150 attend first day of emergency childcare
ABOUT 150 children attended the first day of the emergency childcare provision in six schools across Bridgend county borough on Monday.
Following the weekend deadline, parents and carers registered 738 children for the emergency provision.
The emergency childcare provision is for key workers as defined by Bridgend County Borough Council.
They are parents and carers who work in the NHS, police, fire and rescue service, ambulance service, HM Prison Service, social care and childcare.
Six schools have become the centres for the provision: Maesteg School, Brynmenyn Primary School, Maes Yr Haul Primary School,
Coety Primary School, Pencoed Primary School and West Park Primary School.
Council leader Huw David said: “We are operating a voluntary system of asking staff to work in the centres and we have had a fantastic turn-out of staff on our first day for which we are enormously grateful.
“We also want to thank parents for taking on board government advice and keeping their children at home if at all possible.
“The provision is emergency childcare for our keyworkers – we will be reviewing the current policy on Friday, March 27.”
A letter sent out to parents asked them not to rely on those who are advised to be in the stringent social distancing category for childcare, such as grandparents, friends, or family members with underlying health conditions.
It also reminds them they should 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.
Cllr David said: “With regards to free school meal pupils, we have put plans in place for 23 schools to act as local collection points to provide children with a packed lunch.
“Our main purpose is to support the vulnerable and ensure continuity of learning.
“We have put in place emergency measures to ensure ongoing support for schools – we are indebted to our staff for their versatility and willingness to adapt as we deal with these challenging circumstances.”
A takeaway packed lunch is being made available for all pupils eligible for free school meals at Cynffig Comprehensive, Brackla Primary, Betws Primary, Ffaldau Primary, Brynmenyn Primary, Cefn Glas Infants,
Caerau Primary, Litchard Primary, Corneli Primary, Pencoed Primary, YGG Llangynwyd, Brynteg Lower, Bryntirion Comprehensive, Nantymoel Primary, West Park Primary, Ogmore Vale Primary, Brynteg Comprehensive, Penyfai Primary, St Mary’s & St Patrick’s, Tynyrheol Primary, Ysgol Bryn Castell Special School, Archbishop McGrath and Coleg Cymunedol y Dderwen.
A letter sent to parents and carers of pupils said: “The packed lunches will be available in the main reception area of these schools between 1pm and 2pm.
“We are hoping to move the collection time to noon to 1pm following our assessment of suitability of these timings. We ask you to only attend the collection point nearest to your home.
“On Monday, March 23, we will be providing one day’s lunch provision but we hope to move to providing two days’ provision as soon as food supply deliveries allow us to. This change will be communicated to you at your collection school.
“We would be grateful if you could limit the amount of people attending the school collection points on each day.”
Over the coming weeks, primary, special and secondary schools will be using a range of technology such as Google Classroom, Hwb and school websites to deliver lessons with children also provided with a range of activities.
The local authority is also working on plans to support children with additional learning needs.