Marton & District C E Aided Primary School

Many thanks to the parents and Carers who have already responded regarding pupil numbers from 1st June. This is most helpful as we can begin to plan what staffing, resources and measures we may need to support your children.

Many of you have emailed to tell us that you are choosing to keep your children at home safe and we will respect your decisions and continue to support your children with their online learning. Parents will not be fined for keeping children at home and schools will not be held to account for attendance.

The parental advice from the DFE is rather confusing and states that they ‘are asking schools to open..where they can’. This is taking into consideration the pupil/adult ratios we will need, the staff available, what space we can utilise (as class sizes must be less than 15 children) and remaining vigilant about hygiene. Only when we are confident about pupil and staff numbers can we confirm what arrangements will look like. We are already planning different entrances for specific year groups, school meal provision for infants and eligible pupils and the number of staff we may have available. It stands to reason therefore that your children may not be with their class teacher as we have to keep pupil numbers low.

The advice from the DFE and this has also been confirmed by Cheshire East is that the ‘curriculum’ will also be very different. We will be focusing on health and well-being, identifying children who may need additional support, assessing pupils and agreeing adjustments to the school curriculum and therefore the ‘school curriculum’ as we know it, will not take place.

My earlier message was not to confuse you or mislead you, it was to ask for pupil numbers so that we can discuss this with our Governing Body and confirm what a return to school may look like for the children in specific year groups and key workers children.

Enjoy your evening, Nevin Deakin