More than 1,000 students attend schools in Wolverhampton during lockdown
More than 1,000 children are attending schools across Wolverhampton each week amid the coronavirus lockdown, new figures have shown.
A total of 817 children of key workers – along with 239 vulnerable youngsters – attended 81 schools and 49 childcare settings, such as nurseries.
It means overall 1.3 per cent of pupils attended school settings last week – above the national average of 0.9 per cent – as schools continue to open to support those fighting against the virus.
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Councillor Dr Michael Hardacre, Wolverhampton Council's cabinet member for education and skills, said: "The response from our schools to the coronavirus pandemic has been exceptional – as we always knew it would be – and I would like to place on record my thanks, and that of the council, to our city’s children, families, school leaders, teachers and everyone working in the education sector for their incredible efforts so far and in the weeks ahead.
"It’s important to stress that children should only attend school if they absolutely need to – that is, if their parents are critical workers who need to be involved in the national effort around coronavirus, or if the children themselves are going to be safer in, rather than out of, school.
"For the vast majority of families, sending their child to school at this time is not an option and I take my hat off to them; they are doing an incredible job of continuing their child's learning journey – often in very difficult circumstances, such as if they are trying to work from home at the same time."
Almost 1,000 laptops are being sourced for children who are supported by a social worker – with a more than 100 handed out to disadvantaged Year 10 pupils.
And all pupils who are eligible for free school meals are continuing to receive them – with schools reporting uptake rates of more than 90 per cent.
