Dear parents/carers,

Following on from my last update, I am now writing to let you know that we have now been instructed to close the school to almost all children from 3.00 today until further notice.

As advised by the Government, we will do all we can to stay open for the children of key workers (Frontline services, Health and Social Care, key public services, those involved in food production, public safety and national security, transport, utilities and financial services) and children with certain needs. The detailed list of key workers issued by the Government can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision

Please ensure you have responded to the email to confirm if you fall within these groups and if you absolutely need to access the childcare provision which will be available from Monday.  We will be asking parents for confirmation from their employers that they are a key worker and are required to continue working.

The most recent scientific advice on how to further limit the spread of COVID-19 is clear. If children can stay safely at home, they should, to limit the chance of the virus spreading. That is why the government has asked parents to keep their children at home, wherever possible, and asked schools to remain open only for those children who absolutely need to attend.  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.

Schools are, therefore, being asked to continue to provide care for a limited number of children - children who are vulnerable and children whose parents are critical to the Covid-19 response and cannot be safely cared for at home.  For our most vulnerable children, parents will be contacted today, to confirm if they will access the provision. This provision will run according to the usual school day, from 8.45 until 3pm with breakfast from 8.45 – 9.15. Students may wear their own clothes.

All other children will need to stay at home, so we ask that you do not send your child into school from Monday onwards if you do not fall into any of the categories above.  Should your child not be entitled to this provision, we will reluctantly have to send them home should they arrive in school, in line with Government guidelines.

Please note that this is a national closure, as you may have heard in the news, so whilst it is a challenging situation, we are not alone. We will re-open fully as soon as we can and will let you know when this will be through our website, Twitter and Facebook.

What we will continue doing while your child is at home

Your child’s learning is of course important to us, so we will continue to help your child to learn. Details of all online learning can be accessed through the school website  www.blaconhighschool.net   We are using Google Classroom and GCSE Pod.  All students have been given log in details

• Students can log into Google Classroom each day where they will see work and activities relating to each subject area.
• We expect all students to engage in the online learning available and there is also a facility on Google Classroom, for students to communicate with teachers if they have any questions about the work. This is especially important for Year 10 students, who will be sitting their exams next year.
• If there are any queries about the online learning, parents and students can email school homelearning@blaconhigh.cheshire.sch.uk

For students who will be accessing the childcare provision in school, food will be provided in the usual way.  For all other students, families can access food supplies from Blacon Community Store, which is located by Western Avenue Medical Services.  School will be supplying the community store with food from our suppliers and this will be available between 9 and 1 each day from Monday. We have provided a list of all students from Blacon High School and we ask that you take the student’s planner when accessing the food and packages which will be created in collaboration with the store.

What we won’t be able to go ahead with

• School trips and visits
• Any after-school clubs
• Sporting fixtures or events
• Parents’ Evenings
• Internal exams or tests

This is as much as we know right now and we appreciate your continued patience with this ever-changing situation. We understand that this latest news will have an impact on you and your family, but will 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 by contacting the school office.

Please remember: if you or your child feels ill and you want to know what to do next, please use NHS 111 online.

Thank you again for your continued support, and we will be in touch with more information when we can.  In these unprecedented times, I believe that the best way of supporting our young people, is through resilience, calmness and compassion.  Please look after each other and we will update you as we know more.

Yours sincerely,

Rachel Hudson

Headteacher