Dear Parents and Carers,

I hope you are all well during this unprecedented time.

Many of you will have followed the latest government announcement last night regarding school closures for all, except children of frontline keyworkers and vulnerable children. In this announcement children with EHCPs were mentioned in the vulnerable category.

Obviously,  this effects all of the children in our school.

Fordwater closed on Tuesday for very good reason. The health and safety of pupils and staff and the complexities and vulnerabilities involved in our special school of trying to navigate the virus spread, along with maintaining safe staff numbers to care for pupils, made remaining open untenable.

I am responsible for my pupils and staff and am struggling to see how I can maintain their safety on site during this time when social distancing guidance alone cannot be reliably enforced due to the nature of our special children.

I am waiting today to discuss the announcement with senior education officers in West Sussex and my other special head colleagues to further understand the implications of this announcement for Fordwater. At the moment the school is closed for the reasons I emphasised. I will update you as soon as I have any additional information to give you.

Safeguarding pupils and staff at Fordwater is always my priority and I will not do anything to compromise that.

I would welcome your initial views by email or to our support desk. Thank you to those who have already messaged me.

Kind Regards

Sophie Clarke