Dear Families

I have met with the Local Authority and with our Governing Body in light of today's Union advice to school staff. 

I am sorry to inform you that there will be operational changes to the education of pupils in classes 2 and 3.  Staffing levels are not sufficient for me to be able to guarantee the required safety measures demanded by the current legal guidance and I have reluctantly taken the decision to undertake a partial closure of the school affecting pupils in classes 2 and 3 (Years 2,3,4 and 5). 

In the first instance, these two classes will be closed to all pupils tomorrow.  It is my intention that the children of key workers from both of these classes will then attend from Tuesday 5th January onwards.  I will contact the families who are registered as key workers with us tomorrow. 

I know that one or two of you may feel relief at this decision but that for the vast majority of families, this news will come as a real blow.  You all know my strong feelings around pupil attendance in school and the very real benefits to pupil attainment and wellbeing so I am sure that you know what an incredibly difficult decision this has been for me to make - particularly so late in the day.  I would like to reassure you that high quality remote education for all pupils in classes 2 and 3 will be available from 9am tomorrow morning plus a remote pupil wellbeing service that you are able to access with an email or telephone referral. 

Pupils from classes 1 and 4 should come to school as normal from tomorrow.

I will be in touch again tomorrow.

Kind regards

Jo Buckley