Dear Parents

I have agreed with the class reps that the Nursery gate will be open for access to the Reception playground only. The gate will be opened at 8.40am and locked at 9am when the Nursery children arrive. It will be opened again at 3pm and locked after 3.20pm. Please note this is for Reception children and parents only (unless there is a sibling in the Infants). No children are allowed to play in the Nursery playground and the gate must not be used as a shortcut for other children. If we find that this is happening, it will have to be kept locked again.

I am sure that you are as keen as I am to see the window problem sorted out as soon as possible. Last week a meeting took place with Croydon Council and it appears that the blue netting will remain for several months yet.

The problem lies in the concrete surrounds to the windows. Some of the reinforcement rods within the concrete have become corroded and have caused the concrete to crack. You will be aware that the netting is in place to prevent any loose material falling.

In one area a small amount of asbestos was found. Before work can begin on our windows, it is essential that a full asbestos survey is carried out on a sample of windows, under controlled conditions, to identify the risk, if any. Following that, a plan of repairs to the windows will be put together.

It is normal for schools to have an asbestos survey to identify any likely source of asbestos in the building. When the asbestos consultants find asbestos, they merely put a warning sign at the location and log it in the school’s asbestos survey report. There is absolutely no danger to health and as long as the asbestos remains undisturbed, there is no risk. These red signs indicating the presence of asbestos, which you will find in many public buildings of a similar age, are fairly common. Indeed it is likely that many homes contain asbestos material, for example in garage roofs.

During the half-term holiday, a certified asbestos removal firm, together with asbestos consultants and Croydon Council, will remove the windows in 5H and a smaller window in a corridor. This removal will take place in fully tented conditions with full air monitoring and under controlled conditions. The windows will be removed and fully cleaned. The concrete surround will then be inspected for asbestos, still under these controlled conditions. If asbestos is found (it may not) it will be removed. Once the whole area is certified as being safe and free from asbestos, the tenting will be removed and the windows refitted.

Before the end of the week I will be given a certificate to show that the area is safe to use and that there is no asbestos in the air.

The Health & Safety Executive has been informed of the work. No one actually knows if any asbestos will be found. However, the findings of this survey will inform the planning for the work to be done to repair the concrete.

During the half-term holiday, there is no risk to any staff that may wish to work in the building, and the field may still be used as planned.

I just wanted to reassure you that there is absolutely no risk to anyone’s health. If you had not been informed of this and saw asbestos removal vans and big tents, you might have been alarmed!

Once the survey has been carried out I will be in a better position to give you more information about the work to be done.

May I remind all parents of girls that our school uniform includes a summer dress, but this is of the blue stripe variety, and not check. Our PA has a second hand uniform sale this Friday, and there are a number of good quality dresses available.