Advice for educational settings

The Department for Education COVID-19 guidance for educational settings

School closures

On the 19th of March, Gavin Williamson, the Secretary of State for Education announced that from the end of Friday, the 20th schools will be closed.

  • 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:

    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 though this.