Manor Wood Primary School closes for a week as staff numbers 'critically hampered'

Staff at Manor Wood Primary School in Carr Manor Road have made the "difficult decision" to close the whole school after a number of confirmed cases of Covid-19.

It is hoped that the school will be able to reopen on Monday (October 12).

In a letter to parents published on the school's website on Monday, headteacher Deborah Kennedy said it was their "worst nightmare to have to send bubbles home".

The letter read: "We have been advised by Public Health England that there has been some confirmed cases of COVID-19 within our school community.

"We have followed the national guidance track and trace and have been in close contact with the local authority and have made the difficult decision to close the whole school.

"This does not affect the children in Y6 and the small number of Y2 children who are having to isolate and they have had the information provided.

"As staff numbers have been critically hampered and as we have had to ensure that we have sufficient staff to function safely we are going to have to close for the rest of this week."

Ms Kennedy wrote that parents would be notified if the school was unable to open by Monday, when "the vast majority of staff will be able to return".

She added: "Please be assured of the fact that we have taken every precaution over the last month to keep ourselves and our community safe however you will be aware that there has been a huge increase of Covid cases across Leeds and we have unfortunately been effected by that."

The headteacher went on to explain to parents and carers how pupils' learning would continue through the shutdown.

Ending the letter, she wrote: "Finally, we recognise how difficult this is for families and it is our worst nightmare to have to send bubbles home, so we do thank you for your continued support and patience.

"We have no doubt that, by sticking together, we can make our way through the latest restrictions and ever-changing goalposts which are at least an improvement on the total lock down we faced last term!"

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