Updated - 4th January 2021

Dear Parents & Carers 

Re: National Lockdown & Closure of Schools  

As you will have seen tonight the Prime Minister has announced  that all schools will close until February half term and will remain  open for vulnerable children and children of key workers only; due  to the exceptionally high risk of transmission from the new Covid  variant. This can definitely be seen in Halton’s data, which is sadly  increasing rapidly. Therefore it must be our priority to keep  everyone safe. 

As during the first lockdown in March - if it is at all possible for  children to be at home, then they should be.  

Also, as we did during the first lockdown, to allow us to provide the  safest environment for our children and staff we shall have to  establish 2 factors; the children of key workers and those who will  be able to be offered places in school as the most vulnerable  children (e.g. those children with a social worker).  

For all other children, learning will be moved to remote learning  which we shall fully support as a school. 

This process cannot be completed this evening and will be done  tomorrow when we get additional DfE guidance and when we will  also know how many staff we will have on site. This will allow us to  identify the children we can accommodate in school and those that  will be staying at home and accessing remote learning. 

Therefore School will be open tomorrow but most likely with limited  staffing so it would be very much appreciated if you could support  us and if it is at all possible for you to do so please keep your child/ children at home. There is no expectation for you to send your  child in given the announcement.  

Please notify transport if your child is not in tomorrow.    

We shall contact all families individually tomorrow to confirm if your  child has a key worker / most vulnerable place and how this shall  work. 

I would like to reassure you that we shall provide the best support  to families that we can.  

Many thanks for your support through these most difficult times. Take care and keep safe,  

Elaine & the whole Cavendish Team