23 February 2021

Dear Parents / Carers,

I wanted to write to you following the announcement by the government last night about the reopening of schools on March 8^th.

We are so pleased to hear that we will be able to safely bring all students back on-site from March 8^th and will now begin to carefully review the guidance and make the necessary amendments to our routines to enable this to happen. We will share all our plans with you in due course including an updated risk assessment.

We expect that the majority of students and families will welcome this announcement as we know everyone is keen to get back to school with all the benefits both academically and for mental health and wellbeing it offers for students. We also recognise that this change may be daunting to some and want to reassure you that we will follow guidance carefully and always take the safety of our community as the number one priority. Our skilled pastoral team will work directly with families where we know this will help to ease the transition back to school.

The week beginning the 8^th March will include a staggered return to school to allow for the mass testing of all consenting students to be carried out in advance of their return. We will write to you again, as soon as possible, to confirm the dates and times for tests and returning to lessons. Students who are at home during this staggered phase will be fully supported by the ongoing remote curriculum. In the meantime, if you have not yet completed the consent process for testing then the form to do so is here: https://forms.gle/vV1vreU1LDbKJwmM7.

If you would like to read the Department for Education government guidance set out to schools yesterday then a copy is linked here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/963509/Schools_coronavirus_operational_guidance.pdf 

Thank you for your ongoing support during this challenging and ever-changing time. For now, please ensure your child continues to be fully engaged in the remote curriculum and I will be in touch with more detailed plans as soon as possible.

Kind regards.

Yours faithfully,

Ms K Brown

Headteacher