Important Heatwave Update: Friday 26th June

Firstly, we would like to thank you for all your kind messages and notes of support. These have really meant a lot to the team and given everyone a real lift during what has been a very tough week.

Due to the ongoing heatwave, with the UK Health Security Agency's Red Alert (extended until 11 pm on Friday, 26th June) in place, both campuses remain open, but provision will be adjusted to prioritise safety and well-being over the normal curriculum.

Key Actions for Parents

  • Keep Children Home if Possible: We strongly advise families to consider keeping children at home on Friday if they can make alternative arrangements (especially for the Rooksdown campus, which is still experiencing severe indoor temperatures above 31 degrees and rising)

  • Early Collection Option: For children attending school, an early collection time is available at 12:00 midday, before temperatures peak

  • Cancel Meals on Scopay: If your child is not attending tomorrow, please cancel any meal orders on ScoPay before midnight tonight

  • Check Meal Selection on Scopay: If your child is coming into school and having a school lunch, please check your meal order as this has been changed to Cheese (V) or ham (M) picnic 

  • Absence Notification: If you have the Arbor parent app, you can now log absences by going to the three line menu, choosing absence and then log absence at the top of the screen. This will then be sent directly to admin. You will only be able to do this on the day of the absence. Doing this will help with managing the situation, we are currently working through over 500 absence emails. If you are unable to do this, please leave a voicemail on Tel: 01256 473777 following the instructions, or drop us an email stating your name and your child's class. You do not need to do this if you have already notified us about Friday's absence, as we have captured these on the system already, and you will just add to our administrative workload

Transition Day Update

  •  Year 6 & School Transition Days (POSTPONED): We have been informed by several secondary schools—including Cranbourne, Brighton Hill, Bluecoat and Everest - that they have cancelled their Year 6 transition days scheduled for tomorrow. These are expected to be rearranged for Friday, 3rd July.

  • Internal Move-Up Day (POSTPONED): In light of the secondary school transition day cancellations, we will no longer hold our school move-up day tomorrow. To keep things aligned, this will also be rescheduled to the morning of Friday, 3rd July.

School Adjustments

  • Normal lessons are paused; classes and year groups may be mixed due to anticipated staff shortages.

  • Staff are actively supporting pupils as the extreme heat is impacting concentration, behaviour, and emotional regulation.

If you have no alternative childcare, the school remains open to support you. 

Thank you for your continued understanding and cooperation during this challenging week. We look forward to seeing all the children back in on Monday, when temperatures should be much more manageable, and to returning to normal teaching.