Monday 18th May 2020

Dear Parents and Carers

As you know, and as set out in my email last week, the government hopes that schools may begin to offer wider provision for a selected intake of pupils from June 1st.

The realisation of this aspiration will require much planning. We are aware of the conversations being held in households across the region. We are also taking account of ongoing updates of medical opinion.

To this end we are exploring the possibility of a phased and partial return of a limited number of primary school pupils from Monday June 8th, a week later than initially considered. This would be for Year 6 pupils only. A further week later, Monday June 15th, would see our Year 1 pupils returning.

This would end the current phase of wider opening – no provision for nursery or reception will be considered in our planning at this point, as we fully understand the educational issues surrounding any return to school for these children. I have also sent in a separate document an outline of the planned return of the limited number of pupils.

Our Year 10 and Year 12 students will begin one to one consultations with secondary teachers from Monday 15th June. Secondary headteachers will communicate directly with you on how this will be managed over the next two weeks.

During the planning period ahead of us we will consult with teachers and support staff, parents, professional bodies and the Department for Education. This time will also see the rollout to headteachers of a range of NPCAT risk assessments, consideration toolkits and planning frameworks, which we have developed with reference to national guidance and following advice from professional bodies.

I look forward to us all working collaboratively over the coming days and weeks to plan effectively towards providing initially for those Year 6 children who wish to return to school, along with those most vulnerable and key workers’ children.

We will do so while taking every possible precaution to ensure the safety of all of our children and staff, adapting our environments where necessary to allow for social distancing and hygiene considerations.

I appreciate that so many of you will have reservations on this issue and I understand some may decide not to take this opportunity to return your children to school.

Please be assured that as a Trust we will continue to do our very best to support your children over the coming weeks, whether this is through school-based learning or via our remote learning platforms.

Yours sincerely

Hugh Hegarty CEO
NPQH | M.Sc. | PGCCGC | B.Ed. Hons.| CTC
Nicholas Postgate Catholic Academy Trust