We have all been back in school preparing for your children’s return. Like you, I am now awaiting the announcement from Boris Johnson as to the status of all primary schools over the coming weeks. Rumours abound that we will again be closed to all but vulnerable and critical worker children. If this is the case, I want to reassure you that we will be ready with remote learning, which will include Zoom teaching, and have been planning for this in school today.

In terms of the provision for critical workers, we will send out a questionnaire to gauge potential take up and will plan staffing/provision accordingly. I will, however, email again first thing tomorrow morning when I have more information.

Firstly, I hope you have all had a safe, healthy and enjoyable Christmas, even if it was a little different!  Secondly, I would like to wish you all a Happy New Year. My fingers are firmly crossed for a better 2021!

I do, however, think that the first few weeks of this year and term could be a ‘bumpy ride’. Things have certainly moved on a pace since we broke up and have now culminated in Northamptonshire being moved to Tier 4. As you will have seen in the press, some primary schools in Tier 4 have been asked to switch to remote teaching. This mainly applies to the South East but does include Milton Keynes. It does not apply to us at this stage. Yardley will be open to all children from Tuesday January 5^th. (Monday is a staff training day).

I am very pleased and relieved that this is the case and want to reassure you that we will do everything we can to remain open, unless we are told by the government to do otherwise. I think full staffing may be tricky at times and we already now have staff who need to shield at Yardley. We are fortunate to have the most amazingly flexible teams at both schools so I am sure we will cope!

We will start the term with all the existing safety measure and protocols in place and will obviously be maintaining our class bubbles. As such, a positive case should only result in a specific bubble being sent home, at which point, we will switch to remote teaching.

I will obviously keep you updated with any new developments; as soon as I hear anything you will! In the meantime, if you have any queries or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me on: head@yardleyhastings.northants-ecl.gov.uk.

Enjoy the remainder of the holidays and I look forward to seeing you on Tuesday.

Louise