SNMAT Letter To Parents

The following update, written by the CEO of SNMAT, has been sent out to our families today. It can also be found in the 'Letters' section of the website:

 

Dear Parents and Carers,

 

I am writing to you at the start of another period of academy closure. This is something that we had very much hoped to avoid, and it is with great regret that we can no longer offer provision to all children.

 

The current situation across SNMAT partner academies is:

 

• The government’s announcement last night gave us very little time to respond and make the high quality arrangements that we would hope for.
• It is clear that, to be effective, the closure of schools must significantly reduce the numbers of children that are in schools.
• Academy leaders are now processing a large number of applications for critical worker status.
• We want to get this right and will be making the checks with employers that the government has advised us to in order that the provision is offered to parents who match the government’s criteria.
• This will take some time and I would ask that you are patient as we process this work. It would be wrong to offer provision at this stage, only to withdraw it in the near future.
• You may be aware that Teaching Unions have advised that the proportion of pupils in school during this lockdown should not exceed 10%. We are adopting a more flexible approach to this and are committed to providing critical workers with provision so that they can keep this country moving, protected, fed and looked after (amongst other equally core roles).
• You will understand that there will be limits to the numbers of pupils that individual academies can accommodate – based on staffing levels and space. When we reach this capacity, we may have to make difficult decisions. To avoid this happening, I would ask that any requests for provision are limited only to the periods that they are absolutely necessary.  

 

These are challenging times for all of us. There is some light at the end of tunnel, and I very much hope that, as the vaccination programme is unrolled, we can begin to return to the normality that we are all craving. In the meantime, we look forward to working together with you in the best interests of your children, the community and the country.

 

 Look after yourselves and your loved ones.     

 

Chris Moodie

Chief Executive Officer, SNMAT