Essential roofing works Summer 2026
Dear parent / carer
The Local Authority need to carry out some essential roofing works on our Early Years building this summer.
As parents / carers of Reception children may remember, we were forced to close to children for one day earlier this year, due to the poor condition of the roof, resulting in significant leaks inside the building during heavy rainfall. We hope you can therefore appreciate the necessity of these works and support us as we seek to accommodate the Local Authority building plan.
Due to the significant scope of the works, building work will begin during the May half term holiday.
The works will be focused over Reception class areas and Out of School Club. We will have no access to these areas from the start of the roofing works for health and safety reasons. There will be some changes for Nursery, the KEEP, Reception, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 5 and OOSC as a direct result of these works. Please read below to see how this will impact your child.
Nursery
From Monday 1st June, children will continue to access the Nursery space as normal and continue to have access to the EY outdoor space. Children who stay for lunch and afternoon KEEP sessions will now have their lunch in the EY hall, at their usual time, before moving to the KEEP. Pick up and drop off from the Nursery will move to be via the gate near the corner of Blanchland Terrace and Preston Avenue.
The KEEP
From Monday 1st June, children will continue to access the KEEP indoor space. Children will have lunch in the EY hall along with children from Nursery so that all children can benefit from this transition and experience. There will be some limitations to the KEEP outdoor space due to scaffolding and site access but this will be safely cordoned off from children. Pick up and drop off from the KEEP will be via the white door in the KS1 yard.
Reception
From Monday 1st June, children in Reception will move with their teachers, support staff and learning resources to the current Year 1 classrooms. This will ensure children have access to the appropriate Reception curriculum as well as access to toilets and their usual eating space within the EY hall. Children will continue to have access to the EY outdoor space. Reception pick up and drop off will be via the Year 1 door. This will also then support their transition to Year 1 after the summer holidays.
Year 1
From Monday 1st June, children in Year 1 will move with their teachers, support staff and learning resources to the current Year 2 classrooms in the main building. This will be an excellent form of early transition for Year 1. It will allow them to become used to their new learning space for September, but with the staff they already know. Year 1 will use the current Year 2 toilets and cloakrooms and have lunch in the main school hall (as they will in September). Pick up and drop off will be via the Year 2 door. This is the door at the far end of the KS2 yard, near the school garden.
Year 2
From Monday 1st June, children in Year 2 will move with their teachers, support staff and learning resources. 2C will move to the current 3O classroom. 2D will move to one of the two large meeting rooms at the end of the main hall which will be set up as a classroom. Year 2 will have access to the Year 2 and Year 3 toilets and space will be made within the classrooms to store coats and bags. Year 2 children are already familiar with these areas. Pick up and drop off will be via the Year 3 door which is the door closest to the gate in the KS2 yard.
Year 3
From Monday 1st June, children in 3O will move to one of the two large meeting rooms at the end of the main hall which will be set up as a classroom. They will continue to access Y3 toilets and cloakroom. 3T will remain in their current classroom Pick up and drop off will continue to be the Y3 door.
Year 5
From Monday 1st June, all children will use the Y4 door near the community room doors in the KS1 yard for pick up and drop off. There is no change to their learning space.
OOSC
From Monday 18th May, OOSC will be held in the gym and community room. OOSC staff will set up the area with appropriate resources. Children will also have access to the KS2 yard and field when appropriate. Pick up and drop off will be via the community room doors (sliding glass door) at the bottom of the KS1 yard. During the summer holidays, OOSC will move back to the EY building and utilise the Y1 classrooms, EY hall and EY outdoor space.
Remote learning day / partial closure for Reception, Year 1 and Year 2
School will be physically closed to Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 children for one day on Friday 22nd May 2026. This is to allow staff to move all teaching resources and set up appropriate learning spaces for these year groups when they return for the rest of the summer term. On this day, remote learning will be set with fun out and about challenges that children can take part in with their families. Further information will be shared closer to the time.
We recognise that there are a number of changes which impact a large portion of our school community. But the work being undertaken is vital to ensure the safety and integrity of the building going forward. Please rest assured that we will do everything in our power to ensure your children are appropriately supported during this disruption to our site. All works will be managed with appropriate health and safety considerations.
The Local Authority have advised that these works will conclude at the end of the summer holidays. We therefore plan to open to welcome all children back to their new year groups as normal in September 2026. Should weather cause any unexpected delays, we have been assured that the roofing works will be at least sufficiently complete, that by September, it would be safe to be inside the building while any final finishing off is completed.
Thank you for your support and understanding.
Miss Byrne
Headteacher
