Parental Letter - Netherthird Ps Decant

Our Ref: AW/EO’N

11 August 2017

To:All Parent/Carers of Pupils Attending:

Netherthird Primary School

Greenmill Primary School

Cumnock Academy

Dear Parent/Carer

NETHERTHIRD PRIMARY SCHOOL – EMERGENCY DECANT

During a programme of intrusive structural inspections undertaken during the summer holidays an issue was identified with the ceilings in the Primary School classrooms.

Structural Engineers have advised repair work is required and as a precaution and to undertake further investigations arrangements are being made to decant the Primary School for the start of term.

The Early Learning and Childcare Centre is unaffected and will continue to operate as normal.

Arrangements are being made to accommodate Primary 1 to 5 in Greenmill Primary School and Primary 6 and 7 in Cumnock Academy.

Exceptional closure days have been requested on Thursday 17, Friday 18 and Monday 21 August, for Netherthird pupils, to allow adequate time for appropriate arrangements to be made at the receiving schools. The school will reopen on Tuesday 22 August.

Exceptional closure days for Thursday 17 and Friday 18 August have been requested for Greenmill Primary pupils in order to allow the appropriate preparations to take place there, reopening on Monday 21 August.

Transport will be provided for Netherthird Primary pupils to the decant schools.

Special Arrangements are required for new Primary 1 pupils for Netherthird Primary. Pupils should arrive at Netherthird for a 9.30 am departure to Greenmill Primary on Tuesday 22 August. Pupils and one parent will be transported to Greenmill Primary to allow pupils to be accompanied to their new surroundings. Parents will be transported back to Netherthird at approximately 10 am. Process will be repeated at the end of the school day with Primary 1 parents being transported from Netherthird at 2.10 pm to collect pupils from Greenmill at approximately 2.30 pm. These arrangements apply only on Tuesday 22 August.

From Wednesday 23 August Primary 1 pupils will follow the same start and finish times as all other pupils.

Transport to Greenmill Primary will leave Netherthird Primary at 8.50 am each morning with access to the buses from 8.30 am onwards. Staff will accompany pupils on this journey. Pick up from Greenmill Primary at the end of the school day will be at 3.15 pm.

Communication is being issued today through social media and further information will be provided on the Council Website.

A drop in session has been arranged to take place on Thursday 17 August to provide further information. The meeting will be held in the Netherthird Community Centre between 4.30 pm and 7.00 pm. School staff and East Ayrshire Council representatives will be in attendance.

Yours sincerely

ALAN WARD

Head of Education