We have been asked many questions about the current situation and our plans.   It’s certainly a unique situation that we find ourselves in and the most recent advice from Government is that schools should remain open.  You’ll understand I’m sure, that with the most recent advice about vulnerable groups and social distancing, this is beginning to be a difficult task.

DfE’s and PHE’s advice, is to carry on with washing hands but also…

  • Anyone with a high temperature or persistent cough should self-isolate, and the whole household would have to do this for 14 days.
  • Non-essential contact has also been discouraged. Pubs, theatres, clubs and social venues are being closed and for the first time in history, churches are now closed on Sundays.
    I appreciate that this is a very confusing time to continue keeping schools open.  At school, we are trying our best to support our community with the DfE guidance on social-distancing, and also the guidance for educational establishments.
  • There’s further advice that people ‘at risk,’ meeting specific criteria (pregnant, over 70 and with a specific list of underlying conditions), should shield themselves and be ‘socially distant’. –link–

I fully understand that parents will want to make personal choices about all of this, and we will not make much comment if you choose to keep your child off school.  I would rather a child miss school for a short period of time than put family members at risk.  I have a duty of care to protect children and in a wider sense, their families too.  All we ask is that you to keep us informed of your choices, and of any absence.

I also have a duty of care to protect the staff workforce.  Although the government are advising the working population to work from home and against mass gatherings, I feel that the education workforce has been overlooked and placed in a vulnerable and unacceptable position.  They too could be being exposed to transmission of the virus on a daily basis, coming into contact with children and families each day we’re open.  There may be a time where we’re very slim on the ground in terms of staffing but until then, we’re providing everything to the best of our ability.

We are aware that these are unprecedented times and we are continually monitoring our procedures, following the DfE guidance for educational establishments.  The school will remain open until we receive notification from the Department of Education to the contrary.

Please get in touch with any questions or concerns that you would like to discuss.  Of course, I will be providing further updates via the school’s blog and website as often as is necessary.  Please subscribe to the website so that these come through via email.

We have not planned to provide work for families who have chosen to stay off, or for those who are ill.  Our staff are still working hard to stay open and provide for the children that we already have in school.  However, there are many links and work ideas already on the learning pages of our website that should support you.  However, should we close, we are getting ready with support, documents, packs, books and further web links, which all will be communicated through the school’s blog / website.

Thank you for your understanding,

Julian Thomas