LDST Chief Executive Officer letter to Parents

June 8 2020

Dear Parents and Carers,

LDST’s approach throughout COVID-19 has been to prioritise the safety of our pupils, staff and families.  Our schools have been open for a small number of critical worker children over the last 11 weeks, who have been kept safe in their small groups due to the stringent measures put in place. Other children have continued to be educated at home through home learning pack, online learning activities and regular communication with teachers.

Over the past three weeks, all LDST schools have worked with Health and Safety experts to plan for the wider re-opening of schools. Robust risk assessments have been carried out and used to write detailed re-opening plans that will continue to ensure the safety of pupils and staff as more children return to school. Plans are in place and schools are ready, as and when this can happen.

However, I am sure that you will have heard in the media this weekend, reports of the R rate in the North West being above 1 – a level that the Government has consistently informed us is too high. So despite the tireless work alongside local authorities to prepare to welcome some children back to educational settings for Monday 8 June and others for June 15, the Trust Board made a decision on Saturday to delay any wider school opening planned for this week. There will be a number of meetings with Local Authorities and Public Health across our region over the next few days, which I hope will support us in making decisions about the week commencing 15 June.

Please be assured that, although we cannot give any definitive answers at the moment, we will listen to scientific advice and follow the guidance of Public Health and will communicate in the coming days, any further decisions about the wider re-opening of schools next week. The Trust Board’s decisions will be safety focused and evidence-led.

Thank you for your patience and support in such turbulent times.

Prayers and best wishes to you and your families

Mrs L Kwissa

Chief Executive Officer