ACTION REQUIRED- Follow up letters

As parents you can be very much assured that your RHS Prep Parents' Group is constantly aware of what is going on with the whole Prep Funding issue. Within our group, we keep an up to-the-minute eye on Stormont and keep in contact with those people/organisations who can support us along the way.

However, even though we are up-to-date with our information, we feel that it is very important that as parents too, you continue to show your support and play your important part in this campaign.

We are therefore encouraging all parents to write/email back, in particular, to those MLA's, Ministers or organisations who replied to your original EQIA response letters that you wrote at the beginning of March. Feel free to write to others who didn't, but at this stage you are more than likely to get a second response from those who originally replied to you. Keep lines of communication open!

ADDITIONALLY PLEASE WRITE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ENCOURAGE THE EDUCATION MINISTER TO MAKE HER DECISION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

A short letter to simply request a follow up/update on the current situation is adequate. It is the volume of letters which will count this time.

The purpose of these letters, is not simply to get information we already know, but it clearly shows our continued concern, that we haven't gone away and are still waiting for a positive outcome. Remember it is their duty to reply to you.

YOUR LETTER/EMAIL

You may wish to include some of the following points;

• the matter remains unresolved causing considerable upset and worry to parents, children and teachers

• we have already entered the final term for the school year and seek an assurance that every effort will be made to ensure that families are not left in a position where their children have no assurance that their schooling arrangements will not be thrown into disarray by ill advised decision making or lack of it by the Education Minister.

SAMPLE LETTER/EMAIL

RE: Prep Funding

Dear

I am writing in regard to my previous correspondence to you on ...March 2010.

As a concerned Regent House School Preparatory Department parent whose SEELB "controlled" prep department could face closure if prep funding is withdrawn, I am hoping that you might have some further information on where the situation is at currently and if there has been any decision made. Please could you provide me with an update or information at this time?

As a concerned parent I am keen to make sure this issue does not get brushed under the carpet and that a positive outcome for our children and teachers is achieved quickly.

I look forward to hearing from you on this issue.

Your sincerely