Phased Re-opening of School

 

The government have asked school to begin a phased reopening from June 1^st. They have asked schools to open to Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 children and to continue to accept children of key workers and those that are vulnerable. After giving careful and lengthy consideration to the DfE guidelines, looking carefully at the school site and resources, and taking into account the best way to keep children, parents and staff safe, the following plans are in place from the June 1^st.

Reception Classes

School will not be open to Reception children yet. I believe that to open to EYFS at this time is ill advised and if we were to follow all social distancing and resource guidance relating to EYFS, the children would have a very alien, socially and emotionally unhealthy experience in school that could create trauma that will make their return to Year 1 in September more difficult than it is already going to be. Early Years education is at its very heart a social education, based on play, exploration and relationships. Being taught the basic skills of letter formation, number formation, reading and writing for these young children is heavily dependent on 1:1 or small group support directly with an adult, not sitting at a table 2 metres away from the adult giving instruction.  We will not be able to provide sand, water, play dough, large physical apparatus or the usual range of resources that make early years education what it should be. We will review the situation for EYFS in light of how it works with Yr1, or indeed if Government guidance on social distancing is relaxed and we can operate in a more normal way with our youngest of children. 

Having spoken to many parents of Reception children it is clear that they support this decision at this time.

Work will still be available on the website, a paper pack can be collected each week.

If you have to come to the main entrance, please wait in the ‘taped box’ on the floor and wait for someone to come out to you. You will not be allowed in the building. If you need to contact school please do this by phone or email where possible.

Those children eligible for FSM vouchers will still receive them.

If the situation changes then we will let you know.

Year 1

School will reopen to Year 1 classes on June 1^st. If you have told us that you are sending your child to school – these are the arrangements. Children will be taught in groups of 15 or less according to government guidelines. Currently we have less than 15 children intending to return in each Year 1 class. This means that they can continue to work in their own class room. However, timings and organisational changes have been made as follows:

• The school day will begin at the later time of 9:15 This is to reduce the amount of people on the school site at any time in order to maintain social distancing.
• Doors will open at 9:15 and will be locked at 9:20. We will not be accepting late arrivals.
• The school day will finish at 3:15. Again, please be on site and standing 2 metres away from others.
• Only one adult allowed on site to drop off and collect.
• 1HG will enter and exit through the main doors onto the infant playground. There is enough space here to stay 2 metres apart from others at all times. Please do not congregate in a group.
• 1S will enter and exit through the door which they normally come out of. Please pay attention to the tape on the floor along the vegetable garden fence line and keep a distance of 2 metres apart when you come to drop off and collect. Do not come up to the door along the small path. Please do not congregate in a group.
• Each group will be staffed by 2 adults - not necessarily their normal adults. The groups will not mix. They will use the toilets at different times (which will be regularly cleaned) and they will use different parts of the playground at social time.
• Children should come to school in their school uniform. This should be washed or changed every day if possible to reduce the risk of transmission.
• Rooms will be set up so that each child has an individual seating space – in order to comply with social distancing. They will have their books on their table as well as pencil, ruler and other resources needed which will not be shared.
• Water fountains will be unavailable. Children must bring a bottle of drink from home. Water will be available at lunch time as usual.
• Juice and toast will not be available at morning break. Your child may bring a healthy snack with them if they wish. Not chocolates, crisps or sweets.
• The only items that your child should bring to school are the water bottle, a snack and a packed lunch if needed.
• If you have stated that you do not intend to send your child back on 1^st June please do not just turn up. Staffing levels and groupings of children have been carefully considered and would not be safe simply to add another child. If you decide that you want your child to return, contact the school and we will arrange a safe start date.
• Extra measures we are taking – increased cleaning, regular hand washing, social distancing, setting ground rules for social distancing, staggering lunchtimes.
• Children who are entitled to FSM and are coming into school will receive these at school. Children who are entitled to FSM and are not coming into school will continue to receive vouchers. Children who normally pay for their meals will need to do so.
• Work will still be available on the website, a paper pack can be collected each week if your child is staying at home with you.
• If you have to come to the main entrance, please wait in the ‘taped box’ on the floor and wait for someone to come out to you. You will not be allowed in the building. If you need to contact school please do this by phone or email where possible.
• If someone in your household develops symptoms, do not bring your child in, self-isolate for 14 days.

 

Year 6

School will reopen to Year 6 classes on June 1^st. If you have told us that you are sending your child to school – these are the arrangements. Children will be taught in groups of 15 or less according to government guidelines. Currently we have less than 30 children intending to return to Year 6. The children will be split into 2 groups. You will receive a Group Text to make you aware of which group your child is in so that you know where to come to drop off and collect.  Other timings and organisational changes have been made as follows:

• The school day will begin at the earlier time of 8:45 This is to reduce the amount of people on the school site at any time in order to maintain social distancing.
• Doors will open at 8:45 and will be locked at 8:50. We will not be accepting late arrivals.
• The school day will finish at 3:00. Again, please be on site and standing 2 metres away from others.
• Only one adult allowed on site to drop off and collect.
• Group A will enter and exit through the external door of Mr Davis’s room. This will be where they are based. There is enough space on the main playground to stay 2 metres apart from others at all times when you come to drop off and collect. Please do not congregate in a group.
• Group B will enter and exit through the external door of Mrs Mutton’s room. This will be where they are based. There is enough space on the Trim-trail playground to stay 2 metres apart from others at all times when you come to drop off and collect. Please do not congregate in a group.
• Each group will be staffed by 2 adults - not necessarily their normal adults. The groups will not mix. They will use the toilets at different times (which will be regularly cleaned) and they will use different parts of the playground at social time.
• Children should come to school in their school uniform. This should be washed or changed every day if possible to reduce the risk of transmission.
• Rooms will be set up so that each child has an individual seating space – in order to comply with social distancing. They will have their books on their table as well as pencil, ruler and other resources needed which will not be shared.
• Water fountains will be unavailable. Children must bring a bottle of drink from home. Water will be available at lunch time as usual.
• Juice and toast will not be available at morning break. Your child may bring a healthy snack with them if they wish. Not chocolates, crisps or sweets.
• The only items that your child should bring to school are the water bottle, a snack and a packed lunch if needed.
• If you have stated that you do not intend to send your child back on 1^st June please do not just turn up. Staffing levels and groupings of children have been carefully considered and would not be safe simply to add another child. If you decide that you want your child to return, contact the school and we will arrange a safe start date.
• Extra measures we are taking – increased cleaning, regular hand washing, social distancing, setting ground rules for social distancing, staggering lunchtimes.
• Children who are entitled to FSM and are coming into school will receive these at school. Children who are entitled to FSM and are not coming into school will continue to receive vouchers. Children who normally pay for their meals will need to do so.
• Work will still be available on the website, a paper pack can be collected each week if your child is staying at home with you.
• If you have to come to the main entrance, please wait in the ‘taped box’ on the floor and wait for someone to come out to you. You will not be allowed in the building. If you need to contact school please do this by phone or email where possible.
• If someone in your household develops symptoms, do not bring your child in, self-isolate for 14 days.

 

Key Workers and Vulnerable Children

School will remain open to children of key workers and vulnerable children from June 1^st. If your child is classed as vulnerable you will have received a letter stating which days your child can attend. Children will be taught in groups of 15 or less according to government guidelines. However, timings and organisational changes have been made as follows:

• The school day will begin at the normal time of 9:00. Other groups in school have different start times. This is to reduce the amount of people on the school site at any time in order to maintain social distancing.
• Doors will open at 9:00 and will be locked at 9:05. We will not be accepting late arrivals.
• The school day will finish at 3:15. Again, please be on site and standing 2 metres away from others.
• Only one adult allowed on site to drop off and collect.
• Children will enter and exit through the library doors from Monday 1^st June. They will be based in the Y3 classrooms. There is enough space on the main playground to stay 2 metres apart from others at all times when you come to drop off and collect. Please do not congregate in a group.
• Please do not come up the steps.
• Each group will be staffed by 2 adults - not necessarily their normal adults. The groups will not mix. They will use the toilets at different times (which will be regularly cleaned) and they will use different parts of the playground at social time.
• Children should come to school in their school uniform. This should be washed or changed every day if possible to reduce the risk of transmission.
• Rooms will be set up so that each child has an individual seating space – in order to comply with social distancing. They will have their books on their table as well as pencil, ruler and other resources needed which will not be shared.
• Water fountains will be unavailable. Children must bring a bottle of drink from home. Water will be available at lunch time as usual.
• Juice and toast will not be available at morning break. Your child may bring a healthy snack with them if they wish. Not chocolates, crisps or sweets.
• The only items that your child should bring to school are the water bottle, a snack and a packed lunch if needed.
• If your child is classed as vulnerable and is entitled to free school meals but only attending part of the week – the value of the FSM voucher will be adjusted accordingly. This information is in the letter which you have received from Miss Carroll.
• Extra measures we are taking – increased cleaning, regular hand washing, social distancing, setting ground rules for social distancing, staggering lunchtimes.
• If you have to come to the main entrance, please wait in the ‘taped box’ on the floor and wait for someone to come out to you. You will not be allowed in the building. If you need to contact school please do this by phone or email where possible.
• If someone in your household develops symptoms, do not bring your child in, self-isolate for 14 days.

 

Years 2, 3, 4 and 5

Currently there are no plans to reopen to these year groups.

• Work will still be available on the website, a paper pack can be collected each week for your child if you prefer.
• If you need to contact school please do this by phone. If you have to come to the main entrance, please wait in the ‘taped box’ on the floor and wait for someone to come out to you. You will not be allowed in the building.
• We will continue to make welfare phone calls. If, however, you require any advice or support do not hesitate to contact school. The email address of your child’s teacher is available on the class page of the website. Teachers would love to hear from their children and will get back to them.

 

 

We appreciate that this is a lot of information but wish to keep you as informed as possible. If you have any queries please do contact school and we will do our best to answer them. We hope that all of our families are managing in these difficult times and continue to keep safe and well. We can not wait until we are all back in school together as normal.