Friday 20th March
Dear Parents/Carers,
Coronavirus Update
During the past couple of days, we have been closely monitoring our staffing situation to try and retain effective supervision for your children in school.
The government have now released guidance for all schools that helped us to clarify the expectations they have of us as a school and our parents. The key principle to be able to keep all children safe at this:
‘If it is at all possible for children to be at home, then they should be’.
At this very difficult time, the health of the whole nation has to come before education whilst the NHS and Government assess what further measures may be necessary to protect our public health and services. Whilst we will remain open for a very small number of children, whose parents are frontline workers, we must keep the numbers very small to ensure everybody’s safety and wellbeing. At this time, I would ask you to consider what is best for your child and your family.
As Headteacher, I am also very conscious of the impact this crisis is having on my staff team and their own families as well. We know that the Coronavirus will affect many families nationally and we are keen to ensure that our Oaklands family and our own loved ones stay safe. We have spoken to most parents today and have been overwhelmed by your support at this very difficult time. You will appreciate that this is a national emergency and I recognise that keeping children at home can disrupt your own lives but this is to ensure the safety of your child and family.
If your child has been in school today, they will have brought home a pack of learning activities; leaflets to help while you’re at home and a few resources. We will keep in touch with you by phone at least once a week.
If your child is entitled to a Free School Meal, a packed lunch will be dropped off at the school for your child each day if you wish to collect it. However, in the next few days we will be considering ways in which we can make these more easily accessible to you.
Obviously the situation is changing with the pandemic every day, so we will let you know what will be happening to school after Easter by Friday 17th April. Information will be sent by text, on Weduc, posted on the website and on Twitter @OaklandsSchool_
We hope that you and your family all stay well.
Sarah Osborne
Headteacher