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Please see below the further information regarding the planned industrial action by members of the NEU (National Education Union) tomorrow, Wednesday 15th March, and Thursday 16th 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 15th 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:
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
Dear Parents and Carers
Further to my previous communication to you on 23rd February 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 letter, 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 Thursday 2nd March 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.
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 gate if you have any questions or queries.
Yours sincerely
Mrs Mitchell
Acting Headteacher