Dear Parents/Carers,

You may have heard about the tragic event of the 21st of December in which one of our students and her mother lost their lives in a house fire. 

The emergency services report that the fire was started by an unattended candle downstairs in the house.

As a school community and as you will no doubt recognise, we are all deeply affected by this tragedy. I am sure that you will wish to join me and my staff in offering our condolences and sympathy to Emilia's father and sister. Many of you will indeed have been amongst those who so generously have provided support to the family at this difficult time.

I am now writing to make you aware of the following arrangements that we have made for tomorrow, the 5th January.

• school will begin with a tutor period, starting at 08:40 and running through to 08:55;
• lesson one will be therefore shortened to finish at the usual time;
• there will be an additional tutor period at the usual time, which will give staff and students time to come together and reflect;
• emotional support has been arranged for school staff to assist us in supporting the children and our wider school community including yourselves as parents/carers.

I think it is very important that we all take the time to talk with and reassure children about what has happened. This is likely to be a very difficult time for us as a school community and we will all need to support each other. We have some information in school about loss and bereavement and how to support children and each other so please ask if you would like to have any of this.

We appreciate the expressions of concern we have received, however it would be helpful if parents did not telephone the school during this time so we can keep phones and staff free to manage the situation.

Yours sincerely

Mr David Conway, Headteacher