Covid 19 Statement – 20th May 2020

At New York we appreciate that nationally the Government’s plans change day by day, and that you will have many questions about arrangements in school as they formulate a way forward for easing the current restrictions.  As Headteacher, I want to reassure you that as we navigate the complicated road ahead, my utmost priority when making decisions around any wider opening will be the safety and wellbeing of our children and staff –a view which is supported across Horncastle Education Trust: 

Horncastle Education Trust believes that the safety and wellbeing of its children and staff are paramount.   Following the government’s announcement about the wider opening of schools over the coming weeks, the Trust has asked its Headteachers to develop their planning of how that might be achieved and what limitations are placed upon them by the configuration and capacity of school sites, the availability of staff and the requirements to meet social distancing rules and enhanced hygiene protocols.  Their planning will be focussed on and rooted in the safety and wellbeing of their children, staff and wider community of parents and carers.  Over the coming weeks, school leaders will be undertaking careful and detailed planning working to four common principles: 

1. An obligation to ensure the safety of children, staff and parents 

2. A commitment to the welfare and wellbeing of children and staff 

3. An undertaking that the necessary planning will be measured and considered  

4. Make the best possible decisions based on the evidence and guidance available and within the limitations set by their location and locality. 

 As we enter this period of planning, it is important to pay tribute to the excellent work that all school staff have undertaken during the lockdown. 

In recent weeks, our staff and those children whose parents are key workers and who are vulnerable, were welcomed to Frithville Primary School as our Trust formed a primary school hub.  Frithville will close on 27th May for deep cleaning and our school site here at New York will reopen for those students from the 1st June. 

Further arrangements will be made from the beginning of June in order to support a phased return for children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 6.  There is clearly a large amount of planning to take place in a relatively short period of time and I appreciate your patience as this is completed.  When I am in a position to share further details, I will communicate directly with parents affected.  I am keen to understand and respond to any concerns you may have. We have come through recent weeks by working together and supporting each other, and I am sure that by adopting the same approach we will rise to these latest challenges. 

Arrangements remain in place via weekly food boxes to support families of children who are eligible for free school meals. 

Children not attending school continue to be able to access work remotely via https://fvny.org.uk/home-learning

In order for us to continue to discharge our safeguarding responsibilities, if your child is due to attend and you need to report an absence, please telephone in the usual way to let us know. 

During the closure period please direct any non-urgent enquiries to paul.bargh@frithville.lincs.sch.uk

We will continue to monitor emails, however, due to remote working and the volume of enquiries we may receive, it may take a little longer for us to respond.   

We thank you for your patience at this difficult time and send our warm wishes to you and your families. 

Welcome to the New York Primary School Website…

We are very proud of our school. We try to operate as a big ‘family’, one where each child is important, and where they feel truly cared for, secure and safe.  We set high expectations for our pupils and standards of behaviour are high.  Appropriate support is always available and we are constantly striving to maintain and raise academic standards.

As part of this successful team, you, as parents, have a key role to play in your child’s education.  Your child will sometimes have work to do at home.  Your support in this matter is vital.  We are always prepared to discuss this, or any other matter, with you and operate an ‘open door’ policy for all parents and carers.

New York Primary School is federated with Frithville, which is another small rural school, just five miles away and both of these schools are part of the ‘Small Aspiring Schools’ Collaboration, which includes: Gipsey Bridge Academy, Spilsby Primary School, Bucknall Primary School, Eresby Special School, Kirkby on Bain Church of England Primary School and Mareham le Fen Church of England Primary School.

Paul Bargh – Executive Headteacher