Dear parents/carers,

Re: Coronavirus update – school closure to most pupils

Following on from our last update, I’m now writing to let you know that we have now been instructed to close the school to almost all children after this Friday until further notice.

As advised by the government, we will do all we can to stay open for certain groups of pupils.  At the moment we believe this to include:

• Those with Education Health Care Plans
• Those children who have an allocated social worker
• Those children of key workers providing essential services where they are the only viable carer and their children not being at school would prevent them from going to work

Although we are waiting for the government to publish more information on what exactly constitutes a key worker, we would like to begin organising this provision by asking you to email the following information to  admin@newtown.devon.sch.uk as soon as possible (preferably by the end of school today, but by Friday lunchtime at the latest) if you think your child may fall into one of these categories and you wish for them to continue to come to school. This will allow us to plan for Monday.

Government advice on isolation and not attending school remains in place for any children who have symptoms of COVID-19, however mild, or who are in a household where someone has symptoms even if they fall in to any of the above categories.

School timings will remain the same and we will contact you to confirm your child's place before Monday morning. 

Information required for children in key groups wishing to continue to come to school:

• Name of pupil/s:
• Class:
• Both parent’s names and occupations
• Name of parent’s employers
• Contact phone number of parent’s employer
• Days that school attendance is required next week (am/pm option if needed)

All other children will need to stay at home, so we ask that you do not send your child into school from Monday onwards.  It is important that we do not have children in school who are not in one of the groups mentioned above.

If your child usually receives free school meals we will also be in touch with more information about how we will continue to provide this.

This is as much as we know right now and we appreciate your continued patience as we deal with this ever-changing situation. We understand that this latest news will have an impact on you and your family and it’s far from ideal, but we’ll continue to keep in touch with any updates as the situation develops.

If you want to get in touch to share any concerns, please don’t hesitate to do so.

Thank you again for your continued support, and we will be in touch with more information when we can.

Kind Regards

Sally Herbert