Manor Wood Primary School to remain closed on Monday after teaching union advises "home-teaching"

Deborah Kenny, headteacher of Manor Wood Primary School in Leeds, told parents the news on Sunday.

She said "I know this is definitely not the news you want to hear, but we are unable to open school to all our children on Monday".

The headteacher apologised for the late announcement.

She said she had zoomed with with the senior leadership team, governers and all staff at the school.

However, she added that the vast majority of her teaching colleagues "are following the advice of the NEU" and the governing body said it was "clear that we cannot open".

The school will remain open for the children of key workers and vulnerable groups on January 4 at the usual times, Mrs Kenny said.

The situation would be reviewed daily, she added.

A letter sent to parents on Sunday said: "Dear Parents,

"I know this is definitely not the news you want to hear, but we are unable to open school to all our children on Monday.

"Clearly, there has been a great deal of debate about primary schools over the holidays, especially this weekend and advice to teachers from their unions. This has been exacerbated by the government’s decision to close all primary and secondary schools in the London boroughs from tomorrow, January 4th and has led to questions being asked about the safety of schools across the country.

"Over the last couple of days, the teaching unions have asked the government for more clarity around the science behind opening primary schools and have requested that they be closed until the 18th January whilst more information is gathered about the new Covid strain which appears to be much more infectious than the previous one. Sadly, little has been forthcoming, and the unions have advised their members to set into motion home-teaching. I can assure you that all school staff would much prefer to come into school and work in the usual way with your children.

"As you can imagine, the last thing I want to do is write this letter and I cannot apologise enough for it being at the 11th hour. I hope parents will appreciate that the late change of circumstances is not the making of the Manor Wood staff. I have zoomed with the SLT, governors and all staff over the last 2 days and, as the vast majority of my teaching colleagues are following the advice of the NEU, our Governing Body is clear that we cannot open. Our first priority has to be the duty of care and safety towards to the whole of our Manor Wood community and we are being advised by the largest teaching union that we cannot guarantee to deliver learning safely in a full school.

"I know this is going to be very difficult situation for parents to manage again but please do not think this is a decision any staff have taken lightly. They have listened to all the information available at this time and we all hope that it will decrease the transmission of Covid-19 and avoid further future closures. However, I am not a scientist, I am a headteacher being faced with very difficult decisions, which I am not enjoying making one bit! However, we are a very strong team at MW, with extremely supportive families, and we will come out of this situation stronger than ever!

"Staff will be working in school tomorrow as we have the space for adults to safely socially distance and to plan how best to provide high quality support to all the children. Obviously, we will review the situation on a daily basis and will reopen to all children as soon as we can. In the meantime, we will be open to the children of key workers and vulnerable groups on 4th January at the usual times. We know our children and families well and are also very aware that some children really need to be in school for their general wellbeing.

"We will make contact tomorrow regarding additional children attending school. However, if you don’t need us, this will provide greater availability for the families who do, and will be greatly appreciated. Our team will be up and running with home learning during the course of tomorrow via Seesaw or printed packs. Zooms will be planned for the children to see their teachers, TAs and friends and we will do our absolute best to maintain good communication between home and school. We have a number of laptops we can lend out and please be assured you can contact us at any time by phone or email. We can also organise socially distanced meetings in school as we have previously.

"There is a very widely held view, based on past experiences of this pandemic, that the number of people contracting the disease is increasing.

"All I can ask for is your continued support at this time. This is not a situation, of our making and we are doing what we can to navigate our way through the current challenges. I would love to wish you a happy 2021 and wish I could do so under happier circumstances.

"Best wishes,

"Deborah Kenny (Headteacher), Kim Adams (Chair of Governors)"

The school is the second to announce similar closures after Gildersome Primary School, as reported in the Yorkshire Evening Post earlier.