Havering schools and colleges to move to remote learning for start of spring term
Following the latest announcement by the Department for Education (DfE), all primary and secondary schools and colleges across Havering will be included in a country-wide move to remote learning.
Primary schools and secondary schools and colleges for non-exam year pupils will move to remote learning until 18 January 2021.
All schools will remain open for face-to-face teaching for vulnerable children and children of critical workers from 4 January.
Exam-year pupils mainly in Years 11 and 13 will return to school on 11 January with face-to-face learning resuming for all pupils from 18 January 2021.
Early years provision, such as nursery schools, is not covered by the latest guidance and can remain open but school-based nurseries are expected to follow the lead of the school and not open.
The definition of ‘critical worker’ includes:
- people working in health and social care
- people working in key public services at local and national government level who have been told by their employer that they have critical worker status
- people working on the production, processing, distribution, sale and delivery of food and medicine
- people working in the transport, utilities and telecommunications.
A full definition can be found on the GOV.UK website
Parents with children who attend schools in other local authority areas are advised to check what arrangements will apply in their school area.
Cllr Robert Benham, Havering Council Cabinet Member for Education, said:
“Parents across the borough have been doing their bit across the Christmas break and following the Tier 4 guidance. However, our case rate is still one of the highest in the country and our hospitals are under significant pressure.
“I know this will cause inconvenience and beyond for some parents and carers, but this suspension of face-to-face learning is essential to keeping the virus under control.
“I urge everyone in the borough to continue following the guidance and in particular work from home if you can, wear a mask when out of the home and maintain social distancing and regular hand washing.
“I would also like to thank the headteachers and teachers in the borough who will continue to do their all to give the best possible education to our children as they have done across this most difficult of years.
"School staff will be working exceptionally hard to deliver remote learning but also preparing to welcome back pupils in person when the time is right.”