Good morning,

If you are eligible to access school next week, you will have been contacted by email by the Head Teacher. Only parents who have applied and who are on our register as doing so will be able to come in to school. Please do not turn up at school and assume you can leave your children. The school has to meet strict staffing ratios for health and safety and for safeguarding purposes.

Advice from the government, medical advice and union advice is to limit the number of children in school to 20% of the normal school population. On current applications we are at that limit and only have staff to support this number. The advice from the government is to keep children at home. Many families with a parent or carer working in critical sectors are still ensuring their children are kept at home. Every child who can be safely cared for at home should be, to limit the chance of the virus spreading. The school will remain open for those children who absolutely need to attend and this should be a last resort. As a school we want to make sure that we are able to support the right children and the services that are absolutely essential to limit the spread of this virus.

This has been extremely difficult for us as a school. We are used to ensuring that all children have equal access to everything at school and to the opportunities we provide. However, it is crucial that our efforts to limit the spread of the virus are supported. I ask for your understanding and absolute support at this time so that we can all work together to limit the impact on the health and safety of our community. Everybody is being called upon to act in the interests of our whole community which makes it a difficult time for us all.

The school is still here to support every single one of you, should you need it, whether that be remotely, over the phone or in school. I can assure you all that your staff at National Primary School are working their hardest and trying their best to provide ongoing resources and help for you all. 

I will be in touch later today with further information about remote learning and information for all our children staying at home.

And Happy Mothers Day to all the women doing an amazing job to support everyone around them, especially in these extraordinary times. 

Kindest regards,

Sarah Barratt

Head Teacher