Final Letter from Director of Education re Industrial Action
Please see below a letter from the Director of Education - Gaynor Davies
Dear Parent/Carer,
As you may be aware, the National Education Union (NEU) has announced four days of intended industrial action.
The proposed industrial action dates are as follows: • Wednesday 1st February 2023 • Tuesday 14th February 2023 • Wednesday 15th March 2023 • Thursday 16th March 2023
The decision regarding whether your child’s school will remain open on these dates will be made by your child’s school, based on the school’s individual context and risk assessments. Your child’s school will aim to let you know whether the school will be open at least three working days before each of these dates.
Where schools have made a decision to close in advance of planned industrial action, eFSM learners and learners entitled to a free school meal under the Universal Primary Free School Meal Offer (reception, year 1 and eligible nursery pupils only) will be able to collect a packed lunch from their local community school between 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon. Pupils who are transported to schools (i.e., Faith, Welsh medium and secondary school learners), and some pupils in our special schools without specific diet needs, can access a local school in their community and collect a packed lunch. Your child’s school will contact you shortly in relation to your preferred collection point. It is important that you advise your school if your child has any allergens and is having a packed lunch. In schools that are not closed, Catering Services will provide lunch service as normal. Unfortunately, due to food safety standards it will no longer be possible to send home a packed lunch with your child.
Please note, breakfast clubs will be suspended and not available for Wednesday 1st February 2023.
Additional information will be provided on the proposed further three industrial action days in due course.
Parents and carers are advised that home-to-school transport for eligible pupils will continue to run as normal (unless a school has determined to close prior to the day of planned industrial action).
Where pupils are transported into school and classes or year groups are subsequently affected by the strike action on the day, pupils will need to remain at school. Transport will be unable to undertake an additional morning return journey and drop off at the normal bus stop pick up points. Should pupils need to return home, parents and/or carers will need to collect pupils from school. This is to ensure the safety of pupils.
Schools are working closely with their governing bodies and the local authority to minimise the disruption as far as possible, and we appreciate your support for all our staff and pupils.
Your school will update you directly on local arrangements and will continue to provide updates as the situation develops.
Kind regards,
Gaynor Davies
Director of Education and Inclusion Services