UPDATE: Eastbourne schools emergency closures

According to East Sussex County Council’s website, a handful of schools are not opening due to the coronavirus pandemic and staffing shortages.

Some are only opening to children of keyworkers.

Langney Primary Academy is open only for vulnerable children and children with parents classed as critical workers.

Both Parkland infant and junior schools are closed due to Covid-19 and St Andrew’s Church of England Infant School is shut due to concerns regarding safety of staff and pupils.

A school spokesperson said, “This is will be taken as an inset day so the inset day planned for June 21 will not take place.”

St Thomas A Becket Catholic Primary School is also closed due to a risk assessment showing the school has insufficient staff to open.

Bourne School and Shinewater are only open to children whose parents are keyworkers.

The Causeway is also closed and at Tollgate Community Junior School, three classes are being taught remotely.

A spokesperson said, “These pupils are not in school due to staff working from home for Covid-19 reasons.”

A spokesperson at East Sussex County Council told the Herald, “We’re working with schools across East Sussex to help them re-open to pupils where possible in line with the Department for Education’s timetable. This includes supporting schools to put every possible safety measure in place to manage the risks involved in providing vital education at this difficult time.

“Several of the county’s primary schools have been able to re-open as planned this week, some have decided they are not able to open at the moment and are providing online learning; we understand this is a fast-moving and challenging situation.

“In many cases, schools which are not fully open are still able to accept vulnerable children and those whose parents or guardians are keyworkers. This applies to schools in Hastings and Rother which the government had already asked not to open fully before January 18.

“We would advise all parents to keep in touch with their children’s school for the latest information.”