Sunday January 3rd 2021 
RE: Bubble closure for Reception and Nursery 
 
Dear Parents/Carers, 
Firstly, I would like to say happy new year to you all. I hope this letter finds you well and healthy.  
I am sure you are all aware of the developments in the news about schools and the new Covid variant and I shared with you all last week about how we plan to tighten up on our protective measures as much as possible in light of the Tier 4 guidance.  
The NEU (England’s largest teaching union) has advised its members not to return teaching full classes of children in light of health and safety concerns. As a result of this union advice, many staff feel concerned and have made the decision that they are only prepared to teach the children who are classed as vulnerable or who are the children of parents classed as Critical Workers.  
This directly affects you. We have significant staff shortages in school, mostly in our Early Years Unit, which means it will be unsafe for Reception children and Nursery children to return tomorrow. Your child will therefore be taught remotely through Tapestry for the next week at least while the situation unfolds. Please look out for further communication on Tapestry from your child’s teaching team.  
If your child is entitled to benefits related free school meals, we will be contacting you tomorrow about how we will manage this through food parcel collections. 
If you are a Critical Worker please contact the school office first thing tomorrow morning so that we can support your child in school. There is an application form that will need to be completed. You can check if you are classed as a critical worker by clicking on the following link. We will process the applications as quickly as possible and get back to you as soon as we can, no later than 24 hours after your application. 
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educationalprovision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educationalprovision#critical-workers 
If your child receives support from social care, has an EHC Plan or is classed as ‘looked after’ then they should return to school tomorrow as planned and we will continue to support them fully with the staff that are in school. Ms Moffoot, or myself, will contact you directly if this is your child.  
Please rest assured that all staff have found this decision difficult to make as they know how important face-to-face education is for all children. Their desire is to be back in the classroom as soon as they feel safe to do so.  
I promise to keep you all updated. If you have children in other Bubbles in school, we have managed to keep these open at present so children in Years 1-6 are able to come in to school as planned.  
I am so sorry for the inconvenience and stress that this will naturally cause you all, especially as it is such short notice. I apologise for this but the union action has meant this has all unravelled over the weekend and has taken some time to sort out as you will imagine. 
Please ring school tomorrow if you would like to chat this all through with myself or a member of the team. 
 
Sincere best wishes, 
 
Sarah Clarke