Dear parents and carers, 

Following the announcement by the Education Minister Kirsty Williams regarding the reopening of schools. I wanted to share our position with you. The last few months have been challenging of everyone, children and young people, parents and carers and school staff. I welcome the plans from Welsh Government, which will allow us to plan for the safe re-opening of schools in September. 

At the start of next term, schools will: 

• Reopen to staff on the 1st of September, 
• Plan and prepare for the return of learners by reviewing risk assessments and processes to ensure schools can welcome learners back safely. 

• Prioritise groups of learners to attend in the first week on the third and fourth of September. 
• Maximise the number of learners and increase numbers safely through the week beginning the 7th of September, leading to a full return by the 14th of September. 

Schools will communicate directly with parents and carers about their arrangements. During this week, Welsh Government will issue guidance and this guidance will change as the situation evolves. Every school will have its own challenges to deal with. The will include things like staffing, catering, cleaning, transport etc. These will be worked through in detail over the next few weeks. There will be no childcare provision for the children of key workers in September. 

We will: 

• continue to provide support to schools and the families they work with in the coming weeks; 

• continue to support headteachers and staff in schools who have worked under extreme pressure during the lockdown phase; 
• continue to communicate via the local authority website and social media channels 

I would like to thank you for your support and working with our schools and us during this difficult time. I am confident that by continuing to work together we can make the return to our schools successful. 

 

Yours sincerely 

 

Steven Richards-Downes 

Acting Director for Children and Schools 

DIGITAL SAFETY DURING COVID-19:

SAFEGUARDING FROM HARMFUL INFLUENCES ONLINE

 

• The impact of COVID-19 means that most of us will be at home for an extended period and are likely to be spending increasing amounts of time online.

 

• The online world is a necessity for many children in accessing school work and it delivers huge benefits, not least in enabling us to stay connected to family and friends during this period. However, many parents may feel concerned about the content their children are accessing.

 

• Although rare, there is a risk that increased online activity and feelings of stress and isolation may be exploited by negative influences and online groomers of all kinds to target vulnerable children and young people directly.

 

• An understanding of digital safety will help parents and carers safeguard loved ones from a range of harms, whether that’s child sexual exploitation, fraud, or extremist influences seeking to radicalise vulnerable people.

 

• Extremists may use the COVID-19 outbreak to promote hateful views, for example through conspiracy theories blaming a particular group for the virus, or through spreading misinformation regarding these groups’ responses to it.

 

What steps can I take to keep my child safe online?

 

• If you have downloaded new apps or bought new technology to help stay connected at this time, remember to review and adjust privacy and safety settings if you or your child is signing up to a new online service.

 

• Government has encouraged Internet Service Providers to allow parents to easily filter content to put you in control of what your child can see online.

 

• You can switch on family friendly filters to help prevent age inappropriate content being accessed on devices in your home.
  • The UK Safer Internet Centre provides guidance on how to do this.
  • Internet Matters has also provided step by step guides on how to setup parental controls.

 

• More information is included in the ‘Further Resources’ section.

 

What are the signs that my child may be being exploited online?

 

• Online exploitation is often hard to recognise because it is a complex issue. When it comes to being drawn into extremist ideas online, sometimes there are clear warning signs, in other cases the changes are less obvious.

 

• Although some of these traits may be quite common among teenagers, taken together they could be indicators that your child may need some help:
  • Exploring new and unusual websites, chat forums and platforms. Harmful influences may push individuals towards platforms with a greater degree of anonymity.
  • Joining new or secret groups since isolation.
  • Speaking with new friends or being secretive about chats during online gaming or in forums.
  • A strong desire to seek new meaning, identity and purpose.
  • Using language you wouldn’t expect them to know.
  • Watching, sharing or creating films online linked to religious, political or racial hate.
  • Becoming increasingly argumentative or refusing to listen to different points of view.

 

Should I be concerned that a loved one is being exploited online?

 

• The above are merely signs that they might need help, but you know your child best and you will want to speak with them first. Check in with them and ask about what they are viewing, who they are speaking to and how they are feeling. This might feel difficult, but here are some pointers to help you:

 

• Listen carefully to their fears and worries. Find some helpful tipshere.
• Avoid explanations that could be interpreted as antagonistic, belittling or frightening.
• Advice and support is available to help them understand COVID-19.
• If they are finding it hard to cope with bereavement and grief – advice can be found here.

 

What help is available if my child is being exploited online?

 

• It is important to safeguard loved ones from a range of online harms, whether that’s child sexual exploitation, fraud, or extremist influences seeking to radicalise vulnerable people.

 

• If you are concerned that your child may be at risk of radicalisation, help is available to make sure they get the support they need to move away from harmful influences.

 

• Teachers, healthcare practitioners, social workers, the police, charities, psychologists and religious leaders work together to safeguard those vulnerable to radicalisation through a safeguarding programme known as Prevent.

 

• Prevent protects people from being drawn into hateful extremism – regardless of the ideology. It works in a similar way to safeguarding processes designed to protect people from gangs, drug abuse, and physical and sexual exploitation.

 

• Receiving support through Prevent is voluntary, confidential and not any form of criminal sanction. It will not show up on any checks or negatively affect an individual’s future in any way.

 

• The type of support available is wide-ranging, and can include help with education or careers advice, dealing with mental or emotional health issues, or digital safety training for parents; it all depends on the individual’s needs.

 

• With this specialist help, vulnerable people across the country have moved away from supporting hateful extremism, enabling them to live more stable and fulfilling lives.

 

How can I access support and advice for a loved one being radicalised?

 

• As with other safeguarding functions, Prevent is still operating during this time and is here to support families in times of need.

 

• If you are worried that a loved one is being radicalised, you can call the police on 101 to get advice or share a concern so that they can get safeguarding support. Alternatively, you can contact your local authority safeguarding team for help.

 

• Contacting the authorities will not get the individual into trouble if a criminal act hasn’t been committed. The local authority or police will discuss your concerns, suggest how they can best help and give you access to relevant support and advice.

 

• If you think someone is in immediate danger, or if you see or hear something that may be terrorist-related, trust your instincts and call 999 or the confidential Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321.

 

I have seen concerning hateful content online that could cause harm. What should I do?

 

• Prevent takes robust action to tackle radicalisation online and to counter the ideology promoted by extremists. This includes removing terrorist-related material and action to suspend the accounts of those fuelling these views.

 

• Any member of the public can report terrorist content they find online through the UK referral tool. The Action Counters Terrorism campaign provides more information on this.

 

Further resources

 

There are resources available to help you understand and protect your child from different harms online.

 

• Educate Against Hate Parents’ Hub provides resources and government advice for parents and carers on keeping young people safe from extremism.
• Let’s Talk About It provides support for parents and carers to keep children safe from online radicalisation.
• UK Safer Internet Centre has guides on the privacy settings, parental controls and internet safety features of the major internet service providers.
• Parent Zone works with Prevent to provide digital safety advice for parents.
• Thinkuknow provides resources for parents and carers to help keep children safe online.
• Childnet has developed guidance for parents and carers to begin a conversation about online safety, and on keeping under-fives safe online.
• Parent Info provides digital support and guidance for parents and carers from leading experts and organisations
• NSPCC guidance for parents and carers is designed to help keep children safe online. Their Net Awarewebsite, produced in collaboration with O2, provides specific safety information on popular apps and websites.
• Childline can provide advice and support if your child is worried, from dialling 0800 1111 or downloading the ‘For Me’ app.
• This list of online education resources for home education includes resources to support your child’s mental wellbeing.

 

The charity Family Lives  provides emotional support, information, advice and guidance on any aspect of parenting and family life.  Julie Morgan, Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services has awarded funding to Family Lives to extend its helpline service to include support to parents who are more comfortable speaking in Welsh. This announcement compliments the Welsh Government’s “Stay Safe, Stay Positive”  campaign in response to the current pandemic.  For more information and support, follow @parentsinwales on Facebook.

 

 

Critical Worker School Bookings

School bookings for July for the four-year-old to 14-year-old children of critical workers will close tomorrow, Thursday, 18^th June, at 5 pm.

If you have not already booked your child/children into their school and you are a critical worker requiring childcare you must book by the above date and time.

Bookings can be made at: covid19childcarebookings@pembrokeshire.gov.uk

Applicants will be required to provide evidence of employment. Both the booking form and evidence of role must be submitted by 5 pm tomorrow.

Primary Menu

 

This menu will run from Monday 29^th of June to Friday 24^th of July.

 

 

Critical workers in Pembrokeshire whose children have been attending school hubs during the pandemic are being notified of changes to the current arrangements.

From the 22^nd June onwards, children of critical workers who have been attending school hubs will return to their original schools.

Children from other families will return to school, if their parents wish, from the week beginning the 29^th June as already announced by the Welsh Government. These children will be able to attend during school hours only. No after-school or extracurricular activities will be offered.

Until now, key workers have booked school places for their children via the Council’s Covid Booking Team. However, they will need to book directly with their school for the month of June and for the month of July.

Booking forms have been distributed and must be completed and returned by 5pm on Thursday, 18^th June to allow the information to be transferred to the school setting.

After this date the booking system will close.

Amendments to bookings from the 22^nd of June and for the month of July will need to be made directly with the school.

Critical workers are asked to only book the days they require and to inform the booking team or school immediately if they no longer need childcare.

“I would like to personally thank you for all the hard work you have contributed towards the Covid 19 effort,” said Steven Richard-Downes, Acting Director for Children and Schools in a letter to the key workers.

“I hope the hub system we set up in Pembrokeshire assisted you all into impacting towards this.

“I am aware from the education staff and emails received from parents that many of the children have had a wonderful time in the hubs in such an unprecedented situation.

“Moving forward, I am sure you are in agreement that the children will enjoy returning to see their teachers and friends before the summer break and new term.”

Mr Richard-Downes added:

“If there are any changes to the dates, we will update you accordingly.”

	10th June 2020   Dear parent/guardian, Following the announcement of school return the week commencing the 29th June, our Year 6 transition to Ysgol Bro Gwaun will be given priority.  We would like to invite your child to attend Ysgol Bro Gwaun on the following dates: Friday 3rd July – Glannau Gwaun and Goodwick pupils. A maximum number of x53 Friday 10th July – Bro Ingli, Croesgoch, Ger y Llan, Holy Name, Maenclochog, Casblaidd, St Aidans, Spittal, Puncheston and Prendergast. A maximum number of x43   On the above two dates, we will be offering an introduction to the subjects that your child will be taught.  This is an opportunity to meet the staff and ask questions regarding the move.   Friday 17th July – all Year 6 pupils are invited to attend.  Form grouping and meeting the tutors and other practicalities of the school return, including first day arrangements and school familiarity will be offered.   Rest assured that all necessary precautions will be made to ensure the safety of your child with social distancing measures, regular hand washing, and strict cleaning measures.   We are currently awaiting details regarding transport, and will forward these on receipt.   Further details will be sent in due course.   Yours sincerely   E L Bowen   Ms Emma Bowen Associate Senior Leader

Letter to Parents 11.06.20 – Eng