I trust this letter finds you and your families safe and well and you managed to have a happy albeit
different Christmas.

As you will be aware we are now back in a national lockdown and schools are closed except to the
children of critical workers and vulnerable children. I’m writing to let you know the school’s current
plans in relation to our school closure, which will apply from Tuesday 5th January 2021. We will
continue to stay open whenever possible for the children of critical workers (e.g. NHS staff, police,
others in frontline services) and the most vulnerable students within our school community. Our
priority is to ensure a safe place for these pupils to be during school hours. As a special school all our
pupils have EHCPs; and we could view all our pupils as ‘vulnerable’ in one sense or another. In line with
Government guidance we have rigorously reviewed our school’s risk assessment to assess which
children we can offer a place to.

All other children will need to stay at home, and we ask that you do not send your child into
school. We have already made provision for online learning and will continue to send out work
packs to all children.

We wrote to you last term asking you to contact us if you did not have online provision within
the home. If your situation has changed since then and you know require support please contact
Anne Westoby on 01543 686315 or email the school office.

Whilst the school is closed to most children, our duty and responsibility to safeguarding our pupils
remains. Our regular check-ins with families needing a bit of extra help and support will continue
throughout the period of school closure, just as if the school was open. Please do not feel offended
if a member of school staff calls to check-in with you, and to speak to your child. If you have any
safeguarding concerns whilst the school is closed, for your child or for any other pupil from the school,
please contact the FSW, Dawn Jenks, 07730 766019 in the first instance or in an emergency Linda
James, Designated Safeguarding Lead on 07834 747981.

If your child usually receives free school meals, we will continue to send out shopping vouchers.

We will be in constant communication with relevant parents/carers to ensure that you have the most
up to date information. We appreciate your continued patience as we deal with this ever-changing
situation. We understand that this latest news will have a continuing impact on you and your family
and it’s far from ideal, but we’ll continue to keep in touch with any updates as the situation develops.
If you want to get in touch to share any concerns, please contact the school office, 01543 686315.

Please remember: if your child or a family member is displaying symptoms of Coronavirus, then please
follow the government’s guidance on self-isolating and social distancing at www.gov.uk or use the NHS
website www.nhs.uk and click on the Coronavirus link at the top of the page.

Please Remember: The Government Guidance states that if it is at all possible for your child to stay at
home then they should do so.

It is vital that we all work together to ensure our children, staff and families stay safe and well. It’s
difficult to imagine at the moment but we need to look forward to good things ahead.
Thank you again for your continued support, and we will be in touch with more information when we can.

Yours Sincerely

Linda James