Coronavirus: Newark schools continue to give lessons despite closures including Sir Donald Bailey Academy, Newark
Despite being closed to the majority of pupils, in line with government advice, schools have been asked to provide care for certain pupils.
These include those whose parents are classed as key workers — with jobs critical to the Covid-19 response — and vulnerable children such as those with social workers or special educational needs.
One Newark school that is catering for such children is Sir Donald Bailey Academy, Newark.
School principal Louise Connolly said: “We have set up our in-school provision, which is run by teachers and teaching assistants and this started on Monday.
“The children are split into three groups — foundation, KS1 and KS2 — and the day follows a mixture of sport, craft, topic activities as well as time for the children to work with a teacher from their area of school with their set work.
“We are providing for our families at home by offering takeaway lunches, not only for our free school meal children, but also available to buy for only £2 for our non-free school meal children.
“We were worried about our free school meal children who might be at home unwell or the family might be isolating so we now offer a meal pack, which provides the parent the ingredients to make lunches for the week.
“This is delivered to their houses every Monday morning by staff from school for free.
“This has gone down really well and lots of parents have ordered them.
“We have also set up strong communication links to stay in touch with our families who are not in school at this time.
“They can email the teachers directly, call and speak to a member of staff from school or text the school mobile.
“The children can also communicate with their teachers online through our online learning platform, Purple Mash.
“We have also set up a system where the teachers will call families if they haven’t heard from them in a set period of time.
“I am really proud of all the staff and how they have worked together amazingly as a team.”
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