Dear Paul Marshall,

As parents of children who attend Kingslea and Heron Way Primary schools in Horsham, we were informed today (Thursday) that the planned reopening of our schools to all pupils from Monday next week has been opposed at the last minute by the Council.

We, as parents, wholeheartedly support the plans our schools have spent weeks putting in place, in close consultation with us and for the benefit of all our children. The reopening offers every child the opportunity to end their school year on a positive note, after what has been a traumatic and unsettling time for many of them.

The children have been looking forward to going back to their classrooms, reconnecting with their friends, seeing their teachers, and enjoying some of the social interaction and normality that they have craved for three long months. Uniforms and book bags have been dusted off. Parents have been preparing the children for this moment emotionally and practically. Staff have spent countless hours scrupulously putting into place plans that enable all our children to return to school in a safe environment, to benefit from a few days of normality before the end of the school year.

We understand that the Council's decision is based on a mandate that Reception, Y1 and Y6 should attend school full time, which preclude all year groups returning on a part-time basis. This means that some children will have attended school for two months when others have had no access at all, despite stringent measures being in place to allow all children to return safely.

We, as parents of Kingslea and Heron Way Primary school strongly and unanimously support the return of all our children, based on the plans our schools have put in place. We cannot overstate the disappointment and further trauma that will be caused to the children by their planned return being cancelled. At a time when our schools have gone above and beyond what anyone could have expected from them, we see scant recognition from the Council of their support for their school leaders and the wellbeing of Horsham children.

These are times our children will never forget. Our schools have had their best interests at heart and our full support throughout. We urge you to do the right thing and work with them to ensure they can reopen as planned next week, and offer a positive outcome for all our children.

Yours sincerely,

Kingslea and Heron Way Primary School parents