Year 1 and Year 6 logistical arrangements for school reopening

 

 

Dear Year 1 / Year 6 parents,

 

Thank you for your continued effort in supporting your child working from home.

From the recent letter sent to you from Hugh Hegarty, CEO, about the wider opening of schools, earlier in the week, we are now in a position to set out further logistical details and reminders. It is important that you understand how the school day will look like for your child and the steps we have to take to keep all children and staff safe.

 

Vulnerability

If your child is clinically extremely vulnerable, or living with someone who is in this group, they should not come back to school and should continue home learning. If your child is clinically vulnerable (but not clinically extremely vulnerable), you should follow medical advice to decide if they should come back to school. Please refer to government guidance for further details of these groups.

 

School Opening Times

In this interim period, to socially distance, returning groups will have staggered start and finish times:

• Y6 (from wb 08.06.20)

Start time: 8.30-8.40am

Finish time: 2.35-2.45pm

• Y1 (from wb 15.06.20)

Start time: 8.45-8.55am

Finish time: 2.15-2.25pm

 

School Arrival and Pick up Arrangements

Parents and pupils must observe social distancing measures and remain two metres apart from other groups.

• To manage social distancing guidance we would like prompt drop off and collection times. Please leave the school promptly and avoid conversations with others within school grounds.

• Parents/children are encouraged to walk/cycle/scoot to school where possible and only one parent should drop off/collect their child. If at all possible, other siblings should not attend at drop off and pick up times. If there is absolutely no alternative, then they must remain beside their parents. Toddlers should remain in their pushchairs and not be allowed to roam.
• Children in Year 1 and year 6 will be collected by a teacher from the main gate.  Children will need to come into school via the gate independently.  Parents will not be allowed through the gate or admittance to the school office.
• There are lines and arrows on our paths as a reminder to distance from each other – more than one family in each section should be avoided.  Parents must not congregate and strictly distance themselves.
• Children must be collected by a designated adult and Y6 children are not permitted to walk to/from school alone.  Without this measure, there is an increased risk of social contact outside of school.
• It is not possible to run our Schools In and Out service in this interim period.  To manage staffing ratios, adhere to social distancing guidance and keep children separated safely it would be logistically very difficult to run our wraparound service. Only in exceptional circumstances can a child be in school beyond the hours indicated above. Mr Conway/Miss Brady must authorise these cases prior to commencement of each week (where agreed normal charges will apply).             

 

Organisation of Children in school

Pupils will be divided into small groups or ‘bubbles’ with dedicated members of staff for that group. The teacher will be supported by another teacher or teaching assistant. There will be no whole school gatherings of any kind. 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.

 

Attendance

Normal protocol will be resumed for year groups required back into school. Daily registration will take place for each session that the child is required to attend school and will be in accordance with the timings of the revised school day.  It is important that children arrive at school on time.  This will allow for the precautionary measures that have been put into place to be effectively managed and with minimal disruption to the child’s learning.

 

Break times and lunch times

Breaks 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 football games or activities where children are in close proximity. There will be limited play equipment available and many activities will focus on skill development.

 

Catering arrangements

Initial catering arrangements over the coming weeks will be a “grab bag” cold packed lunch offer from our catering provider.  There will not a return to offering a hot meal provision until we receive further guidance on how we can prepare and deliver food in adherence to government guidelines on social distancing.

Please let us know if you require a school packed lunch otherwise we will presume you are providing your own packed lunch.  Year 1 children are entitled to a free school meal under the universal free school meals offer.   Children in Year 6 can have a school meal however normal charges will apply.

Where Year 1 and Year 6 pupils are currently in receipt of a weekly free school meal voucher, we are expecting the Government to stop the weekly voucher scheme.  I will confirm this once I have definitive information.

 

Use of Equipment

Pupils will not be permitted to share resources. Materials and surfaces will be cleaned and disinfected more frequently in school.

 

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 freshly cleaned school uniform each day (so no need for PE kits).  Comfortable shoes or trainers suitable for outdoors are permitted and no tie is necessary in this interim period

Where possible we would like you to provide stationary for the children (Small pencil case including only: pencil, coloured pencils, ruler, rubber, glue stick).  School has stationary where this is not possible.  Stationary will stay in school until the end of term, will be used by individual children only and be cleaned regularly.

Children must not bring book bags as we are unable to send books home at the moment. No personal items should be brought 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.

 

Learning Provision

Because of social distancing, staff are restricted in the range of learning activities that they are able to provide at this time. Staff will of course do their best but this is not going to be school as we know it.

 

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.

 

Pupil illness

IF IN DOUBT DO NOT SEND!   If your child becomes unwell at school, you will be asked to collect them immediately. We therefore need you to be contactable at all times. Your child will be kept in isolation with a member of staff while we wait for your arrival – you may drive into the school car park to collect a child who is unwell. If coronavirus is suspected, the staff member will be wearing a disposable apron, gloves and mask. Any child or staff member with symptoms consistent with coronavirus will need to isolate for seven days and their fellow household members for fourteen days.

Where a staff member or child tests negative for coronavirus, they may return to school and their household members may end their isolation. Where a staff member or child tests positive for coronavirus, the rest of the group (bubble) will be sent home and asked to isolate for fourteen days.

 

Social Distancing Measures

As a school, we are doing all we can to minimise risk and operate a safe learning environment.

 

Safety and handwashing

Staff and pupils will be encouraged to wash their hands more frequently which instructions displayed within all toilet rooms.  Pupils will be encouraged to catch and bin any coughs and sneezes.  The water fountains will be out of use so please provide water bottles for your children (Still WATER only- no juice allowed).

 

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 as outlined by the government.

 

With thanks for your support

Mr P Conway