Dear Parents/Carers,
You will be aware from coverage in the media that, due to proposed industrial action, in accordance with the provisions of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1992, the National Education Union (NEU) are calling upon their members to strike. While the planned action is as a result of a national dispute between the unions and the government, and not the Gosforth Group it is important that we respond accordingly.
The proposed industrial action will take place on Wednesday 1st and Tuesday 28th February, and Wednesday 15th and Thursday 16th March 2023.
It is our intention that your child's school will remain open on those dates. However, staff shortages due to strike action, may mean that we will be unable to deliver normal provision. The decision to close a school or send pupils home is never taken lightly and we will endeavour to keep the school open, providing we have enough staff cover to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of all pupils.
We are aware that school closures inconvenience parents and carers, so I am writing to give you advance notice that there may be a partial closure of our school, so that you have time to plan childcare for your children.
We will treat the strikes as individual instances and will, therefore, make a decision and inform parents no later than one week prior to each of the proposed strike dates.
Consequently, we will be communicating the outcome of the risk assessment and its implications by Wednesday 25th January 2023, to confirm arrangements for Wednesday 1st February 2023.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Yours faithfully
Denise Waugh
Principal