Week Beginning Monday 25th May

I hope that you are all keeping safe and well.

Next week is meant to be our usual May ½ term holidays. Due to the uncertainly and lack of clear guidance from the Executive/Government in closing schools in March, I brought 3 days of our May holidays forward, closing school on Wednesday 18^th, 19^th and 20^th March. This means that we are not ‘off’ as planned next week as these days have to be made up.

However, after speaking to numerous parents and pupils I feel that all would benefit from a change to our normal school routine of Literacy, Numeracy and RE. Instead, next week each teacher is going to send through some creative work that can be completed with your child instead of the usual Literacy and Numeracy. The Numeracy and Literacy written activities can be postponed for the week. Nevertheless, please continue to complete Bug Club and Mathletics activities as usual. It’s important to look after mental health and well-being as well as education.

Yesterday, in an oral statement to the Assembly Ad Hoc committee on the Covid 19 response Peter Weir said,

‘The phased reopening of schools will require engagement, preparation and implementation of actions in conjunction with a wide range of stakeholders. We have one chance to get this right and it cannot be done overnight. Therefore, other than the provisions for children of key workers and vulnerable children already mentioned, there will be no overall reopening of schools during the remainder of this academic year.’

He further explained, ‘Subject to medical guidance and safety it would be my aim to see a phased reopening of schools, beginning with a limited provision for key cohort years in late August, followed by phased provision for all pupils at the beginning of September. This will not be a return to school as it was prior to COVID, but rather a new normal reflective of social distancing and a medically safe regime. For all pupils it will involve a schedule with a mixture of school attendance and remote learning at home.’

This provides a lot more questions than answers. Once I hear more information about the logistical arrangements regarding the opening of schools, I will let you know asap.

As I have stated in previous emails, school will open for the children of Key Workers and those pupils described as 'vulnerable' if required. Please give me 24hrs notice to arrange staff etc.  

If you require anything, please let me know.

Enjoy the Bank Holiday Weekend and Please keep safe

Many Thanks

John-Paul