Dear Parents and Carers

As I’m sure you will appreciate, we are currently dealing with a complex and rapidly changing situation. My first priority will always be the health and safety of the pupils and staff in our school. Now more than ever, this remains our primary focus.

Currently St Matthew’s school is open to pupils. If you have any concerns about your child’s health please take advice from NHS111 and/or your doctor (GP). Please keep us informed of any absences through the usual channel of communication – telephone 0191 4898355 option 1- and if you are required to self-isolate please let us know as soon as possible through the same channel.

Already in school we have adapted our cleaning regime to reduce the risks of contamination from door handles and all surfaces/worktops. We have also been reinforcing the need for regular hand washing and the use of tissues to catch coughs and sneezes.

This is an entirely unprecedented situation and we are following official advice from the government and the NHS. This advice is being added to on a daily basis and we are monitoring and responding to that as it is published. This official advice will underpin all the actions we take. Whilst I appreciate that there will be a wide range of different views about how we should be responding and what action should be taken, I hope you will appreciate that I am duty bound to follow the official advice from government.

We will continue to provide updates by text, Facebook, Twitter and the School Website.

Kind Regards

Martin Humble

Headteacher