COVID-19 Wednesday 18th March
Wednesday 18th March 2020.
COVID-19 Update.
Like many schools across the country, we are facing an unprecedented situation.
Today over 70 children were absent from school for a variety of reasons; the vast majority are part of self-isolating households but a number of children were suffering themselves with illness.
Staffing absence at Richard Taylor School has doubled since Monday for the same reasons. This is obviously beginning to place a real strain on the school’s ability to deliver the education which we want for all of our children..
The staff are, as I write continuing to prepare the e-learning systems, which will be used in the event of a need to close the school.
For as long as we remain open children who are currently self-isolating with their families can still access a number of learning activities and links via the school website in the usual way.
We are accelerating the preparation as I speak and as a school we will be ready to start the process of delivering on-line learning as soon as we close.
I would expect the school to remain open this week; although further reductions in the staff available may cause us to seek to reduce the number of children at school to include only those unable to remain at home.
If this cause of action is required it would be communicated to all parents at the earliest possible opportunity.
Our next update will outline the specific arrangements that will be put in place in the event of the school closing.
Whilst it is important that you receive regular practical updates, it is also vital to remember that as a Christian community we seek to provide support for everyone in the community at this most challenging of times.
I am delighted to attach to this e mail a message from the Friends Prayer Group:
“Friends of Richard Taylor prayer group are offering to prayer for anyone or any situation at this time. Please use the email address on the attached flyer. Any requests will be passed anonymously to the team of people praying.”
The attached document gives more information about how to access the prayer group.
Yours sincerely,
Andrew Symonds
Headteacher