Good afternoon to you all,

Despite the very challenging circumstances we found ourselves in, it feels like we settled into a new routine and way of working very quickly thanks to your support, the hard work of my fantastic team and the amazing adaptability of our lovely Fordley children.

I am very pleased to be able to share an update on the next steps to returning all of our Fordley children back to their home on our Fordley school site.

What will be happening on the Fordley Primary school site?

We have been working closely over the last few months with North Tyneside Council, and a modular buildings company, to plan for brand new bespoke modular classrooms (classrooms and toilet facilities which can be built on our school site) to be designed to fit the educational needs of our children and the layout of our site.   It was essential that we took the time needed to do this properly so that they are designed to create an educational environment that our children rightly deserve.   

I am now in a position to confirm the fantastic news that the modular classrooms have now been ordered. 

What facilities will the new modular buildings have?

All classrooms will have mains lighting and heating, hot and cold water, connection to our fire alarm and security alarm system, WiFi access as well as direct access to toilet facilities.

When will this work begin?

It was confirmed with me yesterday that the ground work needed to prepare our site for the buildings to be constructed will be due to start the week beginning 18^th March.  If this is likely to cause any disruption to safe access to our site, I will let you know in advance.

How will the modular buildings be organised?

The layout will be as follows:

• A Nursery block for Nursery and Fordley Flyers will be built on the grassed area next to the original Nursery outdoor area.  This will mean ease of access for drop offs and collections, security and safety as well as access to the grassed outdoor area shared with Reception
• Classroom blocks (with cloakroom and toilet facilities) for Y2, Y3, Y4, Y5 and Y6 will be built around the edge of the KS2 yard in an L-shape
• Reception will return to their original classrooms
• Y2 will move to their own purpose built classrooms
• Y3 will move to their own purpose built classrooms
• A structurally safe corridor will be built to link both sides of the main building together
• We will repurpose the space left inside the main building for 1:1 and small group activities

What is the likely timeline for all of this to happen?

We plan to return year groups in this order:

• Fordley Flyers and Nursery will be the first block to be built and we are hopeful this should be ready to use after the Easter break
• The following year groups will return in this order and we hope to do this as quickly as possible over the first half of the summer term:
  1. Y2 will be moved into their new purpose built classrooms so that Reception will be able to return to their original classrooms
  2. Y3, Y4 , Y5 and Y6 will then be moved into their new purpose built classrooms as soon as they are ready
• We are hopeful that all of our children will be back on our school site by the start of the last half of the summer term (all being well with the construction of the buildings)

Once the works start I will have a better idea of expected dates of return for each of the different year groups.

In the meantime, I have assurances from the Headteachers of both Greenfields Primary and North Gosforth Academy that our children are extremely welcome to stay until their classrooms are ready.

And finally

As always, the education, wellbeing and care of your child is the very first thing we think about whenever we make decisions and plan how to make sure they are well looked after every day. 

I will keep you updated on the next steps for each year group as soon as I have them and I appreciate your patience and understanding whilst you have been waiting for this information.

If you have any direct questions, please send me a message on here or email office@fordleyprimary.org.uk. Either I, or one of our senior leaders (Mr Maule, Mrs Boyes, Mrs Langley, Mrs Miller or Mrs Butler), will be in touch with you directly to answer your query.

As always, we will respond as quickly as we can.

Yours sincerely,

Claire Withers

Headteacher