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School Closure of Newtown C of E Primary School - Wednesday 1st February 2023
Dear Parents and Carers
Further to my previous letters to you on the 20th and 27th January 2023, regarding the industrial action by members of the NEU Teachers Union, 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.
As mentioned in my previous letters, I 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. Our dedicated teaching team have thought long and hard about what to do in this situation with most keen to acknowledge their frustrations with the Government and significant, prolonged underfunding of schools and the education system. They value the strong and positive relationships with families and our local community. They have therefore been forthcoming with information regarding their intentions for the upcoming industrial action.
Based on the information to hand, I have decided to close the school to all pupils on Wednesday 1 February 2023.
With the support of the Chair of Governors, I have looked at various scenarios regarding a partial opening for specific groups of children, however we simply will not have the staff to meet our statutory safeguarding obligations.
Those pupils in receipt of free school meals will also bring home with them today, their lunch for tomorrow. 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 will bring home a home learning pack today, for tomorrow and this will also be sent via our school ping communication system. This can also be accessed via our Home Learning Pages on our website https://www.newtownceprimary.co.uk/home-learning-resources/
I fully understand that this decision 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 school gate today if you have any questions or queries.
Yours sincerely
Mrs. W Mitchell
Acting Headteacher
Newtown C of E Primary School needs your votes to get a share of Tesco’s Community Grants fund
Newtown C of E Primary School is bidding for a cash boost from the Tesco Community Grants initiative. Tesco works with community charity Groundwork to run its community funding scheme, which sees grants of up to £1,500, £1,000 and £500 awarded to local community projects.
Three groups in every community have been shortlisted to receive the cash award and shoppers are being invited to head along to Tesco stores to vote for who they think should take away the top grant.
Newtown C of E Primary School is one of the groups on the shortlist that members of the local community and Gosport residents can vote for when they shop at a local Tesco branch.
As part of our commitment to ensure the health and wellbeing of our school community and to enhance our outdoor learning opportunities, we are planning to build a Nature and Wildlife Safari on our school field. This will include a pond and wildlife walk as well as a spiritual garden. Any monies received from the Tesco Community Grants Fund will be used for planting, flowers and landscaping around our pond area within this project.
Voting is open in the following stores from mid-January through to end of March and customers will cast their vote using a token given to them at the check-out each time they shop. Please vote for Newtown C of E Primary School when you shop at:
Tesco’s Community Grants scheme has already awarded over £100 million to more than 50,000 projects across Britain. Tesco customers get the chance to vote for three different groups every time they shop. Every three months, when votes are collected, three groups in each of Tesco’s regions will be awarded funding.
Claire De Silva, Head of Community at Tesco, said: “Tesco Community Grants help support local good causes but especially those projects supporting young people, those providing food, and local causes close to our colleagues’ hearts.”
Groundwork’s National Chief Executive, Graham Duxbury, said: “Tesco Community Grants continues to give local projects the boost they need to help their communities thrive. By funding services which support young people and reduce food poverty, we hope to facilitate positive change from the ground up across the UK. We are pleased to have been able to help so many local good causes over the years and look forward to seeing what community organisations can achieve in the future with the right resources.”
Funding is available to community groups and charities looking to fund local projects that bring benefits to communities, particularly those helping to provide food and giving children the support they need for a good start in life. Anyone can nominate a project and organisations can apply online. To find out more visit www.tesco.com/communitygrants.
Please remember to vote Newtown C of E Primary School when you shop at Tesco!