Dear Parents
We have received communication this morning that there is a change to the restart programme for school next week – “primary school pupils will be taught remotely until 11 January, after which they will attend school for face-to-face teaching”.
The communication this morning also indicated that schools will remain open for vulnerable pupils / children of key workers.
Minister Weir has indicated that this late change has been necessary “after unprecedented levels of positive Covid-19 tests since Christmas and the pressure this applies to our health service.” He urged it was critical that we all must consider public health and scientific advice at this time.
In March I had initially over 200 families apply to school for keyworker supervised learning. Given the highly alarming transmission rates in our community at present, returning this level of pupils to school next week would not achieve the desired reduction in risk that the announcement and move intends. Therefore, I would ask you to seriously reflect on your need for keyworker provision in school next week. During next week I would also ask you to be mindful that it is a challenge for teachers to dually supervise children in school while directing home learning.
Please look at the photograph attached for the definition of key worker status and consider your eligibility. Also please explore any other option that you would possibly have for one further week of not sending your child to school. It is in the interests of everyone’s safety within our community that we keep pupil numbers to an absolute minimum next week.
If you feed you have no other option and would like to request your child to be supervised in school, please message your child’s class teacher on Monday morning by 10am. We will then spend Monday on our Staff Development Day considering these requests. Please indicate to your child’s teacher: your eligibility under the key worker definitions and what days would you require supervision. I would also stress as was the case in March, that this is not active teaching. The children will be supervised only in their completion of the home learning activities that will be provided to all pupils.
On Monday teachers will then confirm that we can facilitate your child in school for supervision. Please do not send your child to school on Tuesday if you have not received confirmation of their attendance.
The announcement also indicates that “Exams due to take place in January will be facilitated compliant with public health guidance”. This would seem to suggest that AQE will proceed as planned. Having our Year7s at home for the days before the first test will actually ensure that more pupils will successfully sit their first paper as the risk of a class going into self-isolation is removed. Our Year 7 teaching team will be working very hard to support these pupils remotely during this time, with the primary agenda of keeping them feeling confident and calm for the assessments ahead.
While it is disappointing that we find ourselves at this late hour having to shift arrangement for next week, the levels of new cases in our community have made it essential.
I hope our families have remained well over the last two weeks and in the difficult days ahead stay safe and protected. Children’s education is an absolute priority but first come their safety and well-being, and we respond here to these arrangements knowing that is what we are protecting.
Kindest Regards,
Mrs H.
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