Friday 15th May 2020
Important announcement regarding pupils’ possible return to school
Firstly, thank you for letting our school know of your feelings on a possible return to school from 1st June following the Government’s announcement on Sunday evening. Children from Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 are now being given the choice of returning to school from this date, but only if it is safe and feasible to do so, since every school context is different. The information which you have kindly provided us with has allowed our school leadership team, staff and governors the time to try to carry out risk assessments and look at various options to see whether it is going to be possible for our school to reopen in some capacity for these children, but at the same time ensure that it is safe to do so. The safety of our children, staff and everyone’s family are of paramount importance and this will be the first and foremost decider on whether our school is able to open for these pupils and if so to what extent.
I know many of you have already expressed serious concern over the safety of reopening and how it is going to be possible for primary school children (especially the Reception children) to socially distance and the emotional effect this could potentially have on them. The teaching and learning taking place in classes would not be formal and rigorous as would typically be the case and teachers and teaching assistants would also have to adhere to the social distancing rule of 2m. The typical day, should we reopen, will be very different for our children in order to protect them and the people they come into contact with. Advice we are receiving has been gradual and progressive since the announcement, with all schools having no notice prior to the announcement of what safety measures are being advised. Therefore, your help in giving us this early information at least gives us an initial starting point to risk assess and determine the nature of a possible return.
In addition to the Reception Class, Year 1 and Year 6 pupils, the Government has expressed that critical worker children are also eligible to take up the school’s provision which has been the case since 20th March. There is also the expectation now that all vulnerable pupils attend school, unless it is not safe or appropriate to do so. These children of course, also add to the risk element within school since pupil numbers will be ever increasing and with the Key Stage 1 building out of operation until possibly September, space will be at a premium if we are to ensure everyone keeps to the 2m social distancing rule.
During the course of the next few days, the staff and Governors of the school will be working on the safest model we can put into practice and we are hoping to outline the risk assessment and plan (should the school reopen) by 3pm next Friday, in order for parents to have time to think things through themselves. The ultimate choice will lie with parents and we will support any decision you come to. The Government has already stipulated that parents will not be penalised for non-attendance. We of course are very much missing our children hugely, but at the same time need to keep them and everyone safe.
Please continue to view the school website daily, since we are putting the latest updates on there as more information from the DFE and Lancashire come through.
Please keep safe and take care everyone. You are in our thoughts and prayers constantly.
Yours sincerely
M Proctor
14th May 2020
For children in Year 2,3,4,5 including critical workers and vulnerable children
Dear Parent/Guardian,
I write to you to provide a further update following the Prime Minister’s announcement on Sunday evening, stating that primary school children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 can return back to school from the 1st June 2020 if it is feasible. Firstly, I would like to thank you all for your patience and understanding.
On behalf of all the staff and governors, I wish to express that even though your child’s year group is not yet returning to school from the 1st June 2020, you are all very much in our thoughts and prayers. Staff will continue to provide home learning and support throughout the coming weeks via the school website and using Google Classroom. As stated by the government, “Our ambition is to bring all primary year groups back to school before the summer holidays for a month if feasible…”
As soon as we learn more details and are in a position to plan further steps, we will inform you immediately.
Over the recent months school has been open for the children of ‘critical keyworkers’ and this provision will remain in place until further notice. We kindly ask that if you still require this emergency care you continue to inform us of your requirements by email as you have been doing to: head@st-john-augustine.lancs.sch.uk ,by ringing the school office or telling a member of staff who has been looking after your child.
It is of vital importance that we know this information in order to make safe, accurate and robust plans for school from the 1st of June 2020 onwards. Therefore, we thank you in anticipation of your prompt reply.
There is a continuing expectation that vulnerable children of all year groups will attend school, where it is safe and appropriate for them to do so.
Once again, I ask you for your patience as the information and guidance may well change as time progresses. Please note that Government wording includes phrases such as “if feasible”, “if possible”, and “conditional review”.
Thank you for all your support and understanding at this very difficult and challenging time. We hope that you and your family /friends are all safe and well.
Yours sincerely
M Proctor
13th May 2020
Children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 6
Dear Parent/Guardian
I write to you following the Prime Minister’s announcement on Sunday evening, stating that primary school children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 can return back to school from the 1st June 2020. Firstly, I would like to thank you for your patience and understanding whilst waiting for information from school. As a school we have had to wait for government and local authority guidance in order to plan our way forward. Information is still being sent to school and we anticipate that this will continue for the next few weeks. I therefore, once again ask you for your patience as the information and guidance may well change as time progresses. Please note that government wording includes phrases such as “if feasible”, “is possible”, and “conditional review”.
It is with this in mind that we will continue our difficult task of planning our next steps. In order to do this, we request that as parents you inform school of your intentions to send your child/children back to school from 1st June 2020. Government guidance states that “children and young people in eligible year groups are strongly encouraged to attend.” In addition, the government information states that “there is a continuing expectation that vulnerable children and young people of all year groups will attend educational or childcare provision, where it is safe and appropriate for them to do so.” We completely understand parents’ concerns/reservations and differing views on this matter.
It is important to state that safety is our number one primary concern and all safety measures recommended by the government will be put stringently into place at school. In following the government guidelines, ‘where we can keep children in small groups 2m away from each other we will do so.’ This will mean that there will be a limited number of places within each classroom and the dining hall. Therefore, it is paramount for risk assessing and planning purposes that we now determine how many children will be returning to school so that a comprehensive weekly plan can be formulated.
We thoroughly appreciate that this is short notice but as a matter of urgency please can all parents of the eligible year groups, those parents of vulnerable pupils and those with an EHC plan to email school to inform us if it is your intention for your child to return or not, it is imperative that we receive a reply from all parents/carers. There is a continuing expectation that vulnerable children of all year groups will attend school, where it is safe and appropriate for them to do so.
Please email: head@st-john-augustine.lancs.sch.uk or telephone school on 01254 392717
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We are asking that these replies are sent to school by 12pm Thursday 14th May 2020.
Once we have collated all responses we will then use this to risk assess and put a carefully considered plan into place before providing you with further information.
Further information for parents can be found at:
We once again thank you for all your support and understanding at this very difficult and challenging time. We hope that you and your family /friends are all safe and well.
Mr M Proctor