Important - School opening 4th January

Dear all of the Nettlebed School Community,

We write to inform you that due to the dramatic developments of Covid 19 and availability of staff, teaching will be virtual at Nettlebed School for the next 2 weeks unless you are a critical worker or have a child who is considered vulnerable.

The dramatic rise of infections coupled with being placed in tier 4 and the threat to staff and their families following the Christmas period means that staff no longer feel safe to work in full classrooms. I know that many parents are also worried about sending their children back to school in the current climate.

The two week period has been decided upon as a fire break between holidays and school time and taken as a means to protect the whole school community from further spread of the Covid 19. The school is unable to open at present with safe staffing levels. The full school reopening will be under constant review and guided by local data, OCC, Government and ability to keep everyone safe. This 2 week closure brings us in line with similar areas of the country also in tier 4 who are having to close.

The school and the governing body have taken this decision in conjunction with OCC and have done so with a huge amount of thought, care and sadness. Closing the school again is nothing that anyone wants to happen. This is a time where we need to all remember to stick to the rules as outlined by the Government to ensure that we are all able to be back together as soon as possible.

Further information will be sent later today regarding remote learning provision. If you are a critical worker, then please make sure you have completed the form in the email sent last week to notify the school. Any child on that list will be expected in school tomorrow at the drop off time also stated on the previous email and collected at their normal time. Wrap around care will not be available.

Many thanks,

Matthew Tebbutt

Chair of Governors

Bethany Greenwood

Headteacher