Dear Parents and Carers,
I hope that you and your families enjoyed a restful Christmas and that this letter finds you safe and well. This is a letter to update everyone on the situation as we begin the new term. I will be sending out my normal weekly newsletter on Friday.
Following our text to parents last Thursday 31st December 2020, I would like to confirm that the government has triggered the Education Contingency Framework due to the rapidly rising rates of Coronavirus cases within London as a result of the more transmissible variant of the virus. Both the government and borough state that the safest place to be is at home and you must only leave home for essential reasons such as food, work or medicine. This means that the government is delaying the return to school for most children in primary school until at least Monday 18th January 2021.
For the majority of our pupils, learning will continue to take place remotely online at home from first thing on Wednesday 6th January 2021. The school will continue to provide online learning for children remaining at home from Year 3 to Year 6 and this will be updated weekly. All year groups were sent out timetables etc. before Christmas. If you are unable to access the online learning or experience any difficulties, please let us know by contacting the school office on 020 8539 5971 or by email at school@stjosephsjun.waltham.sch.uk and we will be happy to assist you.
From this Wednesday, school will only be open to vulnerable children and children of critical workers. Any children of critical workers who have attended previously can continue to do so unless your keyworker status has changed. Examples of critical workers include NHS staff, police and supermarket delivery drivers. Please check the critical worker list on the government’s website carefully before deciding to send your child to school – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision If there is a parent/adult in the household who is NOT a critical worker and working from home, then if you can, please keep your child at home. To enable us to plan ahead, please notify the school by 3:00pm tomorrow 5th January 2021 of any changes. This will be the situation until at least Monday 18th January when the government will review school openings
We ask that you continue to remain vigilant to any symptoms of Coronavirus within members of your household and do not send your child to school if they display any of the symptoms (even if they are key worker or vulnerable pupils). If in doubt, please get yourselves or your child tested. All Waltham Forest residents are able to get tested even if they are not showing any Coronavirus symptoms. Getting yourself or your child tested before your child returns to school can help reduce the spread of infection to others. If your child or a member of your family tests positive for Coronavirus, you will need to self-isolate as a family for 10 days and inform the school as soon as possible so that we can take the necessary steps to reduce the spread to others.
This is going to be the situation in school until at least 18th January. The government will review this next week so we will need to wait and see if we are able to fully reopen then. We will have to adapt if we continue to see a rise in cases on return to school. Please be aware that children in school may not always be taught by their usual class teacher and some critical worker bubbles may be taught together. The school will continue to follow all aspects of enhanced cleaning and protocols outlined in risk assessments, which will be reviewed. We understand that these are very challenging times for us all, both emotionally and physically. The safety of our school and community remains paramount and we ask for your support at this time. We will continue to be in touch through texts and newsletters to keep you updated of the situation as it progresses and teachers will be in regular contact via the remote learning platforms. We will continue to be here if you should need any support and please do not hesitate to get in touch by phone or email.
Most importantly, we keep all those affected by the virus as well as those experiencing any other hardship in our thoughts and prayers. The impact on work, businesses and employment has been devastating to many. We wish those who are ill, a speedy recovery and pray especially for those families who have lost loved ones during this difficult time.
It just remains to wish you a very happy, healthy New Year. Although this is not the start to the New Year we would have wanted, there is hope of a brighter year ahead. With the love and care of our community we will continue to work together to do the very best for our children and families.
Yours sincerely,
J Alexander (Head teacher)
