people and children of key workers. All other children and young people will remain on holiday until Monday 11 January in line with the extension to the school holidays
Remote learning will begin for the majority of children and young people on Monday 11 January.
Children and young people are expected to return to school and nursery on Monday 1 February. This will be reviewed by the Scottish Government in mid-January.
Out of school care can continue for children of key workers and vulnerable children and young people if providers are able to open. You should contact your provider directly to ask what services they will be providing in January.
Private nurseries can remain open for children of key workers and vulnerable children and young people. If your child attends one of our funded private provider nurseries, please get in touch with them directly to confirm the arrangements that they will have in place in January.
Arrangements for key workers The application process for key workers has now closed.
If you applied and met all the criteria in the application form (all parents/carers are key workers, all parents/carers are unable to work from home and no alternative childcare is possible), then you will be allocated a space and you should send your child to school as normal on Thursday 7 January. If your child gets school transport, then this will be available as normal.
If you did not meet all the criteria, unfortunately we are unable to offer you a place. If you have any questions, please contact your school from Wednesday 6 January.
If your circumstances have changed and you now require a space, please contact your child's school directly.
If applying for a space, parents/carers must meet these criteria:
- your job meets key worker status
- you and your child's other parent are both key workers or you are a single parent and a key worker
- you and your child's other parent cannot work from home or you are a single parent and cannot work from home
- you have no alternative childcare.
- Health and Care workers directly supporting COVID-19 response, and associated staff; Health and Care workers supporting life threatening emergency work, as well as critical primary and community care provision; Energy suppliers (small numbers identified as top priority already); staff providing childcare/learning for other category 1 staff
- all other Health and Care workers, and wider public sector workers providing emergency/critical welfare services (for example: fire, police, prisons, social workers), as well as those supporting our Critical National Infrastructure, without whom serious damage to the welfare of the people of Scotland could be caused
- all workers (private, public or third sector) without whom there could be a significant impact on Scotland (but where the response to COVID-19, or the ability to perform essential tasks to keep the country running, would not be severely compromised).
Remote learning From Monday 11 January, all children and young people who are at home will have access to remote learning. Your child's school or nursery will be in touch with you this week to let you know the arrangements for your child.
If you do not have access to a device and/or internet access, please contact the school directly for support.
Advice for those who were shielding Children and young people who are on the 'shielding list' should not attend school or nursery during this lockdown period.
Children and young people who are shielding will learn remotely at home and our schools and nurseries will provide support. The Chief Medical Officer will also write out to everyone in this shielding category with further advice.
If you are unsure if your child is in the shielding category, please speak to your medical consultant or GP for advice.
Transport and school meals If your child receives home to school transport, this will continue as normal for children of key workers and vulnerable children and young people from Thursday 7 January. When schools and nurseries return, home to school transport will be available as normal for all children and young people who normally receive this service.
Normal school meal provision will be available for children available for children of key workers and vulnerable children and young people attending school. Free school meals will be available to any child or young person who is entitled to receive one.
For any child or young person who is entitled to a free school meal and is learning remotely from Monday 11 January, we will seek to make a financial payment in lieu of providing a free school meal.
Thank you for your continued patience and support.
Steven Quinn
Director of Children's Services