Full re-opening of school – Guidance for Parents – July 2020

1. Classroom organisation

Aim: to avoid cross-contamination and enforce social distancing

Action – During the school day, each class will be a ‘bubble’ with only specific staff assigned to it, to reduce cross contamination. Children will remain with this group. They will use the same chair each day, and keep their coat on the back of it.  Tables will all face the same direction. 

2 .Stationery

Aim: to avoid cross-contamination 

Action – children will be provided with their own pack of equipment which they will use each day. It will not be shared.  Therefore, children do not need to bring in a school bag. Marking of books will be limited to avoid cross contamination between staff and children. Children will be able to self- mark with support and verbal feedback will be provided. For the first 2 weeks, children will only use their reading books in school. We will then re assess the situation to enable children to take them home.

3.  Learning

Aim: all children to be able to access the Curriculum 

Action - We will welcome the children back in September with some personal, social and emotional programmes, and gradually introduce a full curriculum as we gently assess them. As we find out where the children are in their learning, we can plan focused programmes accordingly, and ensure they are on track to achieve their potential. We will continue to use Seesaw for homework tasks and if remote learning is again required, due to a bubble closure.  All children will be issued with a new access code for Seesaw in September.

4. Break-times

Aim: to avoid spread of the virus 

Action – only 2 ‘bubbles’ will be using the playground at any one time. Break times will be staggered. Children will be reminded about social distancing.

5. Lunchtimes

Aim: to avoid spread of the virus

Action – either a packed lunch or cold meal provided by the school, or a packed lunch from home.  hot lunches will be introduced after the first few weeks. School lunches will be taken to the classrooms by a lunchtime organiser, who will be with the same group each day. Lunches will be eaten at the child’s desk.  Your child should bring in their own water bottle, already filled.  Lunchtimes will need to be shorter due to the staggered times, so there will also be an afternoon break time as well as a morning one.

6. Staff breaks and lunch 

Aim: to avoid spread of the virus 

Action – Staff will organise breaks and lunch within their class team group. Staff will be able to access the staff room whilst adhering to social distancing but not remain in it.

7.Handwashing

Aim: to avoid spread of the virus

Action – rigorous handwashing will be in place for all, either with soap and water or sanitisers at the following times: on arrival, before eating, after using the toilet, regularly during the day, after recreation times, before leaving at the end of the day

8. Start and end of day

Aim: to reduce footfall 

Actions – each teaching group has been provided with a clear start and finish time which must be adhered to. Only 1 parent may bring their child to the school gate , where social distancing must be implemented. A teacher wearing a’ high vis’ tabard will meet the children at the gate. Parents of Y3 to Y6 children must not gather at the gate or enter the playground. Parents of Early Years children and KS1 children must stay in their marked zone on ks1 playground and observe social distancing. Again only one parent/carer per child may enter the playground.

 End of the day – collection at the specified place will take place at staggered times.

A teacher will allow the children to leave one at a time when the parent is seen.

Even though start and end times are staggered, I have been careful to ensure that the amount of learning time for each Key Phase REMAINS THE SAME as it would be under normal circumstances, as break times have been adjusted accordingly.

9. Communication

Aim – To reduce spread of the virus

Action - Parents must not enter the school building, unless they have made a pre- arranged appointment.

Office staff will be available during the school day but must ONLY be contacted by telephone or email. The head teacher can also be contacted by telephone or email.

Communication will be carried out via the website and through PARENT PAY. It is therefore imperative that all parents sign up to Parent PAY and ensure we are kept up to date with any contact changes.

10. Cleaning rota 

Aim: To reduce the spread of the virus

Action – our cleaning team will have access to appropriate cleaning materials. Extra cleaning staff have been ‘bought in’ to ensure ‘ high touch points’ are cleaned frequently during the day.

11. ​​​​​​​Uniform

Aim – To stop the spread of the virus

​​​​​​​Action - Children will be expected to wear clean school uniform every day.  This need only be washed the same as under normal circumstances.

On the class P.E. day, children will be asked to come in their P.E. kit that day, and will remain in it. They will find out when their PE day is on their return to school. Children may bring a track suit or sweat shirt on PE days as the weather becomes colder.

Once we are aware of the Covid infection’s trajectory in September, we will relax these restrictions when it is safe to do so.  Until then, I would ask you all to adhere to them for the safety of all – especially the drop off and pick up times. SEE   CHART

All these plans have already been implemented during the’ Wider school re-opening’ period, and have worked very well. However we may need to modify them as we assess how they work with a full re- opening.

Before we return in September I will put a short video on the website showing the children what the environment looks like, to allay any worries for them.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL IN SEPTEMBER

Kind Regards,

Carole Arnold

Track & Trace

Dear Parents,

As we return to school, it is important that, if required, you all engage with the Track and Trace system.  

I hope this guidance, taken from the most recent ‘Public health’ guidance below, explains this fully. 

1. Reporting sickness/self isolation and staying off school

If your child or anyone else living in the house develops any of the following systems of Covid 19, they must self-isolate and not attend school.

• New continuous cough
• High temperature (over 37.8 degrees)
• A loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell

The pupil should also self-isolate and not attend school if they are told by the NHS Test and Trace Service because they have been in contact with someone with coronavirus. 

Parents or carers should contact Mrs Strettle or Mrs Calderbank, in the school office, to inform the school if your child needs to self-isolate.

If your child does develop symptoms, you can seek advice from NHS 111 at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-COVID-19/check-if-you-have-coronavirus-symptoms, or by phoning 111. 

2. Drop off and pick up routines

We have to reduce the number of people on the school site by stating that all KS2 children are brought only to the gate.  It is vital that you stick to the time and entrance/exit location for your group/bubble.  Please observe social distancing and do not gather in the playground, at the school gates or enter the school without an appointment. 

3. School Uniform

There is no need for anything other than normal personal hygiene and washing of clothes following a day in school.

4. The use of face masks and face coverings

The use of face masks or face coverings is not required during the school day as pupils and staff are mixing in consistent groups, and because misuse may inadvertently increase the risk of transmission.  There may also be negative effects on communication and thus education.  

5. Management of confirmed cases and Track and Trace

Everyone with symptoms of Coronavirus is encouraged to get tested so that a case can be confirmed. 

How to stop Covid 19 spreading

There are things you can do to help reduce the risk of you and anyone you live with getting ill with Covid-19 –

• Wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
• Use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
• Wash your hands as soon as you get home
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
• Put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards

Thank you

Kind regards

Carole Arnold

Headteacher