After consultation with staff and following a review of our school risk assessment, we have concluded that due to insufficient staffing levels, we have taken the decision that school will only be open to the children of critical workers (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision ) and vulnerable children from tomorrow, Tuesday 5th January, with all other pupils remaining at home and moving to remote learning. We hope that this will only be a temporary measure and that all children will be able to return from Monday 11th January (a decision on this will be taken on Friday 8th January), however the situation will be under constant review and we will keep you informed.
For critical worker children, we will use the list we had during the first lockdown unless we are informed otherwise. In order to keep children as safe as possible, we would ask that critical worker children only attend school on the days which parents are required to work. If you have not previously accessed critical worker provision and need to access it now, please inform the school via email by 4pm today so that we can plan for each year group. Parents of vulnerable children will be contacted directly by us today. We will be maintaining all current class bubble arrangements and will be operating the usual staggered start and end times. Breakfast club and after school club will operate as normal for any vulnerable or critical worker children who require it with the same costs and timings.
We fully appreciate that this decision may cause complications for some families and please be assured that we are responding as best as we can to the rapidly changing and challenging circumstances and that safeguarding the health and welfare of pupils, staff and the whole school community is our top priority.
To continue pupils learning during this period, work will be assigned to pupils in Reception to Year 6 via Seesaw. Pupils will be expected to complete the work at home on a daily basis. Vulnerable and critical worker children will complete their work in school. Families we have identified as requiring technical support to carry out remote learning will be contacted by tomorrow morning.
We are grateful for your support and understanding during what is a difficult and uncertain time for everyone and we will keep you informed of any updates or changes as and when they happen.
