Headteacher's Letters
Tuesday 16th June 2020
Dear Parents and Carers
I just wanted to say a thank you for responding so sensibly and positively to the gradual reopening of school.
I know lots of you are anxious and uncertain as to what to do and when to send your child back to school. Please remember you are the best judge of what is best for your child and your family. I do not want to put anyone under any pressure to send their child back to school until they and you are ready. There is a risk in returning to school and we are doing all we can to reduce that. I do think it is going to take some time for us all to be back to usual routines.
I can imagine things still being unsettled in September and all of us gradually settling everyone back into school may take quite a few weeks. We all have to make the best decisions we can with the information we have so far.
We have had 50 students in last week and our class ‘bubbles’ have worked really well to try as best we can to keep teams and classes separate.
I do feel very proud of all the staff who have carried on as best as we can with normal school days and ensured our students are well cared for and reassured about any changes in school. I do think this has been as stable as we could have possibly made it for our learners. We are trying to keep the school looking and feeling as normal as possible for our students.
If you have any concerns or just want to talk please contact myself, the class teacher, Claire or Amanda.
David Burdett
Headteacher
Dear Parents and Carers
I just wanted to say a thank you for responding so sensibly and positively to the gradual reopening of school.
I know lots of you are anxious and uncertain as to what to do and when to send your child back to school. Please remember you are the best judge of what is best for your child and your family. I do not want to put anyone under any pressure to send their child back to school until they and you are ready. There is a risk in returning to school and we are doing all we can to reduce that. I do think it is going to take some time for us all to be back to usual routines.
I can imagine things still being unsettled in September and all of us gradually settling everyone back into school may take quite a few weeks. We all have to make the best decisions we can with the information we have so far.
We have had 50 students in last week and our class ‘bubbles’ have worked really well to try as best we can to keep teams and classes separate.
I do feel very proud of all the staff who have carried on as best as we can with normal school days and ensured our students are well cared for and reassured about any changes in school. I do think this has been as stable as we could have possibly made it for our learners. We are trying to keep the school looking and feeling as normal as possible for our students.
If you have any concerns or just want to talk please contact myself, the class teacher, Claire or Amanda.
David Burdett
Headteacher
| Head Teachers Letter 16th June 2020.pdf |
Friday 22nd May 2020
Dear Parents and Carers
Wider opening of school - update
As requested by the Government, we are planning to open to more students after half term and we are confident we have enough staff to manage all the students where families want them to return.
If your child is returning to school, we would ask you to continue to follow Government guidelines on social distancing to reduce the possibility of any pupil bringing Covid-19 into school.
If anyone in your family becomes unwell with a new, continuous cough or a high temperature, or has a loss of - or change in - their normal sense of taste or smell, please do not send your child to school.
We would advise you to get the whole family unit tested. If you are unable to do so you will need to isolate for 14 days and it will be at least 7 days after anyone shows symptoms before your child can return to school. Please follow government guidance and keep school informed.
www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance
We have a range of risk assessments in place which are informing our plans to minimise risk to staff and students. Given the nature of our pupils we cannot guarantee social distancing measures can be adhered to at all times. The Government recognise this is a genuine issue for most special schools and are therefore asking we do all we can to keep children in their own class groups with their own class teams, in what we’re terming “class bubbles”. At break and dinner times we will ensure students and staff do not mix. We will reduce the movement around school and ensure we only have essential visitors and we will continue with enhanced cleaning of the school site, with heightened hygiene measures in place for all staff and pupils.
We will continue to routinely use standard Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when undertaking intimate care, following Government advice that face masks and goggles/face shields aren’t necessary, unless in very specific circumstances.
As we have throughout this pandemic, we will continue to put our trust in the advice of the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Science Officer – as has continual informed Government policy.
We may need to reduce our offer at various points if we have a high volume of sickness absence or staff self-isolating, though we will endeavour to communicate this as soon as possible to reduce the impact on families.
If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to contact school.
David Burdett
Headteacher
Dear Parents and Carers
Wider opening of school - update
As requested by the Government, we are planning to open to more students after half term and we are confident we have enough staff to manage all the students where families want them to return.
If your child is returning to school, we would ask you to continue to follow Government guidelines on social distancing to reduce the possibility of any pupil bringing Covid-19 into school.
If anyone in your family becomes unwell with a new, continuous cough or a high temperature, or has a loss of - or change in - their normal sense of taste or smell, please do not send your child to school.
We would advise you to get the whole family unit tested. If you are unable to do so you will need to isolate for 14 days and it will be at least 7 days after anyone shows symptoms before your child can return to school. Please follow government guidance and keep school informed.
www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance
We have a range of risk assessments in place which are informing our plans to minimise risk to staff and students. Given the nature of our pupils we cannot guarantee social distancing measures can be adhered to at all times. The Government recognise this is a genuine issue for most special schools and are therefore asking we do all we can to keep children in their own class groups with their own class teams, in what we’re terming “class bubbles”. At break and dinner times we will ensure students and staff do not mix. We will reduce the movement around school and ensure we only have essential visitors and we will continue with enhanced cleaning of the school site, with heightened hygiene measures in place for all staff and pupils.
We will continue to routinely use standard Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when undertaking intimate care, following Government advice that face masks and goggles/face shields aren’t necessary, unless in very specific circumstances.
As we have throughout this pandemic, we will continue to put our trust in the advice of the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Science Officer – as has continual informed Government policy.
We may need to reduce our offer at various points if we have a high volume of sickness absence or staff self-isolating, though we will endeavour to communicate this as soon as possible to reduce the impact on families.
If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to contact school.
David Burdett
Headteacher
| Head Teachers Letter May 22nd 2020.pdf |
Thursday 30th April 2020
Dear Families, Parents & Carers,
Coronavirus
As I am sure you all know we had a confirmed case with a parent yesterday.
As yet no one else is confirmed with the virus. As we hear any more we will let you know.
Please remember ‘the rules’ if you suspect anyone in your family may have Covid 19 you must isolate for 7 days whilst you are potentially unwell. Then if no one else in your home has any symptoms you need to wait a further 7 days before sending your child back to school. You must wait 7 days after the last person in your home shows symptoms before your child returns to school.
Social Distancing at School and Precautions in school
Firstly, our cleaning team have continued to do a great job cleaning the whole school. As we are only using less than half the classrooms now it gives them even more time to concentrate on the areas we use frequently.
I find this reassuring for our students and staff’s safety.
Just to make it clear we are unable to socially distance in school due to the nature of our students needs.
Thus, we are all more likely to infect each other if we do get the virus in school.
We are not using PPE in school and do not plan to use any unless government guidance changes.
Social Distancing at Home
If your child is coming to school you must do all you can to reduce the risk of your family getting the virus. Please observe the social distancing rules outside your own home with all members of the family.
We have heard of some families who have not been doing so. This is increasing the risk to all our students and staff in school.
‘Sheffield’ Places
On Friday it was agreed that we would take an additional 6 or 7 students from Sheffield and create a new class of students of Year Seven learners. They will mix with our existing students and we are planning to create 3 classes of mixed Year 7 & 8 students in September. Mathew Seamarks, a very popular and experienced teacher, who used to teach at Kelford, has agreed to join us and begin to visit and start transitions with the new students over the next few months. We will then see their exact needs and make sure we create groups of students who work well together in September. The huge bonus of this as a school is that we have a capital grant to make some big changes at school. We have already started the work and existing spaces in school are being converted to create new bigger toilet areas a class kitchen and a new classroom. We are very excited by what it will look like in a couple of months.
September Classes and Transitions
Just to reassure everyone about September. We are going to try to keep as many class groups as similar as we can in September as we know lots of students have missed lots of schooling this year. It is likely that things will not fully be back to normal before September. We will start the new year settling classes back in.
It is very likely we will have a couple of transition weeks in September and will move pupils to make it as easy for them all individually. For those students who are leaving us post 19 we may need to offer support in September and will discuss this with you individually. We will let you know as soon as we have any updates on confirmed Post 19 college placements. Please try not to worry as we are a child-centred school and will be working hard to ‘get it right’ for September for every student.
I am aware this is a very difficult time for us all. Please use any resources on our website or nationally to help you keep things as ‘normal’ as you can. Please reach out to us or someone if you are struggling.
David Burdett
Headteacher
Dear Families, Parents & Carers,
Coronavirus
As I am sure you all know we had a confirmed case with a parent yesterday.
As yet no one else is confirmed with the virus. As we hear any more we will let you know.
Please remember ‘the rules’ if you suspect anyone in your family may have Covid 19 you must isolate for 7 days whilst you are potentially unwell. Then if no one else in your home has any symptoms you need to wait a further 7 days before sending your child back to school. You must wait 7 days after the last person in your home shows symptoms before your child returns to school.
Social Distancing at School and Precautions in school
Firstly, our cleaning team have continued to do a great job cleaning the whole school. As we are only using less than half the classrooms now it gives them even more time to concentrate on the areas we use frequently.
I find this reassuring for our students and staff’s safety.
Just to make it clear we are unable to socially distance in school due to the nature of our students needs.
Thus, we are all more likely to infect each other if we do get the virus in school.
We are not using PPE in school and do not plan to use any unless government guidance changes.
Social Distancing at Home
If your child is coming to school you must do all you can to reduce the risk of your family getting the virus. Please observe the social distancing rules outside your own home with all members of the family.
We have heard of some families who have not been doing so. This is increasing the risk to all our students and staff in school.
‘Sheffield’ Places
On Friday it was agreed that we would take an additional 6 or 7 students from Sheffield and create a new class of students of Year Seven learners. They will mix with our existing students and we are planning to create 3 classes of mixed Year 7 & 8 students in September. Mathew Seamarks, a very popular and experienced teacher, who used to teach at Kelford, has agreed to join us and begin to visit and start transitions with the new students over the next few months. We will then see their exact needs and make sure we create groups of students who work well together in September. The huge bonus of this as a school is that we have a capital grant to make some big changes at school. We have already started the work and existing spaces in school are being converted to create new bigger toilet areas a class kitchen and a new classroom. We are very excited by what it will look like in a couple of months.
September Classes and Transitions
Just to reassure everyone about September. We are going to try to keep as many class groups as similar as we can in September as we know lots of students have missed lots of schooling this year. It is likely that things will not fully be back to normal before September. We will start the new year settling classes back in.
It is very likely we will have a couple of transition weeks in September and will move pupils to make it as easy for them all individually. For those students who are leaving us post 19 we may need to offer support in September and will discuss this with you individually. We will let you know as soon as we have any updates on confirmed Post 19 college placements. Please try not to worry as we are a child-centred school and will be working hard to ‘get it right’ for September for every student.
I am aware this is a very difficult time for us all. Please use any resources on our website or nationally to help you keep things as ‘normal’ as you can. Please reach out to us or someone if you are struggling.
David Burdett
Headteacher
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