Dear Parent/Carer,
I would firstly like to thank you all for your continued efforts over the past 2 months in what are unprecedented times for us all. I have been so impressed with how our pupils, students and staff have adapted to this new way of working and humbled by the kind messages we have received from our school community.
Secondly, I am writing to you to reassure you that following the Government’s latest update, we are working to prepare for some children to return to school at the beginning of June.
It is important to note that this is the earliest that we will re-open to certain year groups and it is dependent on a number of variables that are not in our control. However, I wanted to assure you that we have started the planning process, should the plan to open schools on the 1st June go ahead.
Based on the latest guidance from the Department for Education, children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 will be encouraged to attend school in the week beginning 1st June 2020 and our nursery will also open to all children. In addition, the Government have recommended that an increased amount of face-to-face time is given to pupils and students in Years 10 and 12, alongside continuing with remote learning, in order to help prepare these pupils and students for examinations next year.
Children of key workers and vulnerable pupils/students who have been coming into school during the closure will still be able to attend, regardless of their year group.
There are a whole range of factors to be considered in a short amount of time, including social distancing measures and classroom adaptations, staff wellbeing, staggered timetables, protective equipment and extra cleaning procedures in school, all of which are being reviewed to ensure our number one priority of pupil, students and staff safety. We will make parents and carers aware of these plans once we know the numbers of children attending.
To assist us with this planning, we are asking all parents and carers with children in Reception, Year 1, Year 6, Year 10, Year 12 and key workers to please complete the questionnaire here by 10.00am Monday 18th May. If your child has been attending school during this period but you are not one of the year groups mentioned or a key worker then you should also complete the questionnaire. You will need to complete one questionnaire for each of your children.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation as this information will help us ascertain the number of pupils and students who could be coming into school from the week beginning 1st June, so that we can plan accordingly for the first phase of school reopening. As outlined by the Government, this will lead to a gradual reopening of schools over time.
I ask that you bear with me and my staff in the coming days as we finalise the plans for the coming weeks. If you have further questions in the meantime, the Department for Education have created some guidance for parents and carers, which can be found here.
I will update you further once we have more information and any finalised details. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Best wishes,
Mrs CY Gammon