Hello Everyone. I hope you’re all still well and keeping safe. Here is my next update of what is happening at Castletown.

Y6 pupils have settled really well into school, although it is a very different experience for them.

You will no doubt have heard that the government are now no longer expecting all children to return to primary school before the end of term. Head Teachers are being asked to do what they can to open to other year groups if they can safely do so. As I have always said to you, we will do the very best we can to keep your children safe but we cannot guarantee that all the recommendations around social distancing can be met.

We have decided that from 22nd June we will open to children in Year 5 for 4 days a week, Monday to Thursday. To avoid too many children arriving and leaving school at the same time, the school day for Y5 children will be 9.15am to 3.30pm.

Staff have already been in contact with Y5 parents, (or have left messages), to find out how many parents wish to send their children back to school were we to reopen. We will not be contacting those parents again who have already said they would not be sending their children back before September, but will be ringing all other parents over the next 2 days to find out definite numbers in order to allow us to plan for groupings and staffing. We must have final numbers by Friday. If staff cannot reach you when they ring, please make sure you reply to the message by contacting school by the end of the day on Friday.

School is still open for key worker / vulnerable children. Please be aware that we cannot ‘mix the bubbles.’ Children cannot spend part of the week in their year group and part in Key Worker group – it must be one or the other.

At the present moment, I am not expecting to be able to open to any other year groups before the end of term. As far as September is concerned, I have no information at all as to what will be happening. As always, as soon as I have any further news I will be in touch.