The NEU Teaching Union have declared national strike action, which will take place on Thursday 2nd March. The strike is between the unions and the government over teachers’ pay, and not because of any issues at our school.

I’m sorry to inform you that Vaughan Primary School will be closed on Thursday 2nd March.

The Leadership Team have not taken this decision lightly. We remain committed to providing a safe and secure environment for our pupils, and we would be unable to provide adequate safe supervision with the staff we have available. There will be minimal provision available on Thursday 2nd March and arrangements are being made for specific groups of pupils. Parents of these pupils will receive a text/email on Friday 24th February informing them that their child will be invited into school to attend on the strike day. If you do not receive this text/email, your child will need to remain at home. Please do not contact the school as we will be notifying the parents in question. Please do not bring your child to school if they have not been invited in as a risk assessment will be in place for those pupils that we are expecting.

We will only be expecting our pre-registered pupils. Parents will need to make alternative arrangements for their children on this day. I understand that this situation continues to be frustrating, but ask that all members of our parental community continue to treat staff with the respect they deserve. Please be aware that there will be no remote learning or prepared work available as union members have been advised not to participate in planning for the strike day as part their action. Parents can access activities on the school website for each year group, as they did during lockdown.

We are working closely with our staff union representative to keep up to date with the situation, and I will inform you as soon as possible if arrangements change or there is any further information regarding additional upcoming strike dates on 15th and 16th March. Vaughan Primary School remains committed to providing a safe and secure environment for our pupils and delivering high-quality teaching.

For the parents of pupils who are invited into school on the strike day, a separate communication will follow shortly on what the arrangements will be for March 2nd .