My Ref: JP / TK 002 Date: 6 January 2021

Dear Parent / Carer

National lockdown – open letter to parents and carers

We start this letter with a thank you to parents, carers and family members for your
patience, understanding and support for your school, since the first lockdown in
March last year.

On Monday 4 January the Prime Minister announced a new national lockdown until
February half term. The Department for Education has provided initial guidance for
schools, which can change as the government publishes further information and
clarification.

Since Tuesday, schools and academies have been working to make arrangements
to stay open for vulnerable children and the children of critical workers only and for
remote learning for those pupils who are not in school. The speed of the change is
challenging, so please be patient, whilst your school’s arrangements are being put
in place.

Schools are receiving increased requests for the children of critical workers to
attend school. The size, layout and staffing in each school are different, which limits
the numbers of children that can attend school safely. Where not enough places
are available, schools must prioritise when children can attend and, as a last resort,
will have to tell some critical workers that there is no capacity for their children to
attend.

We are grateful for the tremendous response of our school leaders, teachers,
support staff, governors and trustees to date. We will continue to support schools
and trust our school leaders to make the decisions for their own school and pupils
but we recognise that, currently, our schools and our parents are in a difficult
position.

Yours sincerely

Jonathan Price

Cabinet Member for Education (and SEND)

Helen Riley

Deputy Chief Executive Director for
Families and Communities