Charlton School

Dear Parents and Carers,

I am sure you have heard the news that the government have announced changes to the staggered start to the new term in January 2021.

The Government guidance states now that only children who are vulnerable, or the children of critical workers, can return to school on Tuesday 5^th January.

Unless further changes are made, Year 11 students will now return on Monday 11^th January.  All other students in Year 7 to Year 10 will be returning to school on Tuesday 19^th January, following the LCT PD day. We will send out the relevant home learning information for all students on Monday 4^th January.

We have been informed that the Year 11 music exam scheduled for Thursday 7^th January will still go ahead as will the scheduled exams in iMedia and Business Enterprise.  We will email students and parents involved with further information early next week.

As per my letter sent on 18^th December, but now including Year 11 students, if you believe your child to fall within either the vulnerable or critical worker category and require your child to attend school from Tuesday 5^th January, please email keyworker@charlton.uk.com stating your child’s name, form group and the reason they need to attend (either because they are vulnerable – stating in which category, or which category of critical worker you fall within).  Please email by Sunday 3^rd January.  If we have not received an email by this date, your child will not be expected to attend until Monday 11^th January for Year 11 or Tuesday 19^th January for Years 7 to 10.

The Government classes vulnerable students as, children who:

• are assessed as being in need under section 17 of the Children Act 1989, including children and young people who have a child in need plan, a child protection plan or who are a looked-after child
• have an education, health and care (EHC) plan
• have been identified as otherwise vulnerable by educational providers or local authorities (including children’s social care services), and who could therefore benefit from continued full-time attendance, this might include:
• children and young people on the edge of receiving support from children’s social care services
• adopted children, those at risk of becoming NEET (‘not in employment, education or training’)
• those living in temporary accommodation, those who are young carers
• those who may have difficulty engaging with remote education at home
• others at the provider and local authority’s discretion

The Government class children of critical workers as those having parents or carers whose work is critical to the coronavirus (COVID-19) response, including those who work in health and social care and in other key sectors outlined in the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision#critical-workers

At this stage, we are still awaiting further information on the testing processes expected of us, but it does seem clear that we will be expected to test all students on their return to school, in order to identify asymptomatic cases so that we reduce any spread of the virus in the school population.

It is really important that if you or your child become unwell with Covid symptoms, that you organise a test, following this guidance https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test. Please do not send your child back to school in January if they have any of the main coronavirus symptoms.

We will send out further information at the beginning of next week.

Kind Regards,

Mr A McNaughton

Principal