Thursday 16th July 2020

Dear Parents,

It has been a joy to see so many children returning to school this week so that they can finish this most turbulent of school years together with their friends and teachers. Thank you for your support in enabling us to do this for our children. Year 5 Our wonderful Year 5 say their farewells to Cropthorne this week and we wish them all well. We are very proud of all of their achievements throughout their time here and we know that we send them off with so many positive memories and treasured experiences. Their time at Cropthorne may not have ended in the same way as other years, but they have dealt with the recent challenges admirably. We would also like to thank you their families for all the support they have provided over the years. On behalf of the entire school we wish Kitty, Ellie, Emilia, Francesca, Rosie, Nicole, Henry, Ruben, Kyle, Sophie, Will, Sasha, Erin, Heidi, Claudi and Oscar the very best for their futures. You are our Leavers 2020, a truly unique and very special group of children. We will miss you all, but know we are so very proud of each and every one of you. Home Learning Everyone should be proud of however much Home Learning they have managed to complete these past months. I am immensely proud of how our staff responded to this unforeseen challenge and know their suggestions to support you at home have been really appreciated by so many of you. Thank you for your feedback, engagement and, above all, perseverance! Our final home learning suggestion is a simple one, take a very well-earned break! Reading Books Please do have a really good look at home for any school books. We sent lots home at the end of March and are desperate for them to be returned so they can be used by children next year. Thank you! Tel: 01386 860 246 www.cropthorneschool.ik.org office@cropthorne.worcs.sch.uk Cropthorne with Charlton C of E First School, Main Street, Cropthorne, Pershore, Worcestershire, WR10 3NB. September As we look to September it is clear that some things at school are going to have to run differently. Many of the safety measures which we have been required to put in place this term will need to remain. Along with other schools, our curriculum will need to be adapted in the short term, as we all begin the long process of recovering from what has happened these past months. As you would expect, we are currently working on this and will be continuing to do so over the children’s summer holiday. We are also working with the local authority on what the logistics of all pupils returning to school will look like at Cropthorne. We expect confirmation of our plans in late August and will be able to update you before the children start back. As we have stated previously, we expect that all children in every year group will be able to return full time from Wednesday 2 nd September. We hope to avoid staggered starts by assigning different drop off and collection points to different classes. Again we will update you on these developments before the children return. We also know that we will have to continue to ask everyone to be flexible and patient, as we navigate this fresh challenge together. One thing I can say with certainty is that I know that school staff will continue to rise to the challenge of making any new measures work as they have done so successfully these past months. We have really appreciated the patience and support shown by so many of you during this torrid time for everyone. This crisis has shown us all that we never know what is around the corner. It has shown us that things we once may have taken for granted, can disappear in what seems like an instant. This summer, take time to appreciate friends and loved ones, and each moment in time. On behalf of all of the staff and governors at Cropthorne with Charlton, we wish you a happy and healthy summer.