19th March 2020 - Coronavirus Update
Dear Parents and Carers,
At 5.15pm yesterday, the Secretary of State for Education gave a public statement that all state-funded schools in England would be closed from the end of the school day on Friday.
Having indicated that all schools would be closed, he then went on to say that schools would be expected to remain open for the children of key workers and for those in various vulnerable categories – providing a safe place and access to meals. We are expecting a definition of ‘key worker’ today from the Cabinet Office. It will take time to determine the nature of this provision.
Although we have been anticipating such an announcement, and prepared for various scenarios, the limited details so far released raise considerably more questions than answers. You will all have your own legitimate concerns and queries.
As the school will be closed to all pupils, except those groups that have been specifically identified by the Government, we have to put in place systems and routines to keep in contact with all of our families.
Weekly Family Phone Call
In the first instance, as a duty of care, we will call every family, every week. This phone call will be brief and made by one of our Senior Leaders e.g. Mr Langley, Ms Rogers, Ms Holt or by Mrs Whitlow, our family Liaison Worker. So that we can complete these calls, please try whenever possible to answer a call from the school phone number.
If you wish to contact school we will monitor our school email daily and reply as soon as possible:
We will also respond to any messages left on the school answer phone, which will also be checked daily when staff are in the school building.
If you are aware that the school office might not have your current up-to-date phone number please update these immediately.
School Work at Home
By the end of the school day tomorrow, all children in receipt of the Pupil Premium Grant, who are still attending school will have paper resources to take home.
All pupils will be able to access web based work through the school web site under the tab “Activities to Support Working at Home”.
In the event of a longer closure this section of the web site will be updated.
Monies at School
If you have paid monies to the school for after-school clubs, the HUB, school meals or breakfast club, you will not be charged for services you have not received. All monies paid for trips will be reviewed when we are in a position to do so.
If you have any questions please ask myself or Ms Rogers.
These are the most challenging times that schools and indeed the country has faced in a long time so let us all try to do the best to support each other by following the advice we have been given.
If the situation changes significantly we will alert you via the school website and school spider as soon as possible, so please keep checking them regularly.
Yours sincerely,
Simon Langley
Headteacher