12 June 2020

Dear Parents and Carers,

I am writing to you in order to provide an update on the re-opening strategy of SNMAT’s partner academies:

 All primary academies welcomed back more children, as planned, on 8 June. Headteachers are reporting that the new safeguarding measures have been working well.

 Where there is capacity to do so, primary academies plan to welcome more children back on 15 June. For some academies, full capacity has already been reached.

 Secondary academies will begin welcoming back students on 15 June.

 We must continue to act with caution: Yesterday, a member of staff tested positive for Covid-19 in one of SNMAT’s partner academies. We are following the government’s guidance in our response but this reinforces the clear message that we should proceed with caution. I know that you will join with me in sending the very best of wishes to this member of staff.

As we look forward, there is an ever-growing body of speculation about how and when things will change. We are very keen to welcome more children back into academies as soon as it is safe to do so. For this to happen, the government’s current guidance will need to change substantially. In advance of this happening, we are currently modelling how the changes that are being spoken about (for example - a reduction to 1 m social distancing) would impact our capacity for more children to attend. Ultimately, our capacity will be determined by the number of staff that are available and the class size limit that we can apply (currently 15).

May I once again thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate this new landscape. We will continue to place the needs and best interests of young people at the very centre of all our decisions as we move forward.

Yours faithfully,

Chris Moodie

Chief Executive Officer Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham Multi Academy Trust (SNMAT)