Dear Parent/Carer
Year 9 Students to Work From Home
As the situation is changing daily I would like to update you on the College’s position and reassure you that we are taking as many steps as possible to protect your children. In line with Government advice, the College remains open, however I will need to partially close from tomorrow due to staffing levels. This means that Year 9 students will be asked to remain at home as of Wednesday 18 March and although I recognise that this decision will create difficulties for a number of families, we hope you understand the reasons behind this decision.
How Students Will be Expected to Work from Home
Year 9 students work will be set on ShowMyHomework for the timetabled lessons they will be missing where it is appropriate/possible. As the College closes for other Year groups the same process will be implemented, although the priority at this time will be Year 11 students. We are also exploring other options for delivering lessons to students and will notify you of any other plans in the upcoming days. Year 11s are reminded that there are a number of resources for them to use, such as GCSEpod, Kerboodle, MathsWatch, MyMaths and Senca Learning and that they know how to log onto these sites – many logins will be managed by subject teachers, although for GCSEpod students will have set up their own accounts.
Should you Keep Your Child at Home?
It is important that should your child present with any symptoms of a dry, persistent cough or a high temperature/fever then they should remain at home for 14 days as per the Public Health England advice. Please inform the College by emailing both the form tutor and attendance@lvc.org. I recognise these are worrying times, however I would ask that you don’t send individual queries into staff – we are still teaching those students who are in the College, and as outlined below are planning for those who are absent as best as possible.
Moving Forward
As a result of the current situation I have also taken the decision to cancel any external visitors to the College which unfortunately means all peripatetic music lessons will cease with immediate effect.
The Government has suggested schools remain open for Key Workers children. I am awaiting a definition of who these are, we would be grateful if you could email reception if you work for the Police, Fire Service or NHS; please detail if you are frontline staff (e.g. doctors, nurses) or administrative support and/or management.
My immediate concern is how to manage the site safely in response to staff illness and will update you as soon as I make a decision, however I intend to write to you daily before midday to update you on the current position. If the position changes after this time I will communicate any closures via the College website, Twitter and Facebook.
Thank you for your support and understanding at this challenging time. I will do my best to keep you informed.
Yours faithfully
Tim Darby
Acting Principal