BREAKING NEWS: Milford Junior School to CLOSE with immediate effect

PARENTS of children at Milford Junior School in Yeovil have been told that the school has CLOSED with immediate effect because the buildings are unsafe.

Milford Junior School in Glenthorne Avenue, off Mudford Road, has more than 400 pupils who will now have to be found somewhere new to receive their education from September.

A letter has gone out to parents of pupils at Milford Junior School and the adjoining Milford Infants School telling them what is happening.

The letter reads: “Regular building surveys are carried out at all our schools to monitor the conditions of the buildings.

“A recent survey was carried out two weeks ago on the Milford Junior School site, which established there are concerns about the structure of the building. In the best interests of pupils and staff, the Milford Junior School building sadly needs to close with immediate effect.

“As a precautionary measure, Somerset County Council is also undertaking further and more detailed checks and inspections at Milford Infants School - although no concerns are evident from the initial findings of its most recent survey which took place at the beginning of the summer holiday.

“Over the past week, we have had a number of meetings with the Department for Education (DfE) and Somerset County Council to consider at pace the short, medium and long-term options for the school. Everyone is focussed on our main priority of getting the children into school safely and as quickly as possible.”

The building at Milford Junior School, part of the Huish Academy Trust, will close indefinitely and alternative educational provision will be in place for pupils from Monday, September 12.

Due to these circumstances, and in order to give staff further time to adapt and plan, children will return to face-to-face education slightly later than planned.

All children will return from September 12 and education provision will be delivered via alternative nearby school sites.

The letter states: “Please be reassured children will remain in their year groups and with their teachers and classmates.

“We will be in touch to confirm exact arrangements of where and when these will be next week including answering any questions you may have around transport, siblings, free school meals etc. From the September 1, children will access educational provision via online learning (similar to during the Covid pandemic). We will issue further guidance on how to access online learning provision to all parents early next week.

“We are aiming to invite children and parents to meet their new teachers in their re-sited classrooms in the week beginning September 5 so that they are clear about where they will be learning and how their classes will look. If your child has SEN, the SENCO will contact you directly to explain how they will be supported.

“We will update you with further information next week and confirm arrangements for your child’s return to face-to-face educational provision from Monday, September 12.”

As a precautionary measure only, further detailed assessments are now taking place at Milford Infants School. However, no concerns were evident from its most recent survey which took place at the beginning of the summer holiday.

Again, due to these structural assessments, children at the Infant School will also return to face-to-face education slightly later than planned. All children will return from Monday, September 12.

The letter continues: “We will be in touch next week once we know the outcome of additional inspections and confirm exact arrangements for children who attend Milford Infant School.

“If we are able to reopen the Infant School sooner, we will do so and notify parents accordingly. But at this time, we fully expect the school to reopen on September 12.

“From the September 5, children will access educational provision via online learning (similar to during the Covid pandemic). We will issue further guidance to all parents next week.”

The letter added: “Please be reassured that the pre-school is not affected by the above and will continue to operate as normal.

“We apologise for the inconvenience these changes will cause, but I’m sure you agree the safety of children and staff must take precedence.

“Further information will be issued to you next week which we hope will answer any questions you may have.

“However, there will be representatives available from Huish Academy Trust and Somerset County Council at a parent/carer drop-in session taking place in the sports hall at Yeovil College on September 1 from 5pm to 7pm if you’d like to attend.”

The letter has been signed by Milford Junior School headteacher Claire Laverty and Milford Infants School headteacher Wendy Chant.

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