LDST Chief Executive Officer updated letter to Parents

  

Dear Parents

Please see below a letter from LDST which I received late yesterday.

I know that many Parents will be disappointed to read that our wider opening has been put back to 22nd June at the earliest.

For clarification and information, we will open on Monday 15th June for Key workers and vulnerable children from Y1 to Y6. On Tuesday 16th June we will open for Key workers and vulnerable children in Nursery and reception also.

This Key worker and vulnerable children childcare has been operating throughout lock down and we have accommodated approximately less than 12 children each day. Our numbers have now significantly increased and we will be operating more PODS to accommodate these increased numbers. I will write to you before the end of the week to give you more details of arrangements for week commencing 15th June.

I will then write to Parents again next week with further arrangements for wider opening from 22nd June.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the school office this week. The office will be open today until 3:30pm , Thursday afternoon until 3:30pm and Friday all day 9-3pm. The office will be closed Thursday morning for staff training.

Thank you for your continued support and understanding at these difficult and challenging times.

Kind regards

Sylvia Thomson
Headteacher

                                                                                                                           June 9 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 and in conjunction with LAS and Unions, 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. You will also be aware that the Secretary of State for Education, today announced that there is no longer an expectation that schools will reopen one month before the end of the summer term 2020 as previously planned for further groups of pupils. 

So despite the tireless work to prepare to welcome some children back to educational settings from Monday June 15, the Trust Board has now made a decision to delay any wider school opening planned until June 22. This will enable us to take account of the local context and the public health reports that will ensure we open when it is safe to do so, as well as giving time needed to adjust to the Government’s revised plans announced today.

Please be assured that we will continue to listen to scientific advice and follow the guidance of Public Health in order to keep pupils, staff and families safe. The Trust Board’s decisions will always 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