Dear Families,

As promised, I am writing to explain the general procedures for the return to school of everybody on Monday 8 March.  Many of the systems were in place during the Autumn term. 

Please take the time to read this message carefully so you are fully aware of what to expect and we can all play our part in keeping everybody safe.

School day times:

We still need to run a staggered start and finish time for different classes to ensure that the number of parents/carers on site at any one time is minimal.  Classes will come into school at the times below:

8.30am – 2.55pm: Y2, Y4 & Y5 (+ any siblings of these classes)

8.40am – 3.05pm: Y1 & Y3 (+ any siblings of these classes)

8.50am – 3.15pm: Rec & Y6

These times have to be adhered to.  If you have children in different year groups, please use the earlier start/finish time for your children so you only have to queue once.  Please arrive on site at the time given.

Gates to be used:

Car park gate – Rec, Y2, Y3, Y5, Y6

Astro-turf gate – Y1, Y4

Pick up and drop off arrangements

Please enter the school site via your year group’s allocated gate.  Line up at a 2m yellow floor marker.  A member of staff will stand and welcome each child in. The children will use the hand sanitiser as they enter the site.  (You will collect at the same gate at the end of the day.)

When lining up, please ensure your child stays by your side at all times.  Only one adult is permitted to enter on to the site.  For this period, no bikes or scooters are allowed to be left on site.  Because of the location of the bike shelter/parks, it means children cutting through queues to get them.

We have created one-way systems so that parents and children do not cross paths with others. 

Y5 and Y6 children, who have completed our latest permission form, can resume ‘home alone’ status.

Uniform

It will be uniform as usual.  Please try to make sure your child can manage their clothes independently, as the staff have to keep their distance.

On your child’s PE day, they are to come in their school PE kit.  We would advise they wear kit that is suitable for outdoor PE, such as joggers, T-shirt and sweatshirt. (We will let you know which days each class has their PE lessons next week.)

Please ensure that your child wears sensible footwear that they can manage independently. 

As the government advises us to use the outdoors where possible, please put sun cream on your child before they come to school and send them with a cap/sunhat if necessary.

Class bubbles

All children will be bubbled as their class with their class teacher and teaching assistant.  In Y1 – Y6, the desks will be front-facing with the staff socially distanced at the front.  In Reception, the children will have distanced areas they can access as a small group.

The children and staff then remain in these bubbles in order to minimise the risk of spreading the virus.

Lunchtimes

Some classes will have lunch in their classroom, whilst others will eat in the hall.  They will always remain in their class bubbles.  Children who are eligible for free school meals will have a dinner provided.  Other children can pay for a school dinner if you so choose.  Everybody else will bring their own packed lunch and water bottle.

Each class will have a timetabled slot for outdoor play at lunch too.  This will be in a specified area to prevent the classes mixing.

How can parents and carers help?

• Reinforce the social distancing message at home so that children know what to expect when they come to school along with other practices around hand washing etc.
• Please support us by wearing a mask/face covering when coming on to the site
• Stick to your times and gates to avoid long queues forming
• Avoid gathering in groups at the school gates, leaving straight away once you have sent your child through the school gates and always follow the social distancing guidelines.

Thank you for all of your support as always.  Enjoy the last few days of remote learning and we will see you all back on 8 March!

Take care,

Amanda Smalley

Head Teacher