Sheffield primary school writes apology letter to parents after being told to remain shut

A Sheffield primary school has written to parents and carers to apologise after being told at short notice it cannot reopen.
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On Friday Sheffield Council instructed authority-run schools to delay their wider opening until 15 June and ‘strongly advised’ all other schools, academies, and nurseries in the city to do the same.

Westways Primary School in Crookes said it “cannot apologise enough for the late arrival of this instruction”, conceding that many parents will already have made plans for their children to return to school on Monday after the government said it was safe to do so.

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On Thursday Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the five tests which must be met before lockdown restrictions can be eased have been satisfied. Under Government plans, the reopening of schools, starting with reception, Year 1 and 6, will begin on 1 June. That is still due to go ahead nationally.

But Greg Fell, the city’s director of Public Health, said he was not confident all five tests have been met in Sheffield after reviewing the local position. Consequently, the Council has instructed schools to remain closed for another fortnight.

The letter read: “At Westways, we are fully prepared to open and have a comprehensive risk assessment in place approved by Governors.“We are allowed to continue accepting vulnerable children and the children of keyworkers. Please contact the school if you need a place for your child in our keyworker group.”

The school said it will write to parents again as soon as it has more information from the Council.