Dear Parents

Further to the letter sent on 11.5.20. I am writing about the proposals to begin to re-open schools more widely as we move away from lockdown.

I would like to again offer my sincere thanks for the fantastic support for Home Learning which our families have embraced whilst our full school provision has been closed. We all understand how difficult this lockdown period has been for our families and especially our children and we are truly grateful for the many examples of wonderful learning which have been shared with us. Thank you so much for this on-going support through what continues to be very difficult times.

We all look forward to beginning to open our schools more widely and to having our children back on site again but in order to achieve this there needs to be a carefully planned approach so that we can achieve this in a way which is safe for everyone. Since Sunday evening, many other documents have been made available, with schools often receiving information at the same time that it is made available publicly. Some of the guidance we are reading poses more questions than it answers and I want to assure you that all of this information is being used to inform our risk assessment process. We will make the best possible decisions about what is workable as our way forward for each of our schools within the safest possible timescales. I want to also reassure you that prioritising the safety and well-being of our children, staff and families will be given the highest priority as we make our decisions.

As parents I am sure that you have questions too and Active Learning Trust are designing a parent questionnaire which will be issued later this week to gather your views which we will use to inform our decision making.

I will continue to keep you updated and share information with you as soon as I am able to but hope parents can understand that this is a complex process which needs a careful and considered way forward in order to achieve a solution which is workable and safe for everyone. I would like to reiterate that currently both schools are closed, except for the provision for key worker families and vulnerable children on The Albert Pye site. This will remain the case until I can inform you otherwise.

I hope everyone is keeping safe and keeping well and I will write again as soon as I have further information to share with you.

Yours sincerely

Melanie Mills

Headteacher