Message from Headteacher to Parents

Dear Parent/Carer, Our continued thanks and gratitude go to staff and parents that are working hard and in new and creative ways to support pupils’ learning while they are working from home.  These are challenging and unprecedented times and like you we are trying our best to implement the government guidelines to maintain critical services whilst maintaining social distancing. With the Easter holidays approaching, there is a need to find the balance between government guidance on ensuring pupils and staff stay safe and at home and a provision made for critical workers to continue to fulfil their roles in the national response.  The two categories of children who will be considered a school place at this time are 'vulnerable children' and children of 'critical workers'. The definitions of these two categories are as follows: Vulnerable children include those who have a social worker and those with education, health and care (EHC) plans. Children who have a social worker include children in need, children who have a child protection plan and those who are looked after by the local authority.  Critical workers include NHS staff, police, farmers and food retail workers, who need to be able to go out to work. Children with a parent or carer who is listed on the government’s critical worker list should be considered for a school place. If children can stay safely at home, they should, to limit the chance of the virus spreading. That is why the government has asked parents to keep their children at home, wherever possible, and asked schools to remain open only for those children who absolutely need to attend. I would like to ask parents about their needs so that we are able to work on a rota of staffing to ensure that we have sufficient staff in school whilst staff have the opportunity to have time off over the next few weeks. I would appreciate all parents who are considering sending their children into school over the next week and Easter holidays to contact me on the following email address as a matter of urgency: d.mayhew@aldevalley.suffolk.sch.uk Please do not hesitate to contact me on this address if you have any feedback or questions about the provision for your child during this time. Thank you all for your ongoing support, I hope you all keep safe and well. Kind Regards Dan Mayhew Headteacher