Dear Parents and Carers it is with a heavy heart that I have had to ask governors to close school to all pupils tomorrow. The timing of the Prime Minister’s announcement tonight has not provided us with the opportunity to collate the needs of our school community.

An expectation on all teachers is that they provide remote learning for all pupils. This will commence on Wednesday for all year groups using Google Classroom. Access to Google Classroom will be published again for each year group on this website using the Home Learning Section. Hard copies of work will be made available to those families who may not have access to the relevant technology hardware at home. Due to the lateness of the Prime Minister’s announcement we are not in a position to have remote learning in place for Tuesday 5 January as we had expected to have your child in school to be taught in person !

The Prime Minister has requested we stay at home where necessary. Where this is not possible for your child, due to your work commitments as a critical worker, we will look to allocate a place in school for the days you require. This will be re-visited on a weekly basis and is subject to the school being able to maintain adequate staffing levels. Places will also be offered to families where there is a need through some level of recognised vulnerability, as defined by the government. Children offered places will be attending in their year group bubble.

We are doing our utmost to make sure your child will receive high quality remote learning and regular contact through Google Classroom with their teacher, this situation will probably continue until at least February Half-Term. Please be patient as we react to this very ‘last minute’ but understandable announcement from the Prime Minister.

We all have families relying upon us to stay safe and healthy whilst also working in education as critical workers during these challenging times. Everything we undertake as adults in this school community is with the health and happiness of your children at the heart. Their lights shine as beacons of hope for the future and we will keep that light burning through all this adversity.

More information will follow tomorrow particularly for those requiring support for their child from school, as critical workers.

When we have updates we will make contact via text in the first instance – please ensure we have an up to date telephone contact for you- particularly if new phones from Santa Claus came with new numbers.

Rather than communicating via phone calls PLEASE make enquiries via email to office@stmatthewsjarrow.co.uk

God’s Blessings on you all – take care and Stay Safe.

Martin Humble

Headteacher