Latest update for parents and carers

At this point our school buildings are closed to most pupils, except children of key workers and those who are most vulnerable. The majority of our children and young people are now remote learning from home (see the Remote Learning page for further advice and information). Special schools are open to all pupils because they are all classed as vulnerable.

All pupils who attend our special schools, departments of additional support in secondary, additional support classes in primary and the Pupil Support Service are included in the groups which can attend.

Where a child attends a nursery placement which is for 46 or 49 weeks, the building will be open but only for these same groupings of key worker families and vulnerable children.

Please note, if children of key workers can be looked after either at home, by another adult, or through informal childcare arrangements, then please do not send them to school or nursery at this point.

Schools/nurseries will already have a record of those children identified as key worker families in March to June 2020, however, if you believe that your child or young person now meets these criteria please complete the form issued by your school. The definition of key workers will be applied consistently across schools and both parents must be key workers to be considered eligible for a place.

Schools will make decisions about which vulnerable young people to offer places to, as they are best placed to understand individual family circumstances. Although those pupils attending Department of Additional needs in secondary schools and the Additional Support classes in primary will be considered vulnerable.

School buses are currently running as before, as our schools are still open for key workers’ children and those who are more vulnerable. To make sure they are still able to get to school, we had to allow the buses to run as normal for a short period. We are now gaining a better understanding of which buses we need, when and where, so we’ll be able to work towards running fewer buses as soon as possible.

If your children are continuing to use a bus, please reinforce the importance of them wearing a face covering.

Out of School Care is in place for children of key worker families who are already registered and using this service.

It is important to remind your child(ren) that all arrangements for keeping them safe in school and on school transport will remain in place e.g. wearing of face coverings, hand hygiene, physical distancing where possible etc.

All these plans are being kept under review and we’ll let you know of any other changes if or when necessary.

School lunches

From Monday 22 February:

P1-3 pupils

Pupilsreturning to school will receive a Free School Meal and should order what they want to eat for their lunch via Ipay. Direct payments to families who qualified for Free School Meal payments will stop from this date.

P4-7 pupils

P4-P7 pupils who are attending school, as per the key worker or vulnerable criteria, will continue to be provided with a meal which will remain free of charge for now.

Direct payments will also continue to families qualifying for Free School Meals for P4-7 pupils.

S1-6 pupils

Direct payments will continue to families qualifying for Free School Meals for S1-S6 pupils. Pupil who are in school the full day will be provided with a meal free of charge for now.