Headteacher's Update - 1st May 2020

Birkrig, Skelmersdale, Lancashire WN8 9BN. Telephone: 01695 724730.

www.bishopmartin.lancs.sch.uk Headteacher: Mr IJ McDonald

Headteacher Update for Parents/Carers 01/05/20 Dear Parents/Carers, Introduction I hope you have stayed safe in this sixth week of the very strange reality we now find ourselves in!

As we enter a new month, it’s only natural that many of us are going to start asking how long this situation is going to continue for and is there any indication as to when and how school may start to reopen.

Well there was SOME more guidance given this week by the Government which I will share with you all below. There are lots of rumours flying around so it’s important that as a school, we provide you with ONLY the information that comes from the Government and Local Authority as they will be the ones who decide when and in what ways schools can begin to reopen.

Discussions around ‘Lockdown Easing’ This week, the Government announced the 5 measures they have put in place to decide when they will begin considering easing the current lockdown arrangements (which would include guidance on how and when schools could return). We have been told that until the Government say these measures have been met there is no option being considered of schools reopening. The measures are:  The NHS has sufficient capacity to provide critical care and specialist treatment right across the UK  A sustained and constant fall in daily deaths from Coronavirus  Reliable data to show the rate of infection is decreasing to manageable levels across the board  Operational challenges including testing and PPE are in hand with supply able to meet future demand  Confident that any adjustments to the current measures will not risk a second peak of infections that overwhelms the NHS In the daily Government briefing yesterday, the Prime Minister explained that the Government would release more information next Thursday about these measures and hopefully we will hear something more specific to schools then. I will pass on everything I know in next Friday’s letter to you.

Free School Meals Update The Edenred Government School Voucher system is now in its 4th week. Most eligible families are accessing them. If you are having problems downloading your eCodes to redeem for vouchers, please note the website, which is open 24 hours a day, is very busy during the hours 8am until 6pm.

As I mentioned last week, you now have the option to redeem the voucher for Aldi and this week they have added McColls as another option.

Please download your eCodes as soon as you receive them as they have an expiry date of 30 days. Once redeemed for a voucher you have 12 months or longer to spend them.

Home Learning Support/Website I would encourage all our families to check out the ‘What We Are Learning’ sections of your child’s class page on the schools website:  Each of the teachers this week has prepared a special message they wanted to share with their classes which have been uploaded to the class pages.  I would also ask you all to keep a close eye on the homepage of the school website as early next week there may be a special video posted from the school team for all of the children to hopefully enjoy!

As ever, you can access all the home learning content the teachers are working hard to provide through the following: 1. The ‘Home Learning’ section of the school website: https://www.bishopmartin.lancs.sch.uk/parents/home-learning

2. Your child’s individual ‘Class Page’ on the school website: https://www.bishopmartin.lancs.sch.uk/class-pages-2019-2020

3. The school Twitter feed (@SkemBishopM) If you have any questions or problems accessing any of this content please email (office@bishopmartin.lancs.sch.uk) or ring the school office (9:00am-3:30pm MondayFriday) Stay at Home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives.

Yours sincerely

Mr McDonald