Responding to the Coronavirus pandemic

In common with all schools in the UK, Steiner Waldorf schools around the country have been working tirelessly to support children, families and staff through the Coronavirus pandemic. Following frequently updated advice from the DfE, schools have made every effort to remain compliant with the guidance offered and put in place mitigating factors for transmission wherever possible. The Steiner Waldorf Schools Fellowship has strongly recommended that schools, in their risk assessments, planning and decision making, also take into account local transmission rates and community context in order to make the best possible contribution to the national effort to combat Covid-19.

Steiner Waldorf schools are currently making on-site provision for Critical Worker and Vulnerable children, whilst delivering remote teaching through a variety of online, offline and creative methods. In the spring lockdown, one of our teachers was recognised as a ‘teacher hero’ for cycling around London paying socially distanced visits to his entire class. Other schools have set up innovative online programmes, created resource kits and supported parents in a variety of ways.

Fran Russell, the Chief Executive of SWSF, herself contracted Covid in December and was hospitalised, although she is now on the slow road to recovery. The SWSF would like to acknowledge the fantastic care that she received from the doctors, nurses, cleaners, porters and all other NHS staff, despite the desperately difficult situation and enormous pressure that hospitals are currently under. We would also like to urge all in the Steiner Waldorf community and beyond to follow the government guidance to stay at home wherever possible, to stay safe and to protect the NHS.