Emergency Closure

Monday 8th January 2024

All parents, carers and students should note that there is a mechanical fault with our school heating plant, which colleagues from the Place Directorate have been tackling over the festive period.  Work is ongoing to restore the heating system and we have been assured that the repair will be in place late tomorrow (Tuesday).

Following a meeting this morning with Midlothian Place and Education Directorate colleagues, school staff and the relevant trade union representatives a decision has been taken to close the school to almost all students tomorrow, Tuesday 9th January.  All students will be expected to follow their normal Tuesday timetable from home and access their learning through the relevant Google Classroom for all their classes.  All teachers will be in school and will post work for each of their classes.  They will be available through the Google Classroom Stream to answer any questions that students have about their work during that timetabled period.  If any teacher is absent through illness the relevant Principal Teacher will post work.

The exception to this is for those students in our Additional Needs Provision (The Pod).  All teaching for these students will take place in-person in the new Temporary Unit in the playground.  This building is unaffected by the school problem.  Pod staff will contact families separately to confirm arrangements, including transport.

College courses, other than Foundation Apprenticeships, will run as normal and as advised pre-Christmas.  Transport from the school will be available at the normal pick-up times.

Our Student Support and Creative Learning Teams will also work through their Google Classrooms. This means that PSE lessons will run as will any classes where students spend time with staff in Creative Learning.   In addition, parents and carers can contact the Student Support Team by telephoning the school, and selecting the Student Support option or through relevant House Wellbeing Email addresses:

• Melville – MEWellbeing.lasswade@midlothian.education
• Mount Esk – MKWellbeing.lasswade@midlothian.education
• St Anne’s – SAWellbeing.lasswade@midlothian.education
• St Leonard’s – SLWellbeing.lasswade@midlothian.education

Student Support staff will also make some check-in telephone calls with some of our families tomorrow.

Our Nursery will also be closed on Tuesday.  Affected families will be contacted separately with additional details.

Those families in receipt of a Free School Meal will receive a payment through our BACS system.

We expect the school to be open to all students on Wednesday 10th January.  However,  it may take some time to get the temperature around the school fully back to normal.  Students are advised to dress appropriately and wear additional layers to assist their comfort.

As you’d expect progress with the repairs will be monitored closely.  We expect to confirm arrangements for Wednesday with parents/carers, via a GroupCall message,  no later than 1.00pm on Tuesday 9th January.

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