25th August 2020Paul Conway

Full reopening of school information (September 2020)

 

Monday 24th August 2020

 

Dear parents/carers,

 

As we approach the new academic year, we begin to set our sights on the full opening of schools in September. Over the last six months, the whole school community has faced challenges that we could never have imagined. Yet we have faced them. Our pupils have faced them and you, as parents and carers, have also faced them. You have shown determination and resilience in juggling family commitments with home-schooling. For this we thank you. We also thank our pupils. Many have needed to adapt to home learning and have needed to display new skills of resilience and independence.

 

Thankfully, we are delighted to confirm the Government has allowed schools to reopen fully in September and we look forward to welcoming back all of our pupils. The school has not been the same without them all!

In order to effectively manage the risks that remain, things will be a bit different when our pupils return to school for the new academic year. This letter sets out some of the changes and protective measures the government is asking us to put in place and what you will need to do to help ensure we can be as safe as possible for everyone. We hope these measures are temporary and will implement alterations 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.

 

Transition plans (Nursery to Year 6 September 2020)

 ALL children will spend their first few days back in school (Wednesday 2nd September to Friday 4th September) with their previous teachers before transferring to their new teacher wb 7th September.

This period will also allow a short period of familiarising the children with new year group routines as well as a short settling back into school amongst familiar surroundings.

 

Transition plans (New Reception class – September 2020)

The Reception 2020 children will have an extended transition week commencing on Monday 7th September – half days for one week.  In this first week of transition they will meet their new class teacher.

We would ask that you collect Reception children at 12.15pm each day. Traditionally, we have found that this half day transition week really helps the children settle into school life and eases them into the new changes.   We will have a New Starters Parent meeting on Monday 7th September, 10.30am in the school hall. We would ask for one parent per family to attend to allow adequate social distancing.

The Reception 2020 children will begin full time schooling from wb 14th September.  They will begin in two groups (Monday 14th September or Wednesday 16th September).  They will be in school all day from this point – you received this information in July.

 

Staffing for next year is as follows:

  • Nursery – Mrs Andrews-3 days / Miss Lumley -2 days
  • Reception – Mrs Harris until Mrs Whitfield returns from Maternity leave
  • Year 1 – Miss Simpson
  • Year 2 – Mrs Pennick
  • Year 3 – Mrs Smith
  • Year 4 – Mr Lynn
  • Year 5 – Mr Bourner
  • Year 6 – Miss Cuff

 

Attendance

 From September 2020, 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.
  • 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. A request will only be agreed where it is satisfied there is an exceptional circumstance that is in accordance with the Nicholas Postgate Catholic Academy Trust policy.  If the area to be visited is at high risk of transmission of the coronavirus, the school must ensure that there is an individual risk assessment in place for the child to return to school.  Legal powers to enforce attendance will be used where a child misses school without a valid reason and the absence is unauthorised.

*Term time dates detailed on the website.

 

 Staggered start and end times

 

Nursery Reception Y1/Y2 Y3/Y4 Y5/Y6
Drop off time Morning: 8.30-8.45am

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

 

In this interim period the proposed school drop off and collection arrangements will be altered as follows.

  • 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 strictly distance themselves.
  • 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 side gate on entry. Parents should not enter school premises unless permitted by a teacher. The office area should be avoided if possible and phonecalls 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.

 

Organisation of Children in school

 

  • Children will remain with their class ‘bubbles’ throughout the school day
  • Y2-Y6 each child will have their own desk. The desks will all be facing forward so children do not sit opposite each other. Y1 and EYFS will have limited desks and use play-based learning.
  • There will be no whole school gatherings in the hall but we will conduct video meetings to celebrate the Gospel’s and individual achievements.
  • Pupils will be assigned their own toilet areas and hand washing facilities.

 

Behaviour

  • We have had to adapt our current behaviour policy to the current situation. Our usual Code of Conduct and standards of behaviour are expected. Expected behaviours will be carefully explained and children will receive regular reminders about our Code of Conduct.
  • Any child putting others at risk will be sent home immediately. This includes consistent refusal to follow social distancing measures and other anti-social behaviour.

 

Break times and lunch times

  • Breaks and lunch times will be staggered to enable social distancing. More than one group will be allowed to play outside but only within their designated areas.
  • Activities will be extremely limited; for example no contact football games. There will be limited play equipment available and many activities will focus on skill development.

 

Catering arrangements

  • Our hot school meal provision will return and children can choose their menu of choice for the week each Monday.
  • In this interim period and to support children with their choices, we are going to be using only the same menu each week. There will be a hot meal or cold meal choice (meat/vegetarian/jacket potato or tuna/egg or ham sandwich) 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.
  • Each bubble will eat school meals in their own set areas – hall/classroom

*On our website is the current weekly menu so you can help your child choose what they may want.

 

Curriculum

  • We have been given clear expectations from the Government on what we are expected to teach when pupils return in September. 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.
  • The Recovery curriculum model will be applied on return to school throughout Autumn 1 – there will be a strong focus on developing key skills (Maths, Handwriting, Spelling); outdoor play and emotional/spiritual development.
  • Music lessons will be limited to 15 children so classes will engage in split class lessons
  • PE activities will be non-contact and focus on skill development, and will take place outside when appropriate.

 

Homework

  • Initially our established learning platform will be used for homework and home learning.
  • The staff will be trained in the Autumn term to use Google classroom. It is essential all children know how to access learning from home if required.
  • Homework books will stay at home.

 

Use of Equipment

  • Y1-6 children will be allowed to bring their own stationary in the first three days back at school (with their previous teacher). Stationary will be returned home on Friday 4th September.
  • From wb Monday 7th Sept all children will use school stationary 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 stationary/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.

 

Uniform and items from Home

  • On return to school our normal standards and expectations will be expected for behaviour and work, therefore all children are asked to wear school uniform each day, inclusive of school tie. Comfortable shoes or trainers suitable for outdoors are permitted until Christmas therefore there is no need for PE kits.
  • Children should bring limited items to school other than a coat, sun hat and water bottle. Sun cream should be applied before arriving. Children should not need additional suncream but will have to apply it themselves if necessary.
  • The water fountains will be out of use so please provide water bottles for your children (still WATER only- no juice allowed).
  • Children may bring in some of their home learning to share with their class/teachers if they wish on Wednesday 2nd. These will be returned by the end of the week.

*Uniform orders can be placed via the school website https://www.motif8.co.uk/schoolwear/primary-schools/st-bernadette-s-primary.html

 

Reading books

  • Children will take home reading books as usual from wb 7th September – books/lottos will be changed twice weekly and quarantined in a class box between reading.

 

Contact with School

  • All contact with school should be via telephone and email. Please do not visit the office unless absolutely necessary. Please adhere to all measures in place, particularly with regard to drop off and pick up times.
  • Please ensure that we have your most up to date contact details and that you are able to be contacted throughout the day.

 

Wraparound care

  • Our Schools In and Out service will resume (8am-6pm) in Autumn 1 and we plan to alter hours in Autumn 2 (7.45am-5.30pm).
  • To manage staffing ratios, adhere to social distancing guidance and keep children separated safely we will temporarily suspend Maths Club.
  • 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:    8am-8.40am £4  and   8.20am -8.40am £2

(Cost as per evening hourly rates to cover staff who must be on site prior to 8am)

SCHOOL’S OUT:  3pm-6pm   –    £4 per hour / £2 per half hour

 

Extended clubs

  • There will be no extended schools clubs (lunch or after school in Autumn 1) to help manage staggered lunch and end of day.

 

Precautions

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

  • a thorough and deep clean of the whole school prior to the return of all children
  • 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
  • generally staff will not wear PPE unless necessary for personal or intimate care. Pupils are not permitted to wear PPE.
  • minimising contact and maintaining distance between each other and other bubbles where possible

 

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 symptoms of coronavirus are: new, continuous cough; high temperature (37.8C +) and loss of sense of taste. 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.  

 

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 a full school return and as guidance changes. We hope this long and detailed letter provides you with the information you need to prepare yourselves and your children for the full reopening of schools in September.  Despite the formality of this letter, please be assured that we are so excited to see all of our children return on Wednesday 2nd September.  Look out for the videos to accompany some off this information via Facebook and Twitter.

If you need any further guidance or information please do not hesitate to make contact.

 

With thanks for your support.

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

[email protected]    [email protected]