๐ School Closed on Monday 19th September
Mr J Sharp
Following the announcement from Buckingham Palace of the death of our sovereign, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, a period of National Mourning has started and will continue until the end of the State Funeral. This is a period of time for reflection in response to the death of the Sovereign.
Guidance providing the public, businesses and institutions with advice on the period of National Mourning following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has been issued by the Cabinet Office.โฏ
The official date of the State Funeral is 19 September 2022. This day will be a bank holiday and settings that are normally closed on a bank holiday should close on this day as a mark of respect. This will include schools and colleges.
For further information please refer to the DfE Education Advisory Guidance.
National Mourning Period
For early years providers, there is no obligation for settings to observe particular behaviours during the mourning period. Depending on the nature and location of your setting and the tone of planned events, some settings may wish to consider closing or postponing events, especially on the day of the State Funeral, however this is at the discretion of individual settings.
For schools and further education settings normal attendance is expected throughout the National Mourning period, other than the bank holiday.
Whilst normal attendance is expected, education leaders continue to have the power to authorise leaves of absence for pupils in exceptional circumstances. Any requests for leave of absence should be considered on a case-by-case basis, taking into account individual circumstances.
Attendance expectations should be clearly communicated to parents and carers.
State Funeral / Bank holiday
For early years providers, as with other bank holidays, it is at the discretion of individual settings whether they close or stay open. There would be no expectation for early years and childcare settings to remain open on the bank holiday.
Schools and further education settings are not expected to remain open on the bank holiday. It should be treated as any normal bank holiday.
If any selective testing is due to take place on the bank holiday, we strongly encourage schools and admission authorities to work together to find an alternative date.
Ofsted
Ofsted inspections will continue as normal through the mourning period. No inspections will be scheduled on the bank holiday. Settings should discuss any concerns with Ofsted, including whether they are facing exceptional circumstances that might warrant deferral of their inspection.
You can also visit the Palaceโs website for more information about the mourning period.
We know teachers, lecturers, early years colleagues and social workers around the country have an important role to play in reassuring children and young people at this difficult time.