Monday 1^st March 2021

 

Wider opening – Monday 8^th March 2021

 

Dear Parents and Carers,

 

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement last week, we once again set our sights on the full opening of schools on Monday 8^th March. Over the last two months, our staff, children and parents have once again faced the challenges presented by COVID with determination and resilience in juggling family commitments with home-schooling. For this we thank you all.

 

Thankfully, we are now in a position where we can confirm the Government has allowed schools to reopen fully from Monday 8^th March and we look forward to welcoming back all of our pupils.

In order to effectively manage the risks that remain, we wanted to remind you of the protective measures we have in place, and what you will need to do to help ensure we can be as safe as possible for everyone. We do not know how long these measures will be in place and will update as instructed by Government guidance.

Please read the following carefully so you understand the measures and expectations in place to ensure the safety of all pupils and staff.

 

Attendance

 

• From Monday 8^th March, school attendance will be mandatory again. This means that the legal duty on parents of children of compulsory school age will apply. It is vital that children return to school for their educational progress, wellbeing and wider development.
• Where shielding advice remains in place for your child, liaise directly with us so we can put in place appropriate risk assessments.
• In the unlikely event of anyone booking holidays, it is the expectation that parents will avoid a holiday in term-time as this will cause further disruption to their child’s education. Holidays in term-time must be in writing to the Headteacher using the appropriate form and providing details of the destination to be visited. If the area to be visited is at high risk of transmission of the coronavirus, for the safety of others the school must ensure that children have adhered to self-isolation before returning to school.

*Term time dates are available to view via our website.

 

 

Staggered start and end times

 

In this interim period the school drop off and collection arrangements will remain in place.

• To manage social distancing guidance we would like prompt drop off and collection times.  There are lines on our paths as a reminder to distance from each other. Parents must not congregate and should strictly distance themselves at all times.  Parents/children are encouraged to walk/cycle/scoot to school where possible and only one parent should drop off/collect their child. Parents should drop off children at main/side gate on entry. Parents should not enter school premises unless permitted by a teacher.  The office area should be avoided if possible and phone calls are encouraged.
• On collection, parents will collect from set areas around the perimeter of school. Parents should stand socially distanced from each other at all times inside allocated collection zone, and promptly and safely leave school grounds as soon as child is collected. To maximise curriculum time and minimise disruption to lessons, families with multiple sibling links should arrive at the earliest sibling time slot.  All siblings can enter school at the same time.  Parents should collect at the latest time slot. Please collect oldest children first and proceed to younger children’s exit points. Children must be collected by a designated adult and are not permitted to walk to/from school alone or go home with other families.  Without this measure, there is an increased risk of social contact outside of school.
• Please can all parents/carers wear face coverings on school grounds.

 

	Nursery	Reception	Y1/Y2	Y3/Y4	Y5/Y6
Drop off time	Morning: 8.30-8.40am Afternoon: 12.15-12.30pm	8.30-8.40am	8.40-8.50am	8.50-8.55am	8.55-9.00am
Collection time	Morning: 11.15-11.30am Afternoon: 2.30pm-3.15pm   From class/EYFS playground	2.30-2.40pm   From class/EYFS playground	2.40-2.50pm   Y1 – Zone 1 Y2 – Zone 2	2.50-3pm   Y3 – Zone 3 Y4 – Zone 4	3-3.10pm   Y5 – Zone 4 Y6 – Zone 3

 

Organisation of Children in school

 

• Children will remain with their class ‘bubbles’ throughout the school day
• There will be no whole school gatherings in the hall but we will conduct virtual meetings to celebrate the Gospel’s and individual achievements.
• Pupils will be assigned their own toilet areas and hand washing facilities.

 

Behaviour

• Our usual Code of Conduct and standards of behaviour are expected. Children will be reminded of expected behaviours and will receive regular reminders about our Code of Conduct.
• Our usual reward systems will be in place (Class points and Golden time/Rainbows etc)
• Any child putting others at risk will be sent home immediately.

 

Break times and lunch times

 

• Breaks and lunch times will continue to be staggered to enable social distancing. More than one group will be allowed to play outside but only within their designated areas.
• There will be a plethora of activities on offer led class leaders and adults on duty. No contact games will be allowed.

 

Catering arrangements

• Our school meal provision will return in full and children can choose their menu of choice for the week each Friday. If you would like to help your child choose their meal please contact the school office/your child’s class teacher.
• In this interim period and to support children with their choices, we are going to continue to be using the same menu each week. Hot foods will be served either in classrooms in takeaway boxes or in the hall on trays and distributed to the children.
• Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 children are entitled to a free school meal under the universal free school meals offer. Normal charges will apply to all other year groups (£2.10).  Please inform us if your child is having a home packed lunch.
• Please click the link to view our current menu: https://stbernadettes.npcat.org.uk/lunch-menu/

 

Curriculum

• We have been given clear expectations from the Trust and Government on what we are expected to teach when pupils return in March. We will continue to provide an ambitious and broad curriculum in all subjects, in order to support the needs of our pupils and address the gaps as a result of lost learning time.
• In our initial return week, we will reset and reaffirm our expectations but because of the work you have been supporting with at home we will continue with our planned Spring curriculum. Music lessons will be resume in the hall and PE activities will be non-contact and focus on skill development (lessons will take place outside when appropriate).

 

Homework

• Google classroom will continue to be used to assign homework – see weekly homework tab. Children who have COVID related absences will be able to access live lessons/weekly essential learning – see weekly COVID tab.   Homework books will stay at home.

 

Use of Equipment

• All children will use school stationery, with the exception that they may bring in and leave their own glue sticks/ coloured pencils (no felt tips/Sharpies allowed).
• Y2-6 children will be allocated their own resources in their set places. They will keep stationery/books on their own desks and not share with others.
• EYFS/Y1 equipment and areas will be cleaned regularly.
• All materials and surfaces will be cleaned and disinfected frequently by school staff.

 

Uniform and items from home

• All children are asked to wear school uniform each day, inclusive of school tie. Comfortable shoes or trainers suitable for outdoors are permitted
• Children should bring limited items to school other than a coat, sun hat and water bottle. As the weather improves sun cream should be applied before arriving. Children should not need additional sun cream but will have to apply it themselves if necessary.
• The water fountains are out of use so please provide water bottles for your children (still WATER only- no juice allowed).

 

PE kits

From Monday 8^th March, we will be asking children to wear PE kits again (Rec-Y6).  PE kit consists of: a t-shirt in your child’s house colour, plain blue shorts, trainers (for outdoor use) and plimsolls (for indoor use), a purple hoody and navy joggers.  We do not permit branded t-shirts/football tops etc so please ensure children come to school in the correct attire on their set days:

 

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
·         Reception, Y5	·         Y3, Y4, Y5, Y6		·         Reception, Y1, Y2	·         Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4, Y6

 

Please note that in line with wider Trust policy as a result of COVID, children will not get changed in school (except footwear if necessary), and will be asked to wear their PE kits in school all day on the days they have PE.  We will continue to allow children to wear trainers throughout the full academic year so there is no need to purchase additional shoes.  If anyone is struggling financially to purchase school or PE uniform please contact the school office via our enquiries email or speak to Mr Conway or Miss Brady in confidence. 

Please note as part of our COVID risk measures, some PE days are fortnightly. This is due to our decision to limit different adults in class, e.g Y5 is with Mr Peacock every fortnight for the full Tuesday afternoon rather than each week at present.  However, for ease of remembering please can children wear PE kits on the days as indicated above.

*Uniform orders (including PE hoodies/tops) can be placed via the school website (Parents and Students tab) https://www.motif8.co.uk/schoolwear/primary-schools/st-bernadette-s-primary.html

 

Reading books

• Children will resume taking home reading books as usual at some point during w/b 8^th Books and lottos will be changed twice weekly from w/b 15^th March, and quarantined in a class box between reading.
• You are encouraged to continue to access reading books online at home too.

 

Contact with School

• All contact with school should be via telephone and email. Please do not visit the office unless absolutely necessary.
• Please ensure that we have your most up to date contact details and that you are able to be contacted throughout the day.
• Please ensure you are signed up to our Arbor app so you receive all communication.

 

Wraparound care

• Our ‘Schools In and Out’ service will continue to run (7.45am-5.30pm).
• To manage staffing ratios, adhere to social distancing guidance and keep children separated safely, we would request you continue to inform us if you require childcare from 4pm ([email protected])
• Maths Club will remain temporarily suspended but if anyone using our wraparound provision would like to access the materials please contact the school office.
• Children will remain in consistent bubbles in School’s In/Out and separate tables will be set up with activities in the hall/ICT suite or outdoor.
• ‘Schools In’ children will access school through the main office entrance and be registered on entry. Children in ‘School’s In’ will be taken from the hall to class from 8.30am.
• Children remaining in school after 3pm will be taken to ‘School’s Out’ by their teachers. On collection, parents should ring the bell and wait for their child in the holding bay in the office or outside.
• Currently charges are applied as follows:
  • SCHOOL’S IN: 45am-8.40am £4  and   8.20am -8.40am £2
  • SCHOOL’S OUT: 3pm-5.30pm   –    £4 per hour / £2 per half hour

 

Extended clubs

• There will be no additional extended schools clubs (apart from School’s Out) on return, to help manage staggered lunch and limit numbers on site. We will continue to signpost virtual clubs for children to access via our social media feeds and will consider the resumption of extended clubs in the Summer term.

 

Precautions

We will continue to take precautions in line with DFE guidance such as:

• Enhanced cleaning, including cleaning frequently touched surfaces more often.
• Ensuring everyone at the school cleans their hands more often than usual – this will be both hand soap and hand sanitiser (please inform school if you do not want your child to use alcohol based sanitiser).
• Ensuring good respiratory hygiene, by promoting the ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ approach.
• Regular opportunities for outdoor development and good ventilation to minimise risk of spread.
• Staff will wear PPE in communal areas where it is difficult to distance from other adults. Staff can choose whether to wear additional PPE within their classroom setting.  Staff will wear PPE for personal or intimate care.  Pupils are not permitted to wear PPE unless medically advised otherwise.
• Minimising contact and maintaining distance (staff and children) between each other and other bubbles where possible.
• Staff have access to asymptomatic testing (twice weekly).
• More staff have been vaccinated as a result of the national mass roll out

 

 COVID reporting

You must not send your child to school if they have coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms, or if you have someone in your household who does. The official symptoms of coronavirus are: new, continuous cough; high temperature (37.8C +) and loss of sense of taste. We will ask parents to collect anyone displaying any of the recognised COVID symptoms in school and request they book a test.  We would ask parents and carers to support us by engaging with the NHS Test and Trace process so that cases can be identified and action taken – this means if your child develops symptoms, you should arrange for them to get a test and you should inform us of the results of that test.  Children will only be permitted to return to school on confirmation of a negative test result. 

Unfortunately bubble closures may continue to occur from time to time as a result of positive case within set year group.  If a staff member or child was identified as a close contact they would need to isolate for 10 days.  We would resume our current remote learning offer if teaching staff/whole bubbles were affected. 

On weekends or holiday time please inform school of any positive COVID cases via [email protected] / [email protected]   If you do not receive a response please contact Mr Conway directly via: [email protected]

 

 

And finally,

In order to protect the well-being and safety of our staff and pupils, it is paramount that everyone follows the social distancing measures and health safety as outlined by the government. As a school, we are doing all we can to minimise risk and operate a safe learning environment, but please be prepared for changes as we assess the impact of the full school return and as guidance changes. We hope this letter provides you with the information you need to prepare for the full reopening of schools on Monday 8^th March.

Despite the formality of this letter, please be assured that we are so excited to see all of our children return.  We understand that returning to school again can be both a nervous and exciting time (for parents and children). Please contact your child’s teacher or Mr Conway/Miss Brady through the school office if you would like to discuss anything further.

 

 

With thanks for your support,

Mr P Conway (Headteacher) and Miss S Brady (Head of School)