Dear Parents and Carers

Our children have continued to enjoy a largely uninterrupted week with preparations for Christmas Celebrations well under way.  Classrooms are now being decorated to enhance the children’s excitement and I hope that they have been able to enjoy the front of our school which should make anyone feel festive.  If your infant child has not seen this perhaps you would like to walk round to let them have a look. 

We continue to be fortunate that the majority of our staff have been able to attend school to plan and teach your children.  Many schools are beginning to experience serious staffing pressures as children are sent into school when perhaps it would be better to remain at home and to be tested with a PCR rather than a lateral flow.  As I have said we remain reasonably fortunate, however, I am concerned that this may not continue.  We have a few children throughout the school who are isolating at home and my concern is that as children attend parties and mix freely they will bring the virus into their classroom environment.  Whilst I do not want to spoil children’s events we must try our best to minimize situations that can give rise to these problems.   As a school family we know only too well how much we rely on our teachers being safe and healthy in order to teach your children on a daily basis, although fully vaccinated, adults as we all are protected from serious illness, we are nevertheless still vulnerable to infection and once infected must self-isolate for 10 days.

I remain more than happy with the way you have monitored your children’s health but can I urge you to keep your child at home if they are unwell and although symptoms now seem to be wide and varied a PCR is the best way to check and put your mind at rest whilst ensuring that our teachers will remain virus free and able to continue to attend school.

As you read press articles there is clearly a wide range of views and opinions, but I can assure you that many of our local primary schools are struggling to provide appropriate staff cover.  As a result, I have had to cancel both tonight’s Christmas Bingo and the Junior Christmas Carol Concert, although they are being recorded for your future enjoyment and they do sound fantastic.  I will monitor the situation closely and inform you next week with regard to our three planned Nativity Presentations. 

I am sorry that the mood of this weekly update is rather gloomy but I cannot stress how vulnerable we are at the moment in trying to keep infections outside of our school building.  Can I thank you for all your sensible decisions in this regards and wish you a peaceful weekend, but once again ask that you take due regard to ensure that you and your children remain safe and well.

On a final note, I have been asked to remind you that the governing board do not allow earrings to be worn, although children may have their ears pierced at the very start of the summer holidays.  We are unable to accommodate children wearing plasters and plastic hole closers, and a strong letter from Sefton Swimming Department has reinforced this point.

Your sincerely

Mr MacAreavy - Headteacher