Headteacher Update 15/05/2020

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

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

Headteacher Update for Parents/Carers 15/05/2020 Dear Parents/Carers, Introduction Thank you for your responses following my e-mail to you all on Monday. I appreciate your honesty and as a parent myself, fully understand the concerns some of you have shared about any Government decision to reopen schools (even partially) in light of the Coronavirus outbreak. I hope that my update to you all today provides at least some clarification on the rumours that have been flying around the country, the county and the town this week.

Home Learning Packs, Free School Meal Vouchers and ‘Magic Breakfast’ As the Government advice has changed this week from ‘Stay at Home’ to ‘Stay Alert’, I am informing parents that from next week Home Learning Packs, Free School Vouchers (if printed) and ‘Magic Breakfast’ deliveries will need to be collected from school by families.

Staff will ONLY deliver to home addresses if you are self-isolating (ie: showing symptoms of a high temperature and persistent cough), or you are identified through a pre-existing medical condition as Vulnerable and needing to stay indoors.

1st June Re-Opening Date Clarification I first need to stress that at this time we have NOT been told we are definitely opening on 1st June; no one has. The Government has said that the EARLIEST DATE any partial re-opening of schools could take place would be the 1st June and this is wholly dependent on the 5 measures (I laid out in my letter to you all on 1st May) being met according to their scientific advice. They will be reviewing this right up until Friday 29th May and may not make a final decision until that day.

I take my responsibility of having a Duty of Care for your children, and my staff incredibly seriously and would never contemplate the reopening of school if I didn’t think it could be done safely.

Which Cohorts Would Be First?

IF the school was given the instruction to re-open on 1st June it would be for the Reception, Year One and Year 6 (and Nursery children in Ladybirds ONLY) cohorts first (as well as Key Worker and identified Vulnerable children in the other year groups). This re-opening could ONLY happen where the school can demonstrate and practice safe social distancing for pupils and staff in line with Government guidance.

School Planning and Risk Management The Government have said they will be reviewing any decision for school re-opening right up until the 29th May where a final decision will be made. As this is the Friday before the 1 st June this would give us very little time to safely re-open school if we just did nothing right now!

So all this week I have been working with the Senior Leadership and teachers on the framework of a plan that I feel can make full use of the school site, classrooms and staff who work at Bishop Martin. This would ensure (if we were told to do so) that Nursery (Ladybirds only), Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 pupils could return to school safely, under the conditions of safe social distancing etc.

We are extremely fortunate that the size and layout of the school site (two buildings, multiple entrances, more than one outdoor playground/area to play in etc.) is one of our greatest assets in this situation. No class size would be more than 15 children and in the Nursery, Reception and Year 1 cohorts no class size would be more than 12 pupils per classroom (with two members of staff per class, a ratio of 1:6) This plan will go to the school Governing Body on Monday (18th May) when they meet virtually for them scrutinise, present challenge to me, and discuss.

Moving Forwards Following the Governor’s Virtual Meeting on Monday, I intend to write to you all again on Tuesday/Wednesday next week with a full breakdown of the Bishop Martin phased re-opening strategy.

In the meantime, I would ask all of you that if you have any questions then please feel free to email the school. I will strive to answer all of them when I write to you again in the middle of next week (in an ‘FAQ’s’ style response alongside the strategy).

And Finally…

I fully understand the concerns and worries some of you may have regarding any proposed reopening of schools (I have already said I share many of them as a parent myself!). I truly value and see the relationship I have with all of you as one of the strengths we have as partners in your child’s education and understand only too well it is my responsibility to present you all with a plan that you can trust and rely on.

Like I have said already, I believe we have developed that plan and after I have shared it with Governors next Monday I look forward to sending it to you all and receiving your feedback.

Thank you for your ongoing support and together we will all get through this.

Mr McDonald

Headteacher