Update from the Head of School - 23rd March 2020

23 March 2020

Dear Parent/Carer

RE:  UPDATE 23 MARCH 2020

We have been using your feedback about key professions and intentions regarding sending your child to school to plan our staffing over the coming few weeks.  We have been reminded by the DfE that we should encourage parents to consider a number of different risks to each individual, including:

  • The potential health risks to the individual from COVID-19, bearing in mind any underlying health conditions. This must be on an individual basis with advice from an appropriate health professional where required
  • The risk to the individual if some or all elements of their EHC plan cannot be delivered at all, and the risk if they cannot be delivered in the normal manner or in the usual setting
  • The ability of the individual’s parents or home to ensure their health and care needs can be met safely
  • The potential impact to the individual’s wellbeing of changes to routine or the way in which provision is delivered

The Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson, said on twitter, 'you should only send your child to school on Monday if you have to, because your work is critical to our COVID-19 response.  If you are able to keep your child at home, you should.' 


Government guidance says, 'many parents working in [critical] sectors may be able to ensure their child is kept at home.  And every child who can be safely cared for at home should be'.

Government guidance also says, 'this is an offer to parents and carers and there is no requirement for parents and carers to send their children to school if they do not need or wish to do so.'

In order to keep our students and staff as safe as possible, we are therefore asking parents to keep their children at home, wherever possible, and for schools to remain open only for those children who absolutely need to attend as a last resort.

The school will endeavour to maintain regular contact with students who are not in school and will be sending another pack of work home after Easter.

We would like to extend our best wishes to all of our students and families who we are already missing terribly and special gratitude to any parents that are critical key workers.

Yours sincerely

Juliet Morris

Head of School