A school is warning parents that pupils may need to work from home if the coronavirus situation worsens. 

Westcliff High School for Girls, in Kenilworth Gardens, Westcliff, wrote to parents on Friday with a contingency plan and advice. 

The school stated that parents must ensure that children have a computer and the internet at home, can log in to and use Google Classroom at home and that youngsters have resources at home, such as text books, to complete work. 

It comes as the government confirmed that there are now six cases in Essex, including the father of a pupil at Belfairs Academy, in Leigh. 

Bosses at Belfairs Academy wrote to parents on Friday detailing the situation, and confirmed that the man's child had not tested positive. 

The letter, from Westcliff High School for Girls headteacher, Dr Paul Hayman, said: "The number of cases of coronavirus in the UK is increasing, so it is important that we have made contingencies for a wider spread of this disease. 

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"We have already sent home information about preventing the spread of coronavirus and links to key information sites, but to ensure we are as well prepared as possible we are now asking that: 

  • "All pupils have access to a computer and the internet, or alternatively a smartphone, at home. 
  • "All pupils must know how to log onto and use Google Classroom at Home
  • "All pupils must know how to log onto and use Office 365 from home. 
  • Pupils must ensure any files they need to work on are uploaded to Google Drive. 
  • "Pupils should ensure they have resources at home for each subject to enable them to complete work set by teaching staff"