London,
06
April
2020
|
15:46
Europe/London

Schools to stay open during the Easter break with help from Camden play centres

Schools have been working with play centres and the Council to ensure they can remain open during the Easter period to care for vulnerable children and those of critical workers, such as health professionals or the police.

In order for schools to stay open and have enough members of staff to look after pupils, staff that would have been volunteering at play centres, but are now closed, have been placed at schools where there are staff gaps during the week to keep children safe and occupied.

At Gospel Oak we will continue to offer childcare for vulnerable children, and the children of critical workers, throughout the Easter period. We recognise the vital role that we have in the national response to COVID-19 and for that reason, we will continue to make provision from 8 am to 5 pm including the bank holidays. Our staff volunteers are amazing and it is a massive team effort. It’s a privilege to work alongside them and it feels good to be part of a borough so determined to do the right thing.
John Hayes, Headteacher at Gospel Oak Primary School
We must do everything we can do to support critical workers on the frontline so they can continue to work in response to this crisis, so it’s great news that schools are staying open during the Easter break.

We have so many brilliant schools and play centres in Camden and I’d like to thank all their staff who are committed to supporting all our young people and who are working tirelessly during this difficult and worrying time. They have really stepped up to support families in their communities and are playing a crucial role in the national response to coronavirus.
Cllr Angela Mason, Cabinet Member for Best Start for Children and Families
We are glad to be able to continue supporting vulnerable children and their families and the children of critical workers throughout this difficult period.  We’ll be working closely with schools during Easter and beyond to support families. We are looking forward to reopening our Play centres to all the families we work with as soon as we are able to do so safely.
Henry Purkis, Chief Operating Officer of PACE, who runs three of Camden’s Play Centres

Camden schools which are currently providing care and education will stay open during the school break to look after vulnerable children and those of critical workers.

Camden Council has also put plans in place to ensure additional support is available for children and families through our Camden Family Early Help team and that all pupils that are entitled to will continue to receive free school meals whilst schools are shut.

If parents or carers would like more information about school provision during the Easter break, they will need to contact their child’s school.

Camden’s Play providers are also planning a range of interactive online play resources for all the families on their register who are isolating at home. They have also been supporting their local communities by delivering food parcels to families who need them, creating play packs of books and activities for some of the families they work with, offering families with no outdoor space access to their outdoor areas on a one to one, supervised basis and acting as a point of contact for families needing advice or signposting to other local services.

For more information on Camden schools and support for children and families during COVID-19, head to https://www.camden.gov.uk/schools-children-and-families