Re-introduction of Covid Protective Measures in Cambridgeshire
7th October 2021
Dear Parents and Carers
Re-introduction of Covid Protective Measures in Cambridgeshire
I am writing to make you aware of changes to Covid protective measures that we now have to make at BGPS as a result of communication from the Jonathan Lewis (Director of Education for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough) yesterday evening.
As a result of the very high case rates in schools across Cambridgeshire, until half term (for the next two weeks) all Cambridgeshire schools are being advised to:
- Make all events where parents would normally visit schools virtual (or postpone/cancel them).
- Ensure all essential visitors to schools wear face coverings in school buildings.
- Ensure all adults socially distance from each other within school buildings.
- Hold meetings virtually wherever possible.
- Ask all staff to wear face coverings in communal areas.
As an LA maintained school, we have to follow the LA's advice.
This means that the parent events that we had planned before half-term cannot go ahead in their planned format.
Background Information
The background to this is that staffing is becoming an issue across Cambridgeshire. Teachers with Covid are absent for 10 days. Supply cover is becoming increasingly difficult to source. Any absence of the usual teacher impacts negatively on children's education. If no supply cover is available, then classes have to close. The LA wants to take steps now to try to stop schools from having to close classes (because that impacts on many children and their parents). The Director of Education and The Director of Public Health for Cambridgeshire (Jyoti Atri) put the above list of measures to the DfE yesterday, who approved them.
I am incredibly disappointed and frustrated about this, even though I understand the reasons behind the decision. It feels unfair because we haven't had any cases here at BG. However, we don't want to find ourselves in the position where we do, and can't get supply cover and have to close, so we have to support the decision to protect education across the county by limiting parents coming into the school building for a little while.
Shared Worship - Tomorrow
We really want to be able to hold our Shared Worship with you tomorrow, so we have decided to hold it in the playground instead of the hall. The playground gate will be open and there will be a parent area marked out. Please could I ask you all to take a lateral flow test to check for asymptomatic infection before attending. I have my fingers crossed that the weather will be kind to us!
Reading Café for Parents of YR, 1 and 2 – Monday 11th 2:45pm
Unfortunately, we will have to postpone this event, as we would not be able to do this virtually at the advertised time (as you would all be on your way here to collect your children). We will rearrange this for another date.
Information Evening for Y6 Parents
This event will now be held virtually. Ms McDowell will send a link via ClassDojo.
Open Afternoon – Wednesday 20th October
We will not be able to welcome parents to join us for our Open Afternoon this half term. However, we still want the children to bring their projects into school; they will have the opportunity to share them with each other across the school. We promise to post lots of photographs on Twitter/our Website so that you can see what everyone has been up to!
Parent Consultations- Thursday 21st/Friday 22nd October and Thursday 4th November
These will continue in their virtual format as originally planned. More information about booking will be sent to you during next week.
Hopefully this will be a very temporary situation, and we will be able to continue with parent events after the half-term break. Thank you all for your continued support.