News for ESC Parents - Children Should Stay Home

Under advice from the WA Department of Education the following letter is being sent home today to parents and carers of children enrolled in Education Support Centres such as Riverside ESC. This information changes and updates information previously supplied, recognising the greater risk for our students from possible exposure to COVID-19.

Dear Parents and Carers,

As you are aware, families are now encouraged to keep their children at home if they have the capacity to do so.

Education support settings are unique environments, that present a more complex environment for our students and staff in regard to the current pandemic threat.

Students who require close proximity with staff and those who have a cognitive or communication impairment that makes it more difficult for students to regulate their behaviour are at greater risk of acquiring and/or transmitting the virus. This includes students who require toileting, feeding, dressing and manual handling and those who are unable to regulate social distancing and behaviour.

The Department of Education has been in close consultation with the Chief Health Officer throughout. Given the spread of COVID-19, and the vulnerability of our education support students, the decision has been made that our education support students should remain at home.

We recognise that every student has a unique situation and we will be working with families on the individual case management of your child with a view to safely supporting our students at home.

We know our school is different to most schools, and our students have different educational needs. This undoubtedly will be one of the biggest challenges we face. Your child’s education will continue, but it will look different. No matter what the situation, we will be staying connected with all our students.

I understand this is unsettling news but I want to assure you that the safety of all students and staff is our number one priority.

One of the best aspects of our school is our ability to look after one another. I am here for every one of you and your children, as are all the staff. These are unprecedented times and I know we will pull together and get through this.

Kind regards

Jim Douglas
Principal