Welcome

Dear Parents,

I write to you in a time of uncertainty and concern around the educational landscape and the wider communities. Times such as these demand the need for community and support for one another in whatever capacity that may be. I am sure we can all agree that we have never experienced the magnitude of what is happening in any of our lifetimes and we see challenging times ahead. The Sayes Court community is strong and always has been which is why the staff at Sayes are so very proud to work here. Staff have been working tirelessly to not only support their families but to also support all the children of Sayes by providing work and ongoing support through Class Dojo.

Family is most important and I urge you to look after yourselves and those around you- community is stronger together. We will also continue to provide as much learning as possible considering the current circumstance. Life has taken a pause for the time being but we must continue to support the key workers and the people around us.

Schools have been asked to try and remain open from Monday 23rd March to provide care for a limited number of children - children who are vulnerable and children whose parents are critical to the Covid-19 response. If it is at all possible for children to be at home, then they should be.

It is stressed that schools, colleges and other educational establishments remain safe places for children but the fewer children making the journey to school, and the fewer children in educational settings, the lower the risk that the virus can spread and infect vulnerable individuals in wider society.

The government has defined critical workers as those parents working in the following sectors:
1. Health and social care
2. Education and childcare
3. Key Public Services
4. Local and national government
5. Food and other necessary goods
6. Public safety and national security
7. Transport
8. Utilities, communications and financial services

Please follow this link for more detail https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/closure-of-educational- settings-information-for-parents-and-carers/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and- carers

Can I please stress that in the efforts to reduce social interactions and to limit the spread of the disease, this service is to be used to allow critical workers who cannot safely care for their children at home to continue to go to work. If our school is unable to provide care at any point because it is unsafe to do so we will work with neighbouring providers and the local authority to find an alternative setting for your child.

The Government are currently working on a national voucher scheme to support parents of children who are eligible for free school meals. In the meantime, please contact the school office during the hours of 8.30am – 3.pm if you need further help in this regard.

With regards to external exams, what is clear is that these have been cancelled. Sayes Court staff are determined to have a celebration for our Year 6 children in the future when life gets back to normal.

It has been an extremely turbulent and emotional time and I would like to thank everyone for their messages of support and encouragement during this period.

Kind regards,

Mrs Rochelle Richmond