Edsential takes its responsibilities for the health and safety of its staff and our schools very seriously. We are closely monitoring current developments regarding the COVID-19 outbreak and would like to reassure all of our schools and its parents that we are managing this outbreak so far as we are able, in line with all current advice and guidance.
We would like to reassure you that we are continuing to follow all Government advice regarding COVID-19. We take our responsibilities very seriously and our ‘COVID-19 Secure’ risk assessments have been put together with support from Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Local Authority Health and Safety Team Advisors. It has been circulated to all Edsential employees, and we will share it with all of our contractors, suppliers and visitors.
Additionally each team within Edsential: PE, Music, Learning Outside the Classroom, SEND, Artists, Governor Clerks and Residential all have service specific risk assessments for the particular services they deliver, should you require delivery of these services in school, this risk assessment will be sent to you.
Our catering and cleaning teams will have individual site-specific risk assessments and food/cleaning safety manuals will continue to be adhered to. All our onsite team will receive additional clarification around safe delivery of food to classrooms and delivery procedures.
All our employees will also adhere to your covid-19 arrangements, procedures, and risk assessments whilst they are onsite in your school. Working together will be crucial to control the virus and keep our employees, your staff, and your young people in your school community safe; this will continue to be our top priority.
The most recent update to our COVID-19 risk assessment is the implementation of face coverings in the workplace. For more information about how to correctly wear a face covering please Click Here.
To download any of our service specific COVID-19 risk assessments, please click on the relevant service name below:
Download the PHE NW COVID-19 Resource Pack for Schools
We are truly devastated to announce that we will not be able to accommodate schools’ residential visits to the Conway Centres this summer term 2021.
The DfE have recently updated their operational guidance to include further clarification on resuming overnight visits from 17th May 2021. Sadly, the government guidance does not follow the guidance recommended by the industry and like many other centres, the guidance is restricting our ability to open. We must act in line with any current guidance and what that stipulates is required to keep our guests safe.
We understand how hugely disappointing this must be, and we wholly empathise with those schools who have expressed frustration at this conflicting and somewhat illogical guidance, outlined for you below – please know that we have worked tirelessly over recent weeks to prepare our centres to a standard where we believe your visit could resume safely and have continually pressured the Government and DfE alongside other industry experts.
Cheshire centres:
Guidance for England states that:
If you are familiar with our centre, you will know that our sleeping arrangements are just not set up to be able to further divide class bubbles or provide the sleeping arrangements for teachers as required by this updated guidance.
Anglesey centre:
Guidance for Wales is different to England and states that:
We expect that guidance will be updated swiftly in line with national restrictions and that all bookings can commence from September.
As you know, we have worked closely with schools ensuring that no school has incurred a financial loss:
We cannot wait to have your young people back on site and enjoying our activities and we hope to see you again soon in the next academic year. We will be in touch regarding your booking in due course, but if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the team via conwaycentres@edsential.co.uk
Our Evolve team are still here to responding to any queries.
If you are in need of any advice then please get in touch with our LOtC team via LOtC@Edsential.co.uk or alternatively, contact any of our team members directly.
Our catering staff remained in school throughout the pandemic ensuring our vulnerable and critical workers’ children were fed and have enjoyed serving more of your pupils and staff with their return to school.
To support schools, families, teachers, and children & young people at this time, we have asked our specialist teams to take some of their knowledge and expertise online, so you can still have access to the services we provide. Find out more here: www.edsential.com/here-for-you/
In the case of cleaning staff shortages in your schools or any required additional deep clean services, please contact andrew.allmark@edsential.co.uk and we will do our best to support you
Where possible we have moved our CPD and Training online. To view upcoming training dates please visit – Training & CPD – Edsential
In these ever-changing times we want to provide reassurance that our clerking service will continue to provide advice and guidance to your Governing board.
Our governance team have been supporting schools with facilitating meetings over conference call. Governing bodies can also find valuable guidance on the continuity of governing meetings from the NGA here.
You can contact us via your clerk as usual or Nicky Bebbington on 0151 541 2170 extension 2002.
In addition to our stringent and increased hygiene and distancing measures for our staff still in schools, our office-based staff are now working from home.
We are still at the end of the telephone should you need us: 0151 541 2170