Shields Gazette readers praise schools and childcare services for providing crucial support for key workers

Education secretary Gavin Williamson said a week ago he couldn’t give a date for when English schools will reopen. But while last month’s closures have provided uncertainty, help has been close at hand.

Last week, we asked you, the Shields Gazette readers, to tell us about any teachers or anyone providing childcare for key workers at this time.

Hundreds of people responded, sharing the fantastic work and initiatives which are taking place in their communities.

Here are some of the replies:

Allison Ridley: Jarrow school has the highest numbers to look after in the borough. They are also providing meals and PPE visors. They are doing an amazing job like every other school in the borough are doing !

Joanne Emms: Harton Primary teachers! They are the most amazing team of staff. The children have felt safe and have never worried they have gave a hundred percent and the children remain happy and can enjoy normality for those having to attend school. They communicate daily with those still at home setting fun daily challenges. They are invaluable

Kelly Crowther: Cleadon tower nursery. I can not sing there praises highly enough. My partner is an essential worker within the NHS and I am a keyworker and so our daughter has continued to need schooling in place. This wonderful team of ladies go above and beyond to take care of out children

Lynn Britton: Staff and st Mary’s Jarrow are doing an amazing job not only working from home to support home learning, ringing parents weekly for check in and updates, delivering food parcels , supporting Hebburn helps as well as working in school on a rota basis to support key worker children - simply amazing team!

Helena Laura: Whitburn village primary school, mrs burden couldn’t have helped enough! Also horsely hill children’s centre have welcomed my toddler without warning at the very last minute after the private nursery she went to closed because of the virus! I couldn’t have continued to work without them!! X

Donna Harte: Ashfield nursery have been brilliant, even offering bank holiday cover. If they closed myself and my husband would have to cover childcare and we're both key workers.

Jo Louise Atherton: My staff at Lord Blyton Primary have been going above and beyond. Some of them have also been volunteering for the LA and other organisations. Some of the staff have offered to come in more than they have been on the rota. We are all positive and supporting our families through this.

Rachel McLauchlin: Sea View Primary are providing amazing care and support for all the key workers children. But not only that they are doing a fabulous job of keeping in touch with the children at home and keeping them challenged. Super work everyone xx

Samantha J Harrison: Simonside Primary are doing a great job with not only the children that are going into school due to their parents/carers being key workers, giving them lots of fantastic and exciting activities to keep them busy but also those children at home, sending lots of activities for them to do.

Karon Frank: All the staff at East Boldon Juniors. They are working hard on a daily basis trying to keep things as normal as possible, keeping them safe, and making sure they are happy🙂 Communicating with parents on a daily basis with daily challenges etc…

Jaclyn Sharpe: St Joseph’s primary school jarrow, all the staff are amazing & so supportive can’t fault any of them despite what’s going on in the world they are still there for us all. Xx

Kelli Bruce: Mortimer primary and harton academy both Fantastic school and have been keeping us updated and supplying more work for the kids xx

Tracy Walker: Ashley primary school have been fantastic the head there has gone out of her way to make sure she and her staff has been there since the beginning of all this going on .fantastic they have been in every thing to help families and children x

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