After half term plans
Thursday, May 21, 2020
We will continue to update when we can
Dear families,
As we approach the half-term break I wanted to write to you with an update on the current situation.
You will most likely have seen the announcement from the government that children in reception, Year 1, Year 6, Year 10 and Year 12 should begin to return to school in some form after half-term. The current advice on Year 10 students, although it changes very regularly, is that they ‘can begin some face to face support, although we do not expect these pupils to return on a full-time basis at this stage’. This is to be risk-assessed by each school individually. There is no guidance on Years 7-9 which means that that we will continue with the current way of working for the foreseeable future for these year groups.
As you will appreciate from the news, this situation changes weekly, if not daily, and there is a government meeting on Thursday 28th May that will decide how best schools are to try and return to ‘normal’. Unfortunately this only gives us one working day between this meeting and the start of the new term, which I know you will appreciate is too soon to plan anything that will work and keep our children and staff safe. As such, the first two weeks after half-term will remain as they are now and we will re-evaluate our provision once we have all of the information from the government and have fully-consulted with the staff unions. We would rather make a good decision on this, based on a thorough understanding of this rapidly-changing situation, than a quick one that we then have to change and could put our school community at risk.
Any increase in student numbers coming in to school will be gradual and well thought out and planned, to ensure that we can keep everyone safe. We will not put anyone at risk.
In the meantime I would ask you all to take time off from school work next week. You have been working hard with your children and staff have been doing the same – we all need a break so please enjoy yours. Lessons will resume in their current format on Monday 1st June.
Lastly, a huge thank you for all of your hard work supporting your children this half-term. We have really felt and appreciated your support as staff and governors so thank you, it really does help. Many of you were kind enough yesterday to join in with the international ‘Thank a Teacher Day’, via email or social media, and those messages were very much appreciated. If you would like to thank a member of staff then most email addresses are on our website: https://www.prestonschool.co.uk/contact-us/teaching-staff-contact-details . Please do also use those to get in touch if there is anything that we can do to support you or your child.
Best wishes and take care
Gregg Morrison
Principal
