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Mr Budd's e-mail address is: a.budd@upperwoodacademy.com Please note that he is extremely busy at the moment and may not respond immediately.

A VERY LONG MESSAGE FROM MR BUDD- PLEASE READ ESPECIALLY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY REQUIRE OUR SCHOOL PROVISION AS YOU ARE A KEY WORKER OR A PARENT OF A VULNERABLE CHILD
As school closes for the vast majority of pupils today, I am planning a school provision for our vulnerable pupils and pupils of key workers. A list of key workers as released by the government will be available at the end of this message.
The governmental guidance states:
And the most recent scientific advice on how to further limit the spread of COVID-19 is clear. If children can stay safely at home, they should, to limit the chance of the virus spreading.
That is why the government has asked parents to keep their children at home, wherever possible, and asked schools to remain open only for those children who absolutely need to attend.
It is important to underline that schools, colleges and other educational establishments remain safe places for children. But the fewer children making the journey to school, and the fewer children in educational settings, the lower the risk that the virus can spread and infect vulnerable individuals in wider society.
Schools are, therefore, being asked to continue to provide care for a limited number of children - children who are vulnerable and children whose parents are critical to the Covid-19 response and cannot be safely cared for at home.
The phrases that reference :
schools to remain open only for those children who absolutely need to attend. 
But the fewer children making the journey to school, and the fewer children in educational settings, the lower the risk that the virus can spread and infect vulnerable individuals in wider society.
and
children who are vulnerable and children whose parents are critical to the Covid-19 response and cannot be safely cared for at home.
are pivotal statements. Children should only be using our facility if they cannot be safely cared for at home and absolutely need to attend. It is also worth noting that children who have been self-isolated or show symptoms of Covid 10 will not be allowed until the isolation period is complete. As a school we will have a skeleton staff to enhance the safety of our workforce.
The guidance on key workers is below, please read it and if you require our service please call Mr Budd on 01226 754336.
Guidance
As a country, we all need to do what we can to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
That is why the government has given clear guidance on self-isolation, household isolation and social distancing.
And the most recent scientific advice on how to further limit the spread of COVID-19 is clear. If children can stay safely at home, they should, to limit the chance of the virus spreading.
That is why the government has asked parents to keep their children at home, wherever possible, and asked schools to remain open only for those children who absolutely need to attend.
It is important to underline that schools, colleges and other educational establishments remain safe places for children. But the fewer children making the journey to school, and the fewer children in educational settings, the lower the risk that the virus can spread and infect vulnerable individuals in wider society.
Schools are, therefore, being asked to continue to provide care for a limited number of children - children who are vulnerable and children whose parents are critical to the Covid-19 response and cannot be safely cared for at home.
Vulnerable children include children who are supported by social care, those with safeguarding and welfare needs, including child in need plans, on child protection plans, ‘looked after’ children, young carers, disabled children and those with education, health and care (EHC) plans.
We know that schools will also want to support other children facing social difficulties and we will support head teachers to do so.
Parents whose work is critical to the COVID-19 response include those who work in health and social care and in other key sectors outlined below. Many parents working in these sectors may be able to ensure their child is kept at home. And every child who can be safely cared for at home should be.
Please, therefore, follow these key principles:

1. If it is at all possible for children to be at home, then they should be.
2. If a child needs specialist support, is vulnerable or has a parent who is a critical worker, then educational provision will be available for them.
3. Parents should not rely for childcare upon those who are advised to be in the stringent social distancing category such as grandparents, friends, or family members with underlying conditions.
4. Parents should also 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.
5. Residential special schools, boarding schools and special settings continue to care for children wherever possible.

If your work is critical to the COVID-19 response, or you work in one of the critical sectors listed below, and you cannot keep your child safe at home then your children will be prioritised for education provision:
Health and social care
This includes but is not limited to doctors, nurses, midwives, paramedics, social workers, care workers, and other frontline health and social care staff including volunteers; the support and specialist staff required to maintain the UK’s health and social care sector; those working as part of the health and social care supply chain, including producers and distributers of medicines and medical and personal protective equipment.
Education and childcare
This includes nursery and teaching staff, social workers and those specialist education professionals who must remain active during the COVID-19 response to deliver this approach.
Key public services
This includes those essential to the running of the justice system, religious staff, charities and workers delivering key frontline services, those responsible for the management of the deceased, and journalists and broadcasters who are providing public service broadcasting.
Local and national government
This only includes those administrative occupations essential to the effective delivery of the COVID-19 response or delivering essential public services such as the payment of benefits, including in government agencies and arms length bodies.
Food and other necessary goods
This includes those involved in food production, processing, distribution, sale and delivery as well as those essential to the provision of other key goods (for example hygienic and veterinary medicines).
Public safety and national security
This includes police and support staff, Ministry of Defence civilians, contractor and armed forces personnel (those critical to the delivery of key defence and national security outputs and essential to the response to the COVID-19 pandemic), fire and rescue service employees (including support staff), National Crime Agency staff, those maintaining border security, prison and probation staff and other national security roles, including those overseas.
Transport
This includes those who will keep the air, water, road and rail passenger and freight transport modes operating during the COVID-19 response, including those working on transport systems through which supply chains pass.
Utilities, communication and financial services
This includes staff needed for essential financial services provision (including but not limited to workers in banks, building societies and financial market infrastructure), the oil, gas, electricity and water sectors (including sewerage), information technology and data infrastructure sector and primary industry supplies to continue during the COVID-19 response, as well as key staff working in the civil nuclear, chemicals, telecommunications (including but not limited to network operations, field engineering, call centre staff, IT and data infrastructure, 999 and 111 critical services), postal services and delivery, payments providers and waste disposal sectors.
If workers think they fall within the critical categories above they should confirm with their employer that, based on their business continuity arrangements, their specific role is necessary for the continuation of this essential public service.
If your school is closed then please contact your local authority, who will seek to redirect you to a local school in your area that your child, or children, can attend.
We are grateful for the work of teachers and workers in educational settings for continuing to provide for the children of the other critical workers of our country. It is an essential part of our national effort to combat this disease.
If you require our service please phone Mr Budd on 01226 754336 to arrange a place.
 
ALL THE VERY BEST TO EVERYONE FROM ALL AT UPPERWOOD ACADEMY.

Free school meal vouchers
The government are introducing a new voucher system for parents whose pupils receive free school meals. This system is currently not operational; we will inform you of any information we receive via email.
As free school meals are an important part of our provision, Upperwood will provide a voucher for the Co-op for our pupils who receive a Free School Meal to support their welfare. If you qualify for Free School Meals you will receive a text message. Please collect your voucher from the school office today, which will cover a free meal from Monday 23rd March to Friday 3rd April.
If you are unable to collect the voucher yourself due to self-isolation and wish someone else to collect the voucher on your behalf, please contact school to let us know who this will be. 

Upperwood Academy

Upperwood Academy is a caring, supportive and inclusive school which believes in developing four key aspects in every child: academic excellence, physical well being, social confidence and a desire to improve.

Our aim is to create a happy and secure atmosphere where your child will always be encouraged to do their personal best. We provide a broad, balanced and enriched education and place a great deal of emphasis on the traditional values of hard work and good behaviour.

"The rich curriculum and excellent care, guidance and support contribute significantly to pupils' exemplary behaviour and outstanding spiritual, moral, social and cultural development."
"Relationships are excellent and teachers make lessons exciting through the stimulating use of information and communication technology (ICT), games and puzzles. Lessons are brisk and challenging."
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Photos courtesy of www.bluelinephotography.co.uk

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