20th March 2020

Dear Parents/Carers,

School Closure Guidance

I would firstly like to thank you all for your support and patience whilst we have waited for the guidance to be released by the Department for Education.  As you will be aware, from today the school will be partially closed.  We have no information as to how long this will be but we will do our best to keep you up-dated via our website, texts and emails.

It is clear that the government is trying to limit the spread of the Coronavirus by minimising the amount of contact between children, teachers and their families, whilst also supporting critical key workers in providing emergency services and enabling us to have access to food.

The guidance makes clear the following important points:

• If children can stay safely at home, they should, to limit the chance of the virus spreading.
• 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.
• fewer children making the journey to school, and the fewer children in educational settings, the lower the risk that the virus can spread and infect vulnerable individuals in wider society.
• If it is at all possible for children to be at home, then they should be.

Key Groups who can attend school if absolutely necessary

Two key groups will be able to access school provision from Monday – Critical Key Workers and those children who have Education Health Care Plans (EHCPs) or who are being supported by a social worker.  

Parents who are Critical Key Workers and are working in a critical sector may be able to ensure their child is kept at home.  Every child who can be safely cared for at home should be.  Our offer to parents and carers means there is no requirement for parents and carers to send their children to school if they do not need or wish to do so.

If you are a Critical Key Worker, you are now required to complete the Critical Key Workers form as soon as possible, preferably by the end of the day today. This can also be emailed to the school office admin@st-thomasmore.gloucs.sch.uk   

Your child will not be able to have an emergency school place without confirmation from your employer that your work is critical to the COVID-19 response.

Please note that this is an emergency service which will operate as a play-scheme.

Please do not ask the school to make exceptions – if you do not fit these categories, your child/children cannot attend school.  The government have made these decisions – not the school. 

I fully appreciate that this has all come at the last minute.  I would ask you to be mindful of the fact that this has also challenged us as a school and remember that we are doing our very best to support not only parents of St Thomas More but our wider local community.

Thank you for your understanding and your continued support.  I wish you well and hope that you and your family keep safe at this very difficult time.

Best wishes,

Mrs Tippen

Head Teacher