Charlton School

18^th December 2020

Dear Parents and Carers,

I am sure you have heard the news that the DfE have published guidance last night, requesting the staggered opening of schools in January 2021, to allow for schools-based testing to be implemented.  As a Trust we are disappointed with the timing of this guidance as we break up today for the Christmas holidays and we have no detailed information on how we are expected to implement testing in our schools from the start of the new term. The information related to this announcement can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/schools-and-childcare-settings-return-in-january-2021/schools-and-childcare-settings-return-in-january-2021

What we do know is that the Government guidance states that only Y11 students and children who are vulnerable, or the children of critical workers, can return to school on Tuesday 5^th January.

All our other students in Y7 – Y10 should stay at home and will receive remote learning, they will be returning to school on Monday 11^th January. Each school will send out the relevant information for these students to access home learning from 5^th January.

If your child is not in Year 11 and you believe your child to fall within either the vulnerable or critical worker category and require your child to attend school from Tuesday 5^th January, please email keyworker@charlton.uk.com stating your child’s name, form group and the reason they need to attend (either because they are vulnerable – stating in which category, or which category of critical worker you fall within).  Please email by Sunday 3^rd January.  If we have not received an email by this date, your child will not be expected to attend until Monday 11^th January.

The Government classes vulnerable students as, children who:

• are assessed as being in need under section 17 of the Children Act 1989, including children and young people who have a child in need plan, a child protection plan or who are a looked-after child
• have an education, health and care (EHC) plan
• have been identified as otherwise vulnerable by educational providers or local authorities (including children’s social care services), and who could therefore benefit from continued full-time attendance, this might include:
• children and young people on the edge of receiving support from children’s social care services
• adopted children, those at risk of becoming NEET (‘not in employment, education or training’)
• those living in temporary accommodation, those who are young carers
• those who may have difficulty engaging with remote education at home (for example, due to a lack of devices or quiet space to study)
• others at the provider and local authority’s discretion

The Government class children of critical workers as those having parents or carers whose work is critical to the coronavirus (COVID-19) response, including those who work in health and social care and in other key sectors outlined in the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision#critical-workers

At this stage, we have very little information on the next steps, but it does seem clear that we will be expected to test Year 11 students and vulnerable children, and those of critical workers, from the start of term, in order to identify asymptomatic cases so that we reduce any spread of the virus in the school population. We will also be providing voluntary tests for our staff on a weekly basis.

It is really important that if you or your child become unwell over the holiday period, with Covid symptoms, that you organise a test, following this guidance https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test. Please do not send your child back to school in January if they have any of the main coronavirus symptoms.

We will send out further information as we approach the start of term.

Kind Regards,

Mr A McNaughton

Principal