Key workers raise concern over hub closures

Key workers who did not use Newtown's emergency school hub have raised concerns over how they will access help when they return to work.

Powys County Council has announced its emergency hits throughout the county, including Newtown, will close on Wednesday, 24 June.

New measures mean that any key worker who did not use the hubs during April and May will not be able to access new measures put in place from the end of June.

A number of key workers have raised concerns, particularly those who did not use the service but will want to when they return to work as restrictions are expected to ease later this month.

Christine Edwards contacted MyNewtown to raise concern for key workers. "They will not permit any children of key workers to attend their normal schools unless they have attended the emergency hubs in April or May.

"There are a large number of key workers that did not need to access the emergency hubs because they were closed because of government guidance and therefore not needing access to the emergency hubs.

Many key workers will be returning to work when, as expected to be announced by the Welsh Government this week, and wont have any placement for their children because they did no attend the emergency hub. This will effect shop workers, childcare workers who have children in school. The list goes on."

She added: "Why are Powys County Council not taking in to account this as no key worker placement for children in school will mean many struggling families on reduced income will not be able to return to work as a result of no child placements."

Powys County Council said it was working with school leaders across the county to enable schools to re-open for a limited number of learners each day as part of ‘Check in, Catch Up, Prepare for summer and September.'

"As part of the preparations, the school-based emergency childcare hubs will close on Wednesday, 24 June," said a statement.
 
"For Thursday, 25 and Friday, 26 June, childcare will be offered by individual schools across Powys for their own pupils between 8:30am and 4:30pm.

"This will be for the children of key workers and the vulnerable learners who are currently accessing childcare."

From Monday, 29 June schools in Newtown will make childcare provision for the children of key workers who have used the emergency childcare hubs between the opening of the hubs in March and the end of May. This provision will be on school days only from 8:30am to 4:30pm from Monday,
 
The statement added: "Additionally, the children of schools’ staff will be able to join the childcare facility to allow their parents to work in schools. Vulnerable learners will also be able to access schools for the usual school day, and they will be informed by their schools.
 
"For primary-aged children of key workers (who used the hubs between March and May) and the children of schools’ staff, parents will still need register online at www.powys.gov.uk/emergencyhubs until the end of the summer term.
 
"Other learners will access as many days as schools are able to facilitate but parents and carers are being reminded that no more than 30 percent of pupils will be present at school at any one time."