27/3/2020
Childcare provision for Cardiff's key workers doing essential work through the COVID-19 outbreak is changing to a hub-based system from Monday 30, March.
Toreduce the chances of COVID-19 spreading throughout the school community Cardiff Council will be keeping 12 schools open as childcare hubs while the rest will close. This will also enable the Council to concentrate on its cleaning, safe practice and social distancing protocols within the schools which remain open.
In order to ensure the transmission of COVID-19 is slowed or halted, key workers and the families of vulnerable learners are being told that school provision is only to be used once all other forms of child support have been exhausted. If it is at all possible for children to be safely cared for at home, then they should be.
Provision is still being prioritised for health and social care workers (including those working in homeless hostels and Outreach) and in the emergency services in the first instance.
A small number vulnerable children will also receive childcare provision.
However, the new hub arrangements will now also aim to accommodate wider categories of keyworkers, where possible.
Keyworkers in any other of the Welsh Government's Keyworker categories, are asked to confirm with their employer that their specific role is ‘critical' to business continuity in the provision of their essential services during the COVID-19 pandemic, in order to be eligible for hub based provision.
Only with this written confirmation will they be considered for hub-based provision and unfortunately, even with this confirmation, we cannot guarantee a place.
Any new requests for childcare provision, where parents and carers in keyworker categories have no other safe alternative, must be registered here:
www.cardiff.gov.uk/keyworkerchildcare
Once registered, parents will be contacted by the designated hub school to arrange admission, if possible, at the earliest possible opportunity, from Tuesday 31, March 2020.
Parents and carers who have accessed school-based childcare this week, will be given the opportunity to transfer their children into designated hub provision on Monday, March 30
The hub model meets the needs of all pupils from 3-14 years who are registered in Cardiff's school system, delivering primary and secondary provision in the medium of both English and Welsh.
The hubs will open from 8am - 5pm, five days per week, including holiday periods (with the exception of the Easter Bank Holiday). It will provide children with breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack.
Each hub will have at least one member of staff from each feeder school so that children will recognise a familiar face. The hubs will also deliver a host of age-relevant, skills-based activities.
Vulnerable children
Schools are keeping in touch with their vulnerable learners, and working with other agencies to put extra support and advice in place. The Council and other agencies are also working together to identify families who need further support and respite for priority learners in their relevant hub.
However, parents and carers are reminded children should stay at home whenever possible.
A small number of respite places will be available during normal school hours. Parents should speak with their school if they think they may need this supportor call Family Gateway03000 133 133.
Pre-school provision
There are a limited number ofprivate, independent and voluntary settings that are still operating which have spaces for pre-school children age 0-3. Key workers from health, social care or emergency services, who do not have any other option for childcare, should contact Family Gateway on 03000 133 133 or contactfas@cardiff.gov.uK
Important Health and Safety Reminders
Parents or carers who are utilising any of the provision listed above, are reminded to observe social distancing when dropping off and collecting their children. We request that you keep a two metre distance from staff and other members of the public.
Children will be expectedto wash their hands on entry to the building and regular handwashing will be scheduled throughout the day.
Cabinet Member for Education, Employment and Skills, Cllr Sarah Merry said: "Moving to a hub-based model will reduce the number of schools open in order to minimise the spread of the virus, while ensuring that we can offer appropriate provision to those key workers who need it.
"As the situation evolves we may need to add or reduce hubs and this will be under continuous review with the focus remaining on reducing the spread of COVID-19 and keeping Cardiff's communities safe."