End of term letter to parents

11 Dec End of term letter to parents

Dear Parents and Carers,

The Department for Education (DfE) has suggested that all schools in England have an INSET day on Friday 18th December.  Islington have now advised schools to provide home learning on that day.  It is hoped that this will help COVID-19 Test and Trace, and allow our community to have a restful and peaceful break. We will therefore finish learning in school on Thursday 17th December, finishing at the normal time.  Teachers will put in place home learning for Friday, 18th December when the school will be closed to children. 

The DfE ask that we make everyone aware of the arrangements in terms of Covid-19 cases during the school holidays and so it would be helpful if you could make yourselves familiar with the following:

1. If a pupil or staff member tests positive for coronavirus (COVID-19), having developed symptoms within 48 hours of being in school, the school is asked to assist in identifying close contacts and advising self-isolation, as the individual may have been infectious whilst in school.
2. Where a pupil or staff member tests positive for coronavirus (COVID-19), please contact the school by Wednesday, 23rd December at 3:30pm, After this time, Parents and carers should follow contact tracing instructions provided by NHS Test and Trace. Call 119 between 7am and 11pm.

If you do need to contact school as per the first bullet point, please email this address admin@poolespark.islington.sch.uk or call/text 07706 012935.  This number will be available from Friday, 18th December until Wednesday, 23rd December at 3:30pm and for no other reason than reporting Covid-19 cases. In continuing to act together as a community, in a caring and considered way, we are working towards Christmas being a peaceful time for everyone. 

I sincerely hope that we all get a Christmas holiday without further worry and isolation.   I’m sure you’ll agree that, while it is only one day to prevent further Covid-19 infection risk in school, it’s very much needed to begin a well deserved break.  We have all worked together tirelessly in school to avoid any of our children or staff suffering from Covid-19 while ensuring your children are getting the most from their learning.

We will continue to ensure we are keeping our school environment as safe as possible and one of the most important is ventilation.  We are keeping windows and doors open so we have relaxed our uniform rules to allow the children and staff to wear more layers and stay warm.  Our attendance remains over 95%, almost 10% higher than the current national average, so thank you all for trusting us to look after and continuing to teach your children.

Yours sincerely,

Craig Taylor

Head of School