COUNCILLOR Imran Khan, Bradford Council’s portfolio holder for education, employment and skills, has sent a public message of thanks to schools across the district.

The Council says the last few weeks have been a huge challenge for all the staff at the district’s schools who have had to put emergency plans in place in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The government closed schools across the country on March 20 but asked that they made arrangements to stay open for children of parents who were key to tackling the Covid-19 response, and to children identified as vulnerable and to provide food to children who were hungry.

Schools across the Bradford District have been working together with the Council to make sure that there are sufficient places for those children and will continue to do so over the coming weeks, including over what would have been the school Easter holidays.

Parents of those children who are identified as needing a place can find out which schools are open to them on Bradford Council’s website.

The Council has also been taking steps to signpost parents whose children and families who are at home to information and advice that will help support their health and wellbeing and answer questions about where to go if things become difficult at home.

Cllr Khan said “I want to thank all the staff at our district’s schools for the way they have pulled together to make sure there are enough places for children who are vulnerable or children whose parents are key workers in the fight against the virus.

"I also want to thank our Council team who have worked so hard in coordinating this effort. This has not been an easy time for schools and I know that there has been a huge amount of work that has gone into making sure that places and school meals are available.

“I know too that the closure of schools has caused huge disruption for children and young people across our district and their parents; particularly those pupils who were set to take exams this summer which have had to be cancelled. I understand how frustrating this must be for those pupils but we are in unprecedented times and staying at home so that you, your family and your friends are safe and making sure that we don’t put pressure on our front-line services is the right thing to do.”