Please see below the further information regarding the planned industrial action by members of the NEU (National Education Union) tomorrow, Wednesday 15^th March, and Thursday 16^th March.

As in previous industrial action days, I have asked teachers to let me know if they intend to strike so that I could let you know in advance whether any classes would be closed. There is no legal obligation for staff to give advance notice of their intention regarding action, however, the large majority have done so.

As such, I now have a clearer picture of the extent of the impact of the industrial action on our school. I have also completed a risk assessment of our capacity to run the school safely and effectively without striking members of staff and those members of staff affected by the industrial action at their own children’s schools.

Based on the information to hand, I have decided to PARTIALLY CLOSE the school:

The school will be CLOSED to pupils in Year R, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3 and Year 4 on Wednesday 15^th March and Thursday 16th March 2023. 

The school will be OPEN to all pupils in Year 5 and 6 as normal on both days.

Pupils in Years R-4 and in receipt of pupil premium free school meals will also bring home with them today, their lunches for the next two days. The senior leaders remaining at the school tomorrow will be ensuring welfare checks are made by telephone to children and families identified as vulnerable by the education provider or local authority.

All pupils in Years R-4 will bring home a home learning pack today, for the next two days and this will also be sent via our school ping communication system.

Pupils in years 5 and 6 will be expected to attend school as normal on both days. Whilst I understand that it may be difficult for you to have one child at school and siblings at home, the expectation is that if classes are open, children should attend. Therefore, children who do not come to school because their sibling is at home due to strike action, will be marked as unauthorised absence. As part of our safeguarding procedure we will contact you to ask why your child is not at school unless you have let us know.

Other important information for years 5 and 6:

• Pupils in Year 5 will attend swimming as normal on Wednesday morning. Please ensure they bring their swimming kit into school.
• The lunch option for all pupils in school will be a prepared picnic lunch. There will be no hot lunch option for the two days.
• Breakfast Club and After School Club will run as normal.
• Tutoring and extra-curricular clubs will be cancelled for both Wednesday and Thursday.
• Please can we ask parents of children in years 5 and 6 with significant medical conditions, to contact the school today regarding your child’s care for the next two days.

I fully understand that this decision and the ongoing industrial action may be frustrating for all of us, but please be assured that no member of staff has taken the decision to strike lightly, and they are doing so to protest about the continuing and long term underfunding of our schools, education as a whole, working conditions, and the inadequate pay of all including support staff.

I will be on the gate if you have any questions or queries.

Mrs W Mitchell

Acting Headteacher