Monday 18th and Tuesday 19th July - School closure from 12.30pm

Dear Parents/ Carers,

The updated forecast for Monday is that temperatures may reach an unprecedented 40 degrees in the West Midlands with temperatures likely to rise above 36 degrees again on Tuesday.

Having considered the potential risks to children from heat exhaustion and heatstroke, like many other schools, I have made the decision to close school early on Monday and Tuesday at 12.30pm. Unfortunately, there are many parts of school that do not have adequate ventilation to cope with excessive heat. Even being outdoors is a risk as advice is to stay out of direct sunlight; unfortunately, we don't have enough shade in our playground for all the children.

As such, I believe the sensible thing is to close school at 12.30pm after the children have had their lunch. We would like parents to collect children at this time from their normal collection points. Children will be given remote learning to complete either online or on paper.

Obviously, there may be some parents who who are unable to collect their children as they are working. If this is the case, please contact the office on Monday morning to let us know and we will organise for them to stay in school and complete their work.

Please don't forget that children should come to school on Monday and Tuesday in non-uniform. It is suggested that children wear light-coloured, loose-fitting summer clothing, preferably short sleeved shirts, shorts and dresses - no long sleeved sweatshirts, jumpers, jackets or cardigans. Please make sure children have sunscrreen and sun hats.

On Tuesday afternoon, we were due to have our second Y6 Leavers Assembly. I will contact parents on Monday about how we will organise for this assembly to take place but it is likely to be rearranged to Wednesday morning instead.

I'm sorry for the inconvenience that may be caused by closing school early on Monday and Tuesday but I hope parents will appreciate that the children's safety and wellbeing comes first.

Mr Beale