Phased Reopening Letter (8th June 2020)
Letter to Year 10 Students (10th June 2020)
Integrated Education Action Plan
Executive Summary of the Risk Assessment and Guidance for Re-Opening of School
We are pleased to confirm we WILL be open for Key Worker children, as a normal school day, starting immediately on Monday 23rd March. At least at first, and whilst staffing allows, those students who normally rely on school transport to get to us will still have school transport. Further information about transport will be sent later. Students attending will be able to do the same learning as students at home, and will have additional activities provided. Students who normally have packed lunches should still bring them, and Taylor Shaw will provide a limited menu of food for students and staff who normally rely on school food. We fully embrace the duties the government has asked of as educators to facilitate the attendance of the Key Workers at their normal place of work, where they are unable to make other arrangements within their families.
Our ability to open, educate and supervise the children of our Key Workers is because Highcliffe staff have volunteered in large numbers to carry out this duty to our community. I am sure you share my gratitude to these staff and understand why I am so proud of them. I know you will have many questions about this provision but I must ask you to please be patient and let us finalise our planning for this today and over the weekend. Once we have completed this further details will be communicated to you.
Patrick Earnshaw
Headteacher
So unfortunately quite a lot still is still be clarified before we can say whether we will be opening for any key worker’s children, or exactly who will be considered a key worker, but as soon as we know more we will communicate it to parents. Obviously our preference would be to have some form of limited opening for this purpose but we’ll have to wait a little longer to answers parents’ questions. Our Reception staff do not have the answer to your questions and we are grateful for your patience.
Mr Earnshaw
Following the UK government’s announcement this evening closing schools from Monday for an indefinite period, suspending normal educational arrangements, and cancelling GCSE and A Level exams this summer we wish to express our sympathy and support for our students of all ages but in particular those in Year 11 and Year 13. We are confident the government, in consultation with schools during the coming weeks, will establish a robust and fair means of evaluating the academic achievement which students would have shown through their exams in the summer.
There are many implications about the government’s announcement, some of which will become clearer over the next few days and others which will take longer to become clear. Please be assured that whenever we receive further information, we will communicate to you and incorporate it into our planning. At all times in the coming weeks our priority will be to support our students within the framework the government will surely establish to care for the children of keyworkers or for vulnerable children, provide access to Free Schools Meals, and maintain educational provision for our Year 12, 10 and 7 to 9 students as needed – for which we had already been planning. Where cooperation with other schools locally will benefit our students and families, we will work with them.
With regard to tomorrow Thursday 19th March we will proceed with our plan to be open only for Year 11, 8 and 7 students although we leave it yours’ and your child’s discretion whether to attend school given the circumstances. We understand that in the circumstances many families may choose not to send their child in these year groups to school but any who do attend will be welcomed and provided with an education. For Year 11 and Year 13 students your pastoral staff will be available to provide support 13 from 8:30am if you wish to access it. The Year 11 Science mock exams planned for tomorrow will not take place. Year 12 and 13 students are also welcome to contact staff, as they were advised earlier today, to arrange to collect work or resources. School transport will run as normal as will school catering. Please adhere to the government’s unequivocal guidance on social distancing for any children not attending school.
Those staff not unwell or in an at-risk category or living in a household with someone in in an at-risk category will be in school.
These are unprecedented events. My colleagues and I have been enormously encouraged by the messages of support received from so many parents, other family members and members of the public over the last few days which include offers to come in and help. As we chart our way forward over the coming days and weeks through this challenging time, we will continue to always act in what we believe is our students’ best interests and work with you as parents, and as students. We are grateful for your patience, cooperation and support.
We will keep you updated as the situation develops, including clarifying what is happening on Friday and, in due course, next week.
Mr Earnshaw
Owned by: HGE | Last Published: 02/09/2020 11:14:03 | Next Update: N/A
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