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• PARTIAL SCHOOL CLOSURE of Newtown C of E Primary School: 27/04/23 and 02/05/2023

  Wed 26 Apr 2023

   

  Please find below further information regarding the industrial action by members of the NEU (National Education Union) tomorrow, Thursday 27^th April and Tuesday 2^nd May 2023.

   

  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 3, Year 5 and Year 6 on both Thursday 27^th April and Tuesday 2^nd May 2023. 

   

  The school will be OPEN to all pupils in Year 2 and 4 as normal on both days.

   

  Mrs. Whittle has also made contact with a very small number of families, whose children will also be attending school on those days.

   

  Please note, as staff do not have to let me know in advance of their plans, this partial closure may change. If further year groups are impacted, I will let you know as soon as possible.

   

  Pupils in Years R,1,3,5 and 6 and in receipt of pupil premium free school meals will also bring home with them today, their lunches for the two days, if ordered as requested. All pupils in years 2 and 4 will have the option as normal to order a lunch from the advertised menu or bring a packed lunch from home.

   

  All pupils not in school, are invited to undertake home learning via The Oak Academy https://classroom.thenational.academy/ and BBC Bitesize https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/primary

   

  Please can I reiterate that pupils in years 2 and 4 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 2 and 4:

  • The lunch option for all pupils in school will be as advertised or a packed lunch from home. Children will order in the morning in the usual way.
  • Breakfast Club and After School Club will run as normal.
  • Tutoring and extra-curricular clubs will be cancelled for both Thursday 27^th April and Tuesday 2^nd May.
  • Music lessons, rock steady and family collective worship will also be cancelled.
  • Please can we ask parents of children in years 2 and 4 with significant medical conditions, to contact the school today regarding your child’s care for the industrial action 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 Howlett, Headteacher