Layton Primary School announces plans to close as 'it is not possible to run the school safely' due to coronavirus

The school, on Meyler Avenue, Layton, will close at 3.15pm tomorrow and will not reopen until after the Easter holidays, on April 20.

In a letter, head teacher Jonathan Clucas said: "As a result of the new advice issued by the government yesterday regarding self-isolation, the impact on staffing has meant that it is not currently operationally possible to run the school safely. Our aim is to follow the government's advice and keep all our families, staff and school community safe.

"A skeleton staff will still be in school in order to carry on working until the situation changes. Therefore, should the current advice change, we will let parents know as soon as possible.

"We are awaiting further information regarding free school meals and will communicate separately about this as soon as possible."

Pupils in years 1 to 6 will be allowed to take home iPads containing a variety of educational apps from the school during the closure.

Messages will be sent home via the school’s parent app regarding how to assist home learning. Parents who are not signed up to the parent app are urged to call the school office.