As you are aware, the Government has announced that all schools in England will close for the vast majority of children as of Friday 20th March, until further notice.
From Monday 23rd March, the vast majority of pupils’ education will continue from home. We have prepared well for these circumstances, so that all our pupils can continue their education from home during the closure. I am extremely grateful to staff across the school for the way in which they have taken on this challenge.
The school will, however, remain open for two specific groups of pupils:
- Those whose parents are defined as key workers (employed in the NHS, elements of the food supply chain, emergency services, armed forces personnel, teachers/support staff, social workers, those working in the care sector and certain local government workers); please note that this list will be updated following further Government advice.
- Those who are particularly vulnerable, including those with EHC Plans.
I would ask that parents and carers who believe they fall into the category of key workers contact the school as soon as possible in person or by email, and no later than 12 noon on Friday 20th March, so that we can arrange for your child to continue to attend school. Please be prepared to explain your field of work.
We have identified those pupils who are in the second category and are contacting their parents/carers separately. If you believe your child falls into this latter category and you have not heard from us by 12 noon on Friday 20th March, please contact us on the above email address.
Barking and Dagenham Council is working with all schools in the borough, the Local Director of Public Health and Public Health England to make sure we are providing the right provision in line with Government expectations of schools. We will be finalising how we can ensure that pupils currently signed up for Free School Meals will receive entitlement to food. We will be doing everything we can to deliver whatever is required of us by the Government.
We are entering times of further uncertainty and our responsibility as a school, like yours as a parent/carer, is to give our children the learning, support and reassurance that they need. We will continue to update parents/carers on a regular basis with important information as we receive it.
Thank you for your continued support and for working with us in the weeks ahead.