Dear Parents,
Thank you for your patience during such extraordinary circumstances.
We are endeavouring to open school on Monday 11th January, unless the weather worsens significantly before then.
Staff have been into school to check that it can be opened safely on Monday, but keeping in mind that this is an emergency situation temporary arrangements will affect arrivals and departures.
The local authority has also said it cannot provide support to grit the access roads to school so please if possible don’t drive down Vicarage Road, it’s already extremely hazardous to drive on.
I feel that having parents from both St Peters and The Deans all trying to drop children off at the same time could present a real hazard for car drivers and pedestrians alike. As a result we are slightly altering the opening and closing times of our school so it doesn’t coincide with St Peters. The school gates will open at 8.50 for a 9.15 start time. The end of the day will be at 3.15 for the Nursery and 3.20 for the Reception and Infant classes including all the Junior children with brothers or sisters in the Infants and Early Years. The rest of the Junior children who do not have brothers or sisters in the Infants will finish at the usual time of 3.30. By staggering the end of the day hopefully this will alleviate congestion as St Peters are allowing their children to be collected from 2.45pm.
If these slightly altered times to the school day present a problem please discuss this with your child’s teacher.
Arrivals – Paths have been cleared to the main entrance on Vicarage Road. This will be the only access to school. Children should then come straight into school through the Junior entrance and into the hall (following the usual arrangements for a rainy morning) except doors will be open from 8.50 a.m. The Nursery children will enter school through the Year 2 Infant entrance (to the left of the main entrance) and then straight to the Nursery.
Departures – All Nursery children at 3.15, Reception and Infants (Years 1 and 2) including their Junior brothers and sisters at 3.20 will leave school by the Year 2 Infant entrance or the main entrance. All Junior children at 3.30 will come out of the usual Junior exit.
Under the powdery snow, the playground is very icy and presents a real concern. We will not be taking standard playtimes or lunchtimes outside together, but may take the children out in small safe numbers.
Essential paths have been cleared as much as is reasonably possible but please take extra care to keep to the cleared pathways.
Our concern at the moment is that children should be appropriately dressed for the snowy weather conditions e.g. layered clothing, boots or Wellingtons, hats and gloves etc. During this prolonged cold spell we will be focusing on a ‘Keep Warm Keep Well’ message, so children will not be expected to come to school in school uniform but appropriately dressed for the weather conditions (the school building might not be as warm as it usually is!). They will change into pumps once in school. Please ensure your child has pumps as part of their PE kit in school.
We have enough food to supply the usual school lunches for Monday and Tuesday. If deliveries cannot be made after that, we will be unable to supply meals. I will inform parents if deliveries cannot be made and in these circumstances your child will have to be provided with a packed lunch from home.
There will be no clubs after school for the time being.
The KENEX Before School club will be run as usual but there will be no After School club operating until further notice.
If the weather deteriorates before Monday morning and we are unable to open the school a message will be posted on the website before 8a.m on Monday.
If you know of any parents who do not have internet access please pass on the details in this letter to them.
Thank you for your support during these challenging times and please take extra care on your journey to and from school.
Mrs Frayne
