Dear parent/carer

Coronavirus update – school closure to most pupils

Following on from my last update, I’m now writing to let you know the school’s action plan in
relation to our school closure, which will apply from Monday 23rd March 2020.

As advised by the government, we will do all we can to stay open whenever possible for the
children of key 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.

However, as I’m sure you can appreciate, we will have extreme difficulties to face in providing
staffing for all of our pupils, as our staff will also have to deal with self or family isolation and caring
for their own children who are out of school. We will, therefore, have to make assessments of those
families, which will need the most support. The situation may change on a day – day basis.

Please let the school office know if you think you are a key worker. A form is available on the school
website. You will be informed if your child is to continue to attend school.

All other children will need to stay at home, and we ask that you do not send your child into school
from Monday onwards. We have already sent out work packs to all children and made provision for
online learning. Children will need to log on regularly.

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, 07730766019 in the first instance or in an emergency
Linda James, Designated Safeguarding Lead on 07834747981.

We are currently considering arrangements during the Easter holidays and we will confirm these as
soon as we have further information.

If your child usually receives free school meals, we will also be in touch with more information
about how we will continue to provide this, with support from our catering company, Chartwells.

At the moment we are having to make difficult day to day decisions regarding our ability to open
the school to any pupils at all and to ensure that the staffing levels and premises are safe. We will
be in constant communication with parents / carers to ensure that you have the most up to date
information. This is as much as we know right now, and we appreciate your continued patience as
we deal with this ever-changing situation. We understand that this latest news will have an 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.

Thank you again for your continued support, and we will be in touch with more information when
we can. In the meantime please check the school website daily.

Yours Sincerely

Linda James