Dear Parents/Carers,
I hope you have managed to enjoy some of the sunshine this half term holiday and not been flooded by the constant news and social media communications that have happened this week.
As you are aware, last Friday in consultation with the Governors, it was decided by school that we would delay any plans to re-open school to more children, other than those of key workers or vulnerable children. Lots of schools, Headteachers and families have been struggling with the constant changing advice and uncertainty. Last night the bulletin below was released from Lancashire County Council as they too have been monitoring the situation carefully.
MESSAGES FOR PARENTS
Schools advised not to open to more pupils from 1st June.
Following careful consideration by our Director of Public Health, we are advising schools not to reopen to more pupils from 1st June.
We carefully assessed the government’s five tests to the easing of lockdown restrictions to see how they apply in Lancashire, and have concluded that schools should not reopen to more pupils from next week.
The advice has been issued by the Director of Public Health for Lancashire County Council, Dr Sakthi Karunathini and will be reviewed regularly so that schools can reopen to more pupils as soon as it is safe to do so.
The decision on whether to open an individual school lies with the head teacher, in consultation with the chair of governors, but we are actively encouraging schools to follow our advice.
You can read our full advice to schools. https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/coronavirus-updates/schools/advice-to-schools-on-reopening-to-more-pupils/
When schools do open, parents will of course choose whether or not to send their children back to school and we support the decision they will take. The council will not be issuing penalty notices regarding attendance at this time. There is also government guidance available for parents. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers/reopening-schools-and-other-educational-settings-from-1-june
Thank goodness, we made this decision on Friday. We will continue to keep you updated and we will hopefully have more certainty in the next few weeks. Please enjoy the rest of the weekend. The sun is supposed to shine!
Regards,
Bridget Parkinson (Headteacher)