Twenty Salford councillors have joined the City Mayor, Paul Dennett, and over 1,000 other councillors nationwide in signing a letter produced by the National Education Union, or NEU, calling for the Government to give more help to vulnerable families and supporting the union's stance that schools should only be reopened when it is safe to do so, for both teachers and students.
The full text of the letter to Gavin Williamson MP reads...
"As local councillors, we are writing to raise concerns in relation to current school closures. The first issue is the impact school closures are having on disadvantaged students and their families. Students eligible for free school meals (FSM) have had mixed experiences when applying for the Government's voucher scheme, with some unable to access vouchers to which they are entitled.
"We would like your assurances that all families with children eligible for FSM will receive vouchers for the full period of school closure, including school holidays. This may need to be in retrospect for those who have not yet been able to access their vouchers.
"We would ask that the Department for Education (DfE) continues to work with local
authorities who are at the forefront of supporting families facing unprecedented food
insecurity in the current climate. As you will know, holiday hunger is an issue for many families and we would like your assurances that families eligible for FSM will be given food vouchers to sustain them during the summer holidays.
"We believe that this should become a permanent fixture within our school system, so no child need go hungry during the school holidays again. We also have concerns about support for vulnerable children and the increased calls to domestic violence helplines nationally. We would ask that the Government continue to work with local authorities and schools to ensure vulnerable children do not 'slip through the net' and the necessary financial support is available to councils to support families fleeing domestic violence.
"Finally, we are concerned by the current guidance on the end to school closures.
We would like to support the calls from the teaching profession that schools only be
reopened when it is safe to do so, for both teachers and students. We also ask that local authorities be given a role in coordinating with schools, trade unions
and the DfE on a safe end to school closures."
It's signed by Salford councillors Brendan Ryan, Mike Pevitt, John Walsh, John Mullen, Kate Lewis, Jim King, Gina Reynolds, Colette Weir, Mike McCusker, Laura Edwards, Heather Fletcher, Jim Cammell, Lewis Nelson, Neil Reynolds, Wilson Nkurunziza, Madeline Wade, Paul Dennett, Barbara Bentham, Charlie McIntyre, John Warmisham, Tanya Burch, Adrian Brocklehurst and Samantha Bellamy.
Meanwhile the drop-off in Salford virus cases continues, with just two new confirmed cases, up to 879 from 877.
Manchester is now recording 1,376 cases (up from 1,362), followed by Stockport 988 (up from 978), Wigan 1,069 (up from 1,033), Oldham 976 (960), Bolton 922 (up from 913), Trafford 707 (up from 696), Rochdale 678 (up from 674), Bury 653 (up from 651) and Tameside 580 (up from 558).
There were also no new deaths reported by Salford Royal Hospital.
Meanwhile from tomorrow, Saturday 16th May, the Salford recycling centres are taking more types of refuse: general waste, garden waste (no soil), cardboard, wood and timber.
There are still regulations in place, so on Saturday only car number plates ending with an even number can go, on Sunday it's odd numbers etc...
Other regulations include: Social distancing measures will be in place; Cars and small vans only – no transit type vans or vehicles with trailers; Proof of address is needed (print or online) such as the most recent council tax bill or utility bill; If there are passengers in the vehicle, only one person can leave the vehicle; there's no pedestrian access, and staff will not be able to help unload your vehicle.
For more information on recycling measures – click here
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