All the latest information relating to school.
Dear parent/carer
An update from Mrs Murphy
I wanted to write out to you to bring you up to date with the current situation in school.
Throughout the Autumn term we have had challenges in some areas of school relating to staffing. We have worked really hard to ensure that the staffing has been sufficient to support your children in their learning. However, since Tuesday of this week, the situation has changed quite quickly due to the number of staff who are required to self-isolate within school or who have been contacted by the Track and Trace Service. We are now in a position where we are unable to staff the classes for the number of children we currently have in the building. Today, in consultation with Public Health and the Local Authority, we have taken the decision to close the school until after Christmas.
It is important that you understand that although we do have some cases of Covid within the Staff team, this is not the reason the school is closing. It is simply that Wigan has a very high transmission rate and this is now having an impact on Willow Grove. We have always worked closely as a team with the Local Authority and with Public Health both of whom are very supportive. We will continue to do this.
Our priority in school is always the care of your children and I am sure you will agree that it will be safer to close school for a few short days in these circumstances.
Your child will return to school on Tuesday 5th January 2021
It is very upsetting for everyone in school that we are closing 2 ½ days early. We have gifts for your children from Father Christmas and a lot of Christmas fun was planned that now can’t happen. The staff have asked that we keep hold of the presents as they want to have a delayed Christmas with their classes when they return to school in January.
Just on a practical note, please remember the following …
As we now get ready for our Christmas break we have no idea what the new year of 2021 will bring but we hope for more settled times both in your family households and within school. I would like to take this opportunity to publically thank all the teaching staff, kitchen staff, teaching assistants, caretaking staff, admin officers and the Family Partnership Team for their continued hard work under very challenging circumstances. They are an amazing team and have always put your children’s best interests and safety first.
I would also like to thank you as families, parents and carers. You continue to support your children and the school setting amazingly and this is very much appreciated by myself and the staff in the school.
I hope your Christmas is peaceful and safe and that you can be with the people you want to be with over the holidays.
Take care and stay safe and we will see you all in what will hopefully be a healthy, happy 2021 x
Yours sincerely
Joanna Murphy
Headteacher
Dear Parent / Carers
Unfortunately, due to ongoing staffing issues, we regrettably have to close school to pupils for the remainder of the week. Transport have been informed.
We look forward to welcoming our pupils back into school on Tuesday 5th January and wish you and your family a merry Christmas and very best wishes for 2021.
Mrs Murphy
Headteacher
As you may be aware we now have confirmed Covid+ cases in school. All Public Health Guidance has been followed and the affected bubble is currently self-isolating in their homes. Anyone affected by this has now been notified.
I am very conscious that with Christmas approaching you may be anxious about your child in school during this next week.
I would like to take this opportunity to remind all parents and families of the importance of monitoring your child’s health right now. If you are at all concerned that your child may have any of the following symptoms:
· A cold
· upset tummy
· A cough
· Is hot to touch or has a temperature
· Has a change to their sense of taste or smell
Then please keep them at home – do not send them to school where they may pass their illnesses on to other children or indeed the staff.
Please follow the guidance from the Government and if you are concerned that your child may have one of the following main symptoms:
· A new or persistent cough
· Is hot to touch or has a temperature
· Has a change to their sense of taste or smell
Then you should apply online for Covid testing.
This will ensure that your family Christmas is protected and you do not have to self-isolate or are ill over the Christmas holiday period. Any positive Covid test result from next Tuesday onward will result in a self-isolation period over Christmas.
As a Head Teacher I will be working with Track and Trace for the first 6 days of the Christmas holiday break. To do this we have created a new email address that will be monitored over those days.
covidwatch@willowgroveprimary.org.uk
If you or any of your family test positive for Covid within this time scale can you please email to the above email address and let us know. School will then be in a position to support the process of track and trace to ensure Covid does not spread unnecessarily.
Thank you
Mrs Murphy