​Dear Chagford Families,
 
As you are aware from my communications, we have had a member of our school community test positive for covid. I am very grateful to everyone for acting swiftly so that people who needed to could isolate.
 
Over the weekend, a number of staff have been advised to have a test and / or isolate, therefore we will have a reduced staff team next week. I have informed parents where we are unable to host their children’s bubbles. I have now been told that I must isolate, so I shall be working from home next week.

Primary School (Reception class) application deadline: 15th January 2021
We have some places available in our Reception class for September 2021. If you have a child born between 1st September 2016 and 31st August 2017, then do not delay in making an application to Chagford Church of England Primary School. Please pass on this message to parents you know.
You can apply online at www.devon.gov.uk/admissiononline or if you have any access issues, please call the Education Helpline on 0345 1551019 or email [email protected].

Our lovely friends at MED Theatre are offering free places for Chagford School children. 

​Friday 8th January 2021
 
Dear Chagford Families,
 
Well done everyone, we made it through this week!
 
Thank you for being patient while we organised platforms and resources for home learning, free school meal packages, updated our risk assessments in line with government directives and made the complex in-school arrangements to cater for the children of key workers and vulnerable families. I know there have been a lot of emails this week, and a lot of information to digest. On behalf of the whole team, thank you for your understanding, kind words and positivity; it is much appreciated.

Dear Parents,
​
We hope you are well and adjusting to the new routines. Our staff are working hard to ensure that children receive their logins for Google Classroom as quickly as possible, so that children can access their learning remotely and interactively. Our Trust is also being proactive to issue devices for children in families eligible for Pupil Premium in order to support remote learning. Eligible children in Years 5 and 6 have already been issued with Chromebooks, with additional devices for those pupils in Yr-Y4 being followed up today.

​Dear Parent / Carer,
We wrote to you yesterday about delaying the start of term until Thursday.
I am sorry to be writing to you again so soon on this subject. However, as you may have seen, the Prime Minister has last evening announced a new national lockdown because of rising infection rates of Covid-19 and to try to prevent the further spread of the virus. 
As part of this, all primary schools, secondary schools and colleges in England, including our school, Chagford Church of England Primary, are to be closed from today until at least the end of half term in February, except for children of key workers or vulnerable children. Nurseries are able to remain open.
From today:
If you or your partner is a key worker, or if your child is classed as vulnerable, then the school will remain open, as now, and we look forward to seeing them in school today and beyond as normal for teaching and learning. If you are a critical worker and have not completed the survey issued yesterday evening, please let us know. 
As you know, we have worked incredibly hard since the start of the pandemic in March to keep our school as safe as possible, and I would like to take this opportunity to remind you of some of the safety measures in place at our school: 
o   Everyone is expected to remain in their allocated bubbles 
o   Students are encouraged to wash their hands regularly throughout the day 
Please note we are trying to work with windows open in classrooms for ventilation. As the cold days have returned, and with the need for ventilation in mind, pupils may need a few more layers of clothing, such as sweatshirts, tights or leggings underneath skirts or plain fleeces without a hood or large brand logos. We would like the children to come in school uniform for their sessions and arrive at their usual time slots from last term. They will either need to bring a packed lunch or will be given a school packed lunch.
For all other pupils, our school is closed until at least the end of the February half-term. High-quality remote learning will be provided to make sure they continue to receive a consistent education. We know that this places pressure on you at a difficult time but your support in helping your child engage with the remote learning packs as much as possible is so important and we are very grateful for it. Teachers will be contacting you via class blogs and email with details of the learning for each day. There is a high expectation that all children will complete home learning tasks, attend live lessons and submit work back to teachers for feedback. 
We will continue to stay in touch with you on this matter, and about your child’s education. However, if you have any questions, or if you require any support relating to these new arrangements, please email [email protected]
I would once again like to take this opportunity to thank you wholeheartedly for your understanding and ongoing support in helping us to manage this unprecedented situation. Please continue to take care and to stay safe.
Yours sincerely,
Elizabeth Underwood and Tara Penny
Executive Headteacher       Head of School

Here is a copy of this letter for download