Appendix 4:  Advice for Parents/Carers FROM RCT COUNCIL

1. The latest scientific advice

The most recent scientific advice on how to further limit the spread of COVID-19 is clear.  Everyone must, as far as possible, minimise social contact and make sure that anyone who is particularly vulnerable to the virus is able to adopt strict social distancing.

2. How does social distancing affect your children?

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has advised schools that emergency childcare should only be open to a limited number of children. We must keep the number of children in educational, childcare and play settings to the smallest number possible.

We also need to make sure children are not left with anyone who should be following strict social distancing guidance, such as anyone over 70 or anyone with the specified underlying health conditions.

Keeping children safe in their home should limit the chance of the virus spreading and protect those vulnerable to more serious illness as a result of the virus. Parents/carers 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 ensure that children remain at least 2m apart where possible and that gatherings are avoided. Play areas across the County have now been closed and should not be attended.  If your child is not in an emergency childcare setting please keep them safe at home during the day and in the evenings. This is essential to ensure the safety of your family, friends and neighbours and to limit and slow down the spread of the virus

If your child receives free school meals, this will continue. In Rhondda Cynon Taf, all children eligible to free school meals will access this from their nearest primary school on a daily basis between 11am and 12pm. This has to be applied for on-line using the e-forms on the Council website. 

3. What is the latest advice on key or essential workers?

A list of categories of critical workers has been published on the Welsh Government website. Places in schools and childcare will be highly limited and only particularly vulnerable children and the children of critical/essential workers whose work is critical to the COVID-19 response should be attending during this time.

If you are classed as a critical or essential worker but are able to perform the critical parts of your job effectively when working from home, then you should do so.

Even for critical or essential workers, provision will only be made in schools or other settings where there is no safe alternative for your family. 

4. I'm a key or essential worker but my partner isn't. What should we do?  

If one parent is a critical or essential worker but the other parent is not then the other parent should provide safe alternative arrangements at home when possible.

5. What support is available in Rhondda Cynon Taf?

The Council is doing everything it can to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. Please refer to the Council website for further detail. These plans will now adapt and change as we respond to the latest guidance available from the Welsh Government and Public Health Wales. 

For the very latest advice, please check your local authority's website at https://www.rctcbc.gov.uk/EN/Resident/EmergenciesSafetyandCrime/InformationforResidentsCoronavirus/CoronavirusCOVID19latestinformationandadvice.aspx
and https://gov.wales/coronavirus-health-advice