School asks parents about festive closure
HEADTEACHER CONSIDERS ISOLATION STRATEGY
PARENTS at a school in the East Riding have been asked to vote on plans to close the school early for Christmas.
The headteacher at Headlands School in Bridlington has sent a survey to parents and asked them if they want to see the school close for 2020 on Thursday, December 10.
Headteacher Sarah Bone explained to parents she was worried a bubble closure after Thursday, December 10, would see pupils and staff having to selfisolate on Christmas Day – while restrictions to see family are lifted.
In a letter to parents, she explained she wants to be “proactive” because the cut-off date for not having to self isolate on Christmas Day is Thursday, December 10.
The letter says: “We know that based on our recent experiences, if a member of our school community tests positive for Covid19 from Thursday, December 10, onwards and they have been in school 48 hours before developing symptoms, it is highly likely the advice we will be given by Public Health England is groups of individuals will be required to self-isolate for 14 days, and this could well include Christmas Day.
“We feel, as a school community, we can be proactive here and take a lead in trying to ensure as best we can, the Christmas holiday period is the best we can make it for the community of Bridlington, whatever circumstances we find ourselves in.
“As a result, in the spirit of transparency, we would like to consult with parents and carers over the course of next week, via an online survey, to establish if there is indeed a consensus to put in place alterna
We feel, as a school community, we can be proactive here and take a lead in trying to ensure the Christmas holiday period is the best we can make it for the community
tive plans for our student’s education from Thursday, December 10.
“Depending on the outcomes of this survey, we will then potentially need to consult with the Local Authority and the Department for Education before we can put in place any firm decision.”
Parents have told the Mail they support the school’s plans to close early, and are awaiting a decision after the vote.
One mum, who did not wish to be named, said: “My daughter has just been in isolation and she didn’t miss one lesson as it was all virtual with all the class and teachers been able to communicate.
“They even did a virtual PE class. So I’d be very happy for the school to close on December 10 if this was to continue.
“It would be awful if kids had to be in isolation over the Christmas period, it’s what they look forward all year.”
It comes as parents told the Mail they are already planning to remove their children from school early, even if their school does not close early, to prevent having to selfisolate over Christmas.
The school has been contacted for comment.
Sarah Bone, headteacher