Dear Parents,
Thank you for helping your children (and us) through a difficult half term. We all know that face-to-face interactions create the most fruitful learning environment, so the lockdown has been tough on everyone. Teachers, parents and children have all adapted quickly to a new way of working and have made the best of a stressful time. Your understanding and your encouraging messages have kept us all going. I can teach a class of tricky characters, but persuading my own children to finish homework was another matter. I'm not sure I could have coped with home learning for six weeks in the way that you have. Bravo!
Summer is finally here and you can see from the photographs of this week's activities that many of our children have enjoyed being outside exploring the world around them. I have spent most of my time inside, looking closely at DfE guidance on re-opening schools. It has been interesting but a fraction of the fun had by the children.
I know that many of you are waiting for details from us about the re-opening of the Nursery and Upper School; I wish I could give you some definite news. Although we have been making detailed plans for a potential school opening, I cannot promise that this will happen. We can not legally open in the absence of a government directive. Early next week I will send you details of the way in which we plan to open, with timetables, class groups and procedures. Teachers have been thinking about ways of delivering on-site lessons safely and Sue and Ainsley have been ordering vast quantities of cleaning products. Both school sites are undergoing a deep clean and we are rearranging classrooms in readiness for the children's return.
In the meantime I wish you all a restful week without schoolwork. Well done everyone on getting this far. What a journey it’s been.
Warm regards,
Kate