UPDATE 21/05/2020

News

21st May 2020

Thursday 21st May 2020

 

Dear Parents and Carers,

 

Thank you for your continued support during these uncertain and worrying times. As I stated last week, the Government announced on Sunday 10th May that schools could open for Reception Class, Year One and Year Six. As you know, schools have been open throughout this time and the online classrooms have been extremely successful in providing learning and support for our children and their families. I am extremely grateful to the staff and families for making the online classrooms the success they have been. Google Classroom will continue for the children in all year groups and the children returning will be completing the same activities but in school. The key worker groups have received outstanding care and support from the staff throughout this time while their parents delivered other frontline services.

 

I would have liked even more reassurance and evidence from the government at the prospect of greater numbers returning and I am still very concerned on this matter. As I write, there are still discussions about the safety of opening as early as stated.

 

We have completed a thorough Risk Assessment of the school and have considered all aspects of the possible return. We have now put a clear plan together that minimises risk as much as we possibly can, whilst putting the child and their emotional well-being first as well as that of my staff and the school community.  I would appreciate it if you read this letter thoroughly to ensure that you have considered everything that we have had to put in place.

 

Timetable

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Keyworker

children group in

Keyworker  children group in

Keyworker  children group in

Keyworker  children group in

Keyworker  children group in

Yr R, 1 and 6

Children

Group A

Yr R, 1 and 6

Children

Group A

Closed for a deep clean between groups and staff planning time

Yr R, 1 and 6

Children

Group B

Yr R, 1 and 6

Children

Group B

 

Staggered Times

 

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. 

 

Staff and children will have the choice to wear any face coverings and each class will regularly wipe down touch surfaces throughout the day.

 

Different toilets will be assigned to different groups.

 

Suspected Case of Covid 19

 

If there was a suspected case of Covid 19 in one of our bubbles, the pupil will sit in our school lobby and will be monitored by Mrs Gordge or Mr Braund and parents will be asked to collect their child immediately. 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 will need to be ordered online by Wednesday 27th May.

 

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.

 

The government guidance has recommended that we can have 15 children in a classroom with one adult. We have decided to have two members of staff with every group/bubble. Our numbers are indicating that we will have groups smaller than this.

 

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 receive 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. 

 

The Government has informed us that the final decision to reopen the school R, 1 and 6 will be made on Thursday 28th May. We will notify you as soon as we have been informed.

 

If the Government takes the decision that Monday 1st June is not the right time to open, we will continue to provide the support that we already have in place.

 

Please keep checking the school website for further updates.

 

Best wishes,

 

Mark Braund