Parents and guardians should socially distance and wear face coverings if possible at the school gates, Richmond Council said.

As children and young people have been returning to schools over the past few weeks, the local authority has written to all parents and carers about their conduct while dropping off or picking up their children.

The letter was co-written by chair of the Education and Children's Services Committee Cllr Penny Frost and council leader Gareth Roberts.

The letter in full

On behalf of the council, we would like to thank you for all your help and support now that schools have reopened. High numbers of children and young people have returned to school; it is clear that parents have confidence in the Covid-19 safeguarding measures which schools have put in place to protect their children.

We know that schools are working hard to make sure that your children are safe while they are at school, and your support for schools in that work will be vital in the weeks and months ahead if we are to avoid a second lockdown.

Covid-19 has not gone away and there are signs that nationally and locally cases are on the rise which has caused the Government to increase the restrictions on gatherings both indoors and outdoors. Therefore, we need to do all that we can to keep each other safe and to control the spread of the virus.

We would like to encourage all parents, grandparents and carers who are either dropping off or collecting children from the school gates to consider wearing a mask or face covering when doing so. We have received concerns about groups gathering outside schools, particularly at pick up time, and we are concerned about the potential for spreading the virus that these gatherings present.

We have asked schools to reiterate this message and we know that some are now placing stewards outside. This is of course particularly important now that the Government have banned social groups of over six people.

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The sole reason for this request is one of safety. Safety for parents, carers, children, school staff and all local residents. We want Richmond upon Thames to be Covid-19 free and we will only achieve this if we all work together.

You can support your school by following the national guidance, making sure your children understand what they need to do when in school and keeping up to date with the latest local news around Covid-19 by signing up to the council e-newsletter.

We want to thank all our schools, children and their families for all that they have done since March. We are not out of the woods yet. But if we continue to work together, we will come through this – stronger than ever.

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