More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Parents at a primary school in Deal received a text message to collect their child "ASAP" before the entire premises was closed down.
Sholden Primary in London Road sent out the urgent message, seen by KentOnline, around 11.20am this morning following a new case of Covid-19.
The text read: "SHOLDEN SCH CLOSED.
"Please be reassured all children are well. Due H&S we will need to close the school. Please collect your child ASAP more details to follow (sic)"
It was followed by a second text: "Sholden Sch Closed - further details will follow."
The setting, which caters for 106 pupils aged four to 11, has mixed year groups and its Year 5/6 bubble were already self isolating.
Head teacher Dawn Theaker's "difficult decision" to close it entirely comes after a further Covid-19 case emerged in the Year 3/4 class.
She said: “Today, after consulting with Public Health England, the Department for Education and Kent County Council, I made the difficult decision to close the school after we were required to send more than half of our pupils home to self-isolate.
"Unfortunately, our Year 5/6 class was required to isolate on Friday, November 6 and today we have had to send our Year 3 /4 class home to isolate.
“In total, more than 61 students out of 106 as well as 14 members of staff are isolating.
“For the safety and well-being of the whole school community we made the decision to close the school until Tuesday 24th November. During this period of school closure, the whole school is to be deep cleaned to ensure it is safe for all pupils to return.
“I would like to stress this will not be a holiday for pupils or staff. Teachers will provide Home Learning via our school website and through Microsoft Teams; and staff will support pupils with learning remotely.
“I would like to thank my staff, our parents and carers and of course our pupils for their support and understanding. I look forward to welcoming everyone back to school on Tuesday 24th November when we will all continue to follow PHE guidance in terms of social distancing, handwashing and cleaning to minimise the spread of the virus and ensure we can all continue to learn and work in a safe environment.
“It has been a very difficult decision but one that has been made with the health and safety of our school community in mind.
“Our prayers and thoughts are with our families and community at this challenging time.”
The homepage of the school's website confirms the school is closed until November 24, and offers information about the symptoms of coronavirus and what to do if your child appears ill.
Yesterday, KentOnline reported that two other schools in the district, Sandwich Technology and Ash Cartwright and Kelsey Primary, had been forced to send some of its pupils home to work remotely.
It is also understood that the entire sixth form at Sir Roger Manwood's in Sandwich is self isolating due to three known cases of Covid-19. Head teacher Lee Hunter has not commented.
