MORE contingency plans for school closures across the North-East have been revealed as another school on Teesside sends letters to parents amidst coronavirus concerns.

Ian Ramsey Church of England Academy in Stockton has written to the parents and carers of its 1,200 pupils over fears COVID-19 will spread in coming weeks.

A letter seen by The Northern Echo reveals the Fairfield secondary school would be providing work to its pupils via a "remote access service" if it became necessary.

It said: "We have been preparing for several days and plans are in place to allow our pupils and staff to work from home. 

"I have already asked Curriculum leaders to allow our pupils and staff to work from home. I have already asked Curriculum Leaders to prepare work for pupils should the schools be closed.

"Pupils will be provided the work for their timetabled lessons via our remote access service - FOLDR. For example, if they have 3 hours of science on their timetable, they will be expected to complete at least 3 hours work on that subject each work."

The Northern Echo:

It comes as parents and carers of pupils at Outwood Academy Normanby in South Bank near Middlesbrough yesterday received letters explaining how school closures would work.

Schools operated by the Outwood Grange Academies Trust, which runs primary and secondary schools across the region, are to use a Google-based cloud system which will share work with pupils.

Last night, Public Health England confirmed the number of COVID-19 cases in the North-East and Yorkshire had now hit 44. 

So far cases have been confirmed in County Durham, Newcastle, Sunderland, North Tyneside, Redcar & Cleveland and in North Yorkshire.