Dear Parents and Carers,

Hope you are all safe and well and looking forward to the return of some kind of normality which seems to be positively appearing across the horizon.

I would like to begin by saying a huge thank you to our children in Year 6 and Year 1 who have returned to school over the last few weeks. It has been so lovely hearing their laughter and excitement in class as they learn alongside their peers. They have adjusted magnificently to our social distancing and health and safety producers. Parents and carers to also be commended for lining up beautifully each morning and demonstrating high levels of confidence and resilience.

Through teacher phone calls, those parents and carers with children in Year 5 will already be aware that their children can return to school on Monday 29th June. Similarly, Year 4 parents and carers will also be receiving individual phone calls next week and their date of return is scheduled for Monday 6th July.

In Summary

School will open for Year 5 children on Monday 29th June

School will start at 9:30 a.m. to allow a controlled and staggered arrival with key worker children and other year groups already attending school. Following the same reasoning school will finish at 2:15 p.m. School will close at midday on Friday afternoon to enable teachers to have their PPA time.

School will open for Year 4 children on Monday 6th July

School will start at 9:45 a.m. to allow a controlled and staggered arrival with key worker children and other year groups already attending school. Following the same reasoning school will finish at 2.45 p.m. School will close at 12:30 p.m. on Friday afternoon to enable teachers to have their PPA time.

Arrangements for key worker children and other vulnerable groups will remain exactly the same.

For all children the following measures will be put in place:

1.             Making sure that children do not attend if they or a member of their household has symptoms of coronavirus.
2.             Promoting regular hand washing for 20 seconds with running water and soap or use of sanitiser and ensuring good respiratory hygiene by promoting the catch it, bin it, kill it approach.
3.             Cleaning more frequently to ensure that the virus doesn't settle on frequently touched surfaces, such as door handles, handrails, table tops, play equipment and toys.
4.             Minimising contact through smaller classes or group sizes (of no more than 10 children) and altering the environment as much as possible, such as changing the layout of classrooms. School will only be open for Year 6, 1, 5 and 4. Siblings in other year groups will not be permitted to attend school.
5.             Reducing mixing between groups through timetable changes, such as staggered break times and staggered drop-off and collection times.
6.             Reducing access to the school site. Children will remain in school for the whole day and will not be permitted to go home for lunch. Parents will also only be granted access to the school grounds via invitation only.
7.             Ensuring social distancing in the school canteen. Children can bring a packed lunch to school. The school canteen will be closed for hot food. However, grab bags will be prepared for children who would prefer a school meal or those children who are entitled to free school meals.
8.             Reducing the spread of contamination. Own clothes to be worn which are fresh on – we recommend putting clothes straight in the washing machine once returning home from school to minimise and control the spread of infection. Thorough hand washing to take place at home just before leaving the home and returning from school.

Please do not hesitate to contact the school office if you require any further clarification or information. Referring to Boris Johnson’s update last night, it would appear that it could only become statutory for all children to return to school in September at the onset of the new academic year. As much as we would love to have as many children as safely possible returning to school before the end of July, any decision you make will be fully supported 100%. It is not yet compulsory to send your children back to school.

Seems like we are going to be treated to some wonderful weather over the next few days so please enjoy it safely with your families,

Mrs Victoria Hartford