Letter to Parents – 7th January

Dear Parent/Carer

Thank you for your support this week.

Much has changed in the last few days. The national lockdown means that there is the possibility students will not be back in school this term. So, ourstaggered start will no longer happen and our temporary timetable of live lessons will now revert to a full programme of live lessons and remote learning that corresponds with the normal school timetable.

A Covid-19 lateral-flow testing centre has been set-up at the school and on Monday a rota of regular testing of staff and those students in school (vulnerable children and children of critical workers) will commence.

The Government has made it a national priority that education and childcare settings operate as normally as possible during this Coivid-19 outbreak. From Tuesday January 12^th all students will be expected to complete a full timetable of remote learning on Teams that corresponds with their timetabled lessons. Students will be in their normal classes and will be taught by their regular teacher. The vast majority of lessons will be live. The class teacher will take a register at the start of each lesson and you will be informed via text if your child has missed a session. The school day will start at 8:45am with a Tutor Group check in each morning. Lessons will commence at 9:00am.

We will send out a student friendly information sheet on Monday. This will explain how to access lessons and our lesson protocols.

As a parent I fully appreciate that ‘home learning’ brings an array of challenges. And I thank you in advance for the encouragement that you will be offering your child and the reserves of patience that you may have to draw on!

If you have any concerns please can I remind you that you can make an appointment to meet with me on Zoom at one of the ‘Virtual drop-in sessions’ (Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9:00- 9:30am) by emailing EHolmes@patchamhigh.org.uk

Thank you for continuing to engage with the school and please take care.

Kind regards
John McKee
Headteacher