Coronavirus Update

In light of ongoing concerns regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19) and to ensure you have clarity around Welling School’s position I can confirm we remain open and operating as normal on Wednesday, 18 March 2020 to all year groups.

This decision is informed by the ongoing advice from the Department for Education and Public Health England as well as the Trust's Health and Safety Officer. The school has also carried out an assessment of current staffing levels to confirm that there is adequate supervision in school in order to maintain a safe and orderly environment. If your child is well they should continue to attend as usual.

You will appreciate that the current situation is fluid and we may have to revise our plans at short notice. However, if we need to do this we will contact you via our usual means of communication, that being Parent Email, Twitter and Classcharts. All updates will also be available on our school website homepage. Please see the noticeboard area.

In my letter dated 16 March 2020 I wrote to parent/carers outlining the Public Health England guidance on anyone deciding to self-isolate. It is important that you are following the guidance which includes not allowing your child to leave the house. Yesterday the Government released further guidance on households self-isolating. Details of which can be found below:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-forhouseholds-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection

The school has been preparing for the eventuality where a number of students will not be on school site, either because of self-isolation or due to a partial or full closure. At 8.00am on Wednesday, 18 March 2020 the school will launch a separate website which will hold Welling School’s Study Hub.

On this website will be general content available for all students and specific content available for each year group. The school will send out the website address. You will also be able to access it via the existing school website. On the study hub website home page there is an enquiry form that parents can fill out if you have any queries regarding the home study work. Please do not email teachers directly.

It is parent/carers responsibility to make sure that if your child is self-isolating and well enough that they continue with their studies. Written work should be completed and will be requested by your child’s Form Tutor when they return to school. We are aware some students may not have access to the internet and whilst we have been collecting this information we ask that you contact the school reception and we will arrange for a work pack to be provided.

The Senior Leadership Team are reviewing the situation on a daily basis and I will of course continue to update you if there is any change to the national guidance or current circumstances that affect Welling School.

With very best wishes.

Yours faithfully

Mr R Pett

Headteacher