Dear Parents, carers of Y6, Y1 and Reception Thursday 21st May 2020

Once again, I will start by saying a huge thank you to you all for your support and very positive comments in light of the awful situation we are in.

This has been the longest week of my life, and I don’t mean that lightly, trying to make the right decision and think about our children, their families and all of my staff.

I have listened to everything coming form the DfE, Durham County and all of the debates taking place on the television and I am still not convinced that wider opening on the 1st June is right for us. I have been very open and honest with you from the start of all of this and I will continue to be. I still do not believe it is safe for our children and staff to return to school.

Therefore, I have decided that we will now aim to open to the three named Year Groups on the 8th June but will be reviewing the situation on a daily basis. This decision has also been discussed by Governors and they are fully supportive.

I am doing this in the very best interests of our children. As I have already stated coming back to Sugar Hill now is very different to Sugar Hill of nine weeks ago. Although I know that this will happen soon, it needs to feel right.

In my last letter I laid out criteria that needed to be met before I would even consider this as an option.

· The North East ceases to be one of the highest risk areas in the country.

· I am sure that the outbreaks in the Newton Aycliffe factories are not a threat to us

· I have received the large orders of soap, sanitiser and other cleaning equipment that has been ordered.

· I am fully convinced that my staff and our children are safe.

First of all, the North East is still very high risk, and particularly Newton Aycliffe which still has a high number of deaths. Therefore, the first criteria have not been met.

I am fully aware that one factory at least has been closed for two weeks for a deep clean and therefore cannot be convinced that criteria 2 has been met either.

We have spent the last week ordering supplies of cleaning products including soap and hand sanitiser and although we have some stock, it is very hard to replace this and the wider opening means that this will be used even quicker. Therefore, the next criteria point has not been met. Finally, I do not feel it is safe, simple as that. I do not think I will be fully convinced of that for a long while.

I will continue to update you often and seek your opinions. I am fully aware that this concerns everyone in our school community and your views and opinions are very important to us.

Thank you again for your support and understanding.

Please take care and continue to stay safe. Mrs Paula O’Rourke