RE: Industrial Action of Unison and ATL members – Tuesday 6^th, Wednesday 7^th and Thursday 8^th December

As you will be aware, following a recent ballot, Teaching Assistants across Durham County Council, who are affected by the proposals to change terms and conditions, have voted to take industrial action in the form of a strike. I would like to inform you that strike action is planned to take place next week on Tuesday 6^th, Wednesday 7^th and Thursday 8^th December.

How will this affect my children?

As headteacher, I am responsible, in consultation with the Chair of Governors, for deciding what will happen in our school during the strike period. This strike action will lead to a significant reduction in staffing levels and consequently there will be health and safety implications for all pupils within our school.

My decision, therefore, has been informed by the risk assessment that I have carried out to determine the impact of the strike on the health and safety of pupils and staff. The strike action will affect school as shown below:

On Tuesday 6^th December:

School will be closed for Reception Class only. All other year groups will attend school as normal.

On Wednesday 7^th November:

School will be closed for Year 1 pupils only. All other year groups will attend school as normal.

On Thursday 8^th December

School will be closed for Year 2 pupils only. All other year groups will attend school as normal.

Can I also remind parents there will be no Breakfast Club on Tuesday 6^th , Wednesday 7^th and Thursday 8^th December.

Unfortunately, school trips that have been booked to take place during the strike days have been cancelled. Year 6 visit to Bowes Museum will go ahead as planned.

I appreciate that closing the school to some pupils will cause inconvenience for families. However, can I assure you once again that in forming my decision I have taken into account the safety and well-being of all pupils and school staff. I will inform you if further developments arise.

Mr. L Duncan

Thank you to parents who attended today’s Christmas craft making with our Reception children. The children did a fantastic job making lots of fun Christmas decorations and crafts. Well done to our ‘Christmas Stocking’ winners for their winning ‘Christmas Stocking’ design. All the children will receive a headteachers sticker for their brilliant effort!

 

 

Well done to all the children in Redacre class for doing such a fabulous class assembly this Friday. Thank you to all those who came along and joined us in the celebration.

A big thank you to everyone who donated a shoebox full of Christmas gifts. A total of 96 shoe boxes were collected! I’m sure your generous donation will make a real difference to a child this Christmas season.

The children enjoyed a theatre production of ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ today. There was a lot of singing, dancing and the odd scream! Everyone was  pleased to know that the giant turned out to be  a friendly fellow in the end! Thank you to M and M Productions for a fantastic show.

The school held a minute silence today to remember all those who have died during times of  war. We also prayed for loved ones, in our own lives, who have sadly passed away. Our Key Stage 1 children decorated remembrance crosses and placed them at the front of school. Our Key Stage 2 children painted stones and made a remembrance poppy in our remembrance garden. Year 5 visited the Seaham centotaph where they spent their minute silence with members of our community….. ‘Lest we Forget’

Well done to all the children in Featherbed class for their fantastic assembly on the topic of the Arctic. Who would have thought Polar Bears, Food Chains, Ice, Fish, and the story behind our much loved teddy bears would be so interesting! Thank you to the many parents and family members who attended the assembly.