I just wanted to update you on what we are doing. We are currently working hard to try and determine a way in which we can get some more of our pupils back as soon as possible. Our plan is to offer places to pupils based upon a range of vulnerability criteria.

We have set out a matrix system which allows us to work out who may come within these criteria, this is based on a variety of factors, including some of the following:

• Key Worker Parents
• Child Protection Plan/Child in Care
• Child in Need Plan
• Mental Health Needs
• Young Carers
• Highly Complex Needs

The number of places we can offer will be based entirely on being able to cater safely for the pupils and ensuring that we have enough staff to safely support the pupils in our care. Just to reassure you again, I will only increase numbers in school to a level that I believe is safe to do so for both pupils and staff. Due to government guidance we are having to set-up "bubbles" where pupils and staff can work separately from the rest of the school. This requires separate toileting facilities, changing facilities and play areas. As I am sure you can understand, this puts increased pressure on space and creates a further limiting factor to our number of places available.

We are currently contacting parents of pupils with the highest vulnerability levels with offers of places. There have already been a significant number of parents turning down places, which I fully understand, and as such we will then work our way through the list based on the matrix and contact further parents to offer places where we can. 

As I have said previously, I understand that there are many parents who are anxious about the current situation and will not want to send their child back to school yet, and it is important to state that no parents will be penalised for making this choice.

Once parents have been contacted about place offers, we plan to start on Tuesday 9th June. As we go forward through the term, we may also be in the position to offer more places and will use our matrix list to ensure that we can give out places in an equitable way.

I appreciate that these are very difficult times for us all with families and understand that this time away from school has been very challenging for many of us. I hope that you understand that everything we agree doing is being done for the right reasons with the health and safety of pupils and staff at the heart of every decision. 

For now, thank you for your continued support in this challenging time and take care,

Jon Hewitt

Headteacher