29th May 2020
Friday 29th May 2020
Dear Parents and Carers,
I hope you are all safe and well and that you had an enjoyable half-term! The weather was glorious and hopefully it lasts several weeks.
As you are aware the Government confirmed on Thursday 28th May that the children in EYFS, Year One and Year Six can return to school along with the children of Key Workers on Monday 1st June. I communicated our plans to you before half-term and am writing to confirm these plans.
I am sure that you will be aware that this has been a logistical challenge to design a timetable to enable groups/bubbles to be kept separate from other groups and have completely different staff working with the various bubbles. There will be at two members of staff with every bubble. The government guidance gave a ratio of one member of staff per group of fifteen. Our groups will be smaller than fifteen and we will have more staff than the suggested ratio.
Bubbles will only remain open if we have the required staff to support. If we become stretched as a school, in line with guidance, Year Six will be closed. Google Classroom will continue to be operational throughout this time to support children and families at home.
Children in KS2 that are not respecting social distancing will be reminded by staff. If this continues, parents will be asked to collect their child.
Children must be temperature checked by parents and carers before coming to school and confirm to Mr Braund or member of staff outside that this has been done.
I apologise that the rest of this letter has already been sent out but it is important that everyone understands the plans and procedures we have in place.
Staggered Times
Mrs Price has kindly uploaded videos of me explaining drop off on this section of the website. Please take the time to view them so that you are clear about the drop off next week.
The school day will be staggered as follows:
It is important the following timings are strictly adhered to in order to minimise social contact and ensure that social distancing can be respected.
Key Worker children will be able to come in from 8am. They must use the side entrance at the front of the school that leads to Classes Three and Four. The children will be met by a member of staff at the gate. Parents must not pass this gate. Key Worker groups will be split in to two bubbles. A KS1 bubble and a KS2 bubble. KS1 will be based in Mr Lake’s Classroom (Class Four) and KS2 will be based in Mrs Gavins’ Classroom (Class Three).
Class Six will start at 8:40am. We ask that children do not leave cars until signalled to do so. Children can be accompanied by one parent to a member of staff of their group at the entrance of the swimming pool playground. Parents must not enter the playground. The school day will finish at 3:10 for Class Six. A member of staff will bring the children to the gates of the swimming pool playground and direct children safely back to their cars. Parents who come by foot will be asked to wait alongside the fence between the car park playground and the swimming pool playground.
Class One will start at 9:00am. We ask that children do not leave cars until signalled to do so. Children can be accompanied by one parent to a member of staff of their group at the entrance of the swimming pool playground. Parents must not enter the playground. Class One children will enter the school through the Class Two entrance. The school day will finish at 2:50pm for Class One. A member of staff will bring the children to the gates of the swimming pool playground and direct children safely back to their cars. Parents who come by foot will be asked to wait along the fence between the car park playground and the swimming pool playground.
Reception Class will start at 9:20am. We ask that children do not leave cars until signalled to do so. Children can be accompanied by one parent to a member of staff of their group at the entrance gate that leads to Reception Class. An adult will be in the outside area to send the children through the classroom door to another member of staff. The school day will finish at 2:30pm for Reception Class. A member of staff will bring the children to the gates of the swimming pool playground and direct children safely back to their cars. Parents who come by foot will be asked to wait along the fence between the car park playground and the swimming pool playground, keeping a 2m distance.
For families that have siblings in more than one class, they must drop off and collect at the time of youngest sibling.
Key worker children will not be able to be in both bubbles and must decide whether to remain with the key worker bubble or class bubble.
Suspected Case of Covid 19
If there was a suspected case of Covid 19 in one of our bubbles, the pupil will sit in Office Reception Area. Parents of children within that particular bubble will be informed that a child has gone home with symptoms. The child must have a swab test and show the results to the school. If the results come back positive, the family will need to isolate for 14 days as will all families and staff within that bubble. The rest of the school will be informed of any confirmed cases.
Inhalers must be brought in and kept in school bags. If your child needs an inhaler and a form hasn’t been completed, I would request that parents access the form from our school website and complete. Please take a photo of the completed form and email it to the school office.
We cannot administer any other medication.
School Uniform and Resources
Children will be asked to wear school uniform but school shoes or trainers can be worn. No open toed sandals please.
The children are permitted to bring a small bag containing the following:
- summer hat
- drinks bottle
- packed lunch
Children in KS1 will be given a packed lunch. These need to be ordered online by the end of Wednesday the week before.
We ask that sun lotion is applied by parents before coming to school. Children can bring in sun lotion as well but must put it on themselves. School books, pencil cases and any other items are not to be brought in. Resource packs will be provided by the school.
Children will be using items such as Lego in Reception Class and PE resources at playtime. They will be made to wash their hands before and after using these items. These items will only be used within their bubble and will be cleaned regularly.
We will aim to have the children outside as much as possible. PE lessons will be in their school uniform. We ask that children wear a separate set of school uniform for day two.
Playtimes and Lunchtimes
Playtimes will be staggered. Year One and the Key Workers KS1 bubble will have playtime from 10:25 – 10:40 on separate playgrounds. Reception Class and the Key Workers KS2 bubble will have playtime from 10:45 – 11:00 on separate playgrounds and Year Six will have their playtime from 11:00-11:15.
Lunchtimes will also be staggered. Reception and the Key Worker KS1 bubble will have lunch from 12:00-1:00. Year One, Year Six and the Key Worker KS2 bubble will have lunch from 12:20-1:20. The groups will be on different playgrounds and on different parts of the field.
The five bubbles will have play equipment and the children wash their hands before and after using the equipment. The equipment will be washed.
While the children will not be able to use the climbing equipment on the KS1 or KS2 playgrounds, each bubble will have some play equipment. The children will wash their hands before and after use. The equipment will be washed regularly.
You will have received an email confirming what group your child will be in and on what days they will attend.
I hope this letter has covered all areas of a safe return to school. I cannot emphasise enough that sadly it will feel very strange to the children when returning. My aim is to keep the children, staff and families happy, reassured and as safe as we possibly can.
Please keep checking the school website for further updates.
Best wishes,
Mark Braund
