Dear parents and carers,

We hope that you and your families are keeping well and staying safe.

As what would have been the Easter break approaches, I just wanted to update you all on a few things:

• The school building will be closed from 3.30pm on Thursday 2nd April for just over two weeks, as originally planned.
• During this time, the phones will not be routinely monitored as we are not able to access telephone messages remotely.
• While the school building is closed, Mr Rhodes remains on duty remotely: he will be contactable only via ClassDojo messaging.  
• You should not expect any other school staff to be available during the next few weeks and teachers will only return to setting and assessing work, via ClassDojo and Purple Mash, from Monday 20th April.
• Parents, carers and their chilldren, who have not already done so, must register their use of ClassDojo by 3pm on Thursday 2nd April 2020.
• Government guidance tells us that free school meal vouchers should not be issued over any school break: if your family is currently in receipt of free school meals, message us immediately via keyworker@allsaintsmaidenhead.org (and no later than 5pm today, 1st April 2020) if this will leave your child(ren) facing exceptional hardship and we will see what can be done to help.

While we do not know what next term will bring, we will - unless advised otherwise by the Government - still be open for children of key-workers, vulnerable children and children with an EHCP, whose needs cannot be met at home (i.e need physical care).

If you require a key-worker or vulnerable child place, starting Monday 20th April, please can email keyworker@allsaintsmaidenhead.org by Thursday 16th April as this will enable us to prepare staff for the following week, however please remember that the emergency provision is conditional:

• Unless there is absolutely no alternative, your child must stay at home.

Key-workers: please talk to your employer as to how critical your role is - most organisations are providing employees with a letter explaining that they are critical workers to support their case.  If you have family members working at home and they are not elderly or vulnerable themselves, then your child needs to stay at home with them and not come into school.

If after, discussions with your employer and family members, you feel that there is absolutely no other alternative but to use our emergency provision, please email keyworker@allsaintsmaidenhead.org providing:

• Your job title
• The hours and days that you work and therefore need a place on these days
• Your Employers name and contact details
• a photo or scan of the key worker letter your employer should have provided you with, if available, confirming your status.

As we are aware that the Government's advice may vary over the next few weeks, Mr Rhodes will endeavour to keep you appraised of any changes by sending messages out on ClassDojo.

Finally, do take care of yourselves and each other during this difficult time and, if you are celebrating it, we wish you a happy and peaceful Easter when it arrives.

Yours sincerely,

Mrs H Hales (School Business Manager) & Mr R Rhodes (Headteacher)