Welcome to 2020-21
Welcome Back to 2020/21
Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome back to the new school year. I hope that you and your families are all keeping well and that you managed to have a very relaxing, happy and enjoyable summer holiday.
I did write to you all at the end of July to explain what the school week will look like. This letter did contain a proposed timetable for the whole school. However, after further government guidance last Friday and input from governors and staff, some slight changes have been made to ensure a fairer spread of allocated teaching time for all year groups.
Our whole school timetable starting on Monday 7th September will be as follows:-
Year group |
Start |
Mon – Thurs Finish Times |
Friday Finish Times |
6 |
8:35 |
14:30 |
13:00 |
5 |
8:45 |
14:40 |
13:10 |
4 |
8:55 |
14:50 |
13:20 |
Year |
Start |
Finish |
|
3 |
9:05 |
15:00 |
13:30 |
2 |
8:35 |
14:40 |
13:00 |
1 |
8:45 |
14:50 |
13:00 |
Year |
Start |
Finish |
|
R |
8:55 |
15:00 |
13:20 |
N |
9:05 |
14:30 |
13:30 |
The Local Authority have published a really useful Frequently Asked Questions document which can be found here!-
https://www.bradford.gov.uk/education-and-skills/school-holidays-and-term-dates/faqs-back-to-school/
In addition to booking tests, the school has received a limited number of Covid19 testing kits. The guidelines surrounding these kits state that they should only be used if a pupil or member of staff is unable to book a test in the recommended way. Information on the testing kits can be found via the link below:
A few messages have also been left on our school answering machine during the summer holidays and I felt it might also be useful to answer these as shared response for all of you.
1: All children will be expected to wear their full school uniform. 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.
2: Both staff and parents will be required to wear masks during drop off and pick up times. In Scotland and England, you are now allowed to socially distance at '1 metre plus', but the advice is still to stick to two metres where you can, to protect yourself from catching coronavirus. Therefore, when entering and exiting the school children and adults will be expected to continue to maintain the 2m social distancing guidelines.
3: Parents will only be permitted on the school grounds to quickly drop off and pick up their children.
4: Parents will only be permitted into the school building by invitation only.
5: All communication to be done with school via telephone, email or other electronic means.
6: Children will not be permitted to go home for lunch, they will need to remain in their bubble for the entire school day.
7: Parents and carers who might be struggling with the prospect of having children in different year groups and adhering to a staggered timetable will have the following option:-
In the morning, Breakfast Club would provide an immediate solution and at home time all siblings can be collected at the finishing time of the earliest child to leave school. Parents who do wish their children to attend Breakfast Club would be doing so with the understanding that their children will engage with two separate bubbles of children and adults during the school day.
Apologies for this all sounding very bossy and assertive, but we must take the strictest steps possible to avoid contamination and hindering social distancing.
Although we are now in a position to fully open school, we are under no illusion that Covid-19 is still very much amongst us and continues to have a significant impact on our daily lives. Due to the subsequent uncertainty of recorded school infections and the likelihood of second waves etc, all parents still need to have in place plans for the possibility of a local lockdown and the uncertain prospect that certain classes or the whole school could close with very little notice. School will be continuing to apply the Public Health England ‘system of controls’ in order to minimise risk. I have attached a copy of our most updated risk assessment to this letter. I hope it serves as some reassurance that we are taking the necessary steps to ensure a safe and productive start to the new academic year.
Despite these uncertain times and the need for such severe restrictions and formality, staff and I have enjoyed a lovely two days attending remote learning training and planning the school year. Staff and I cannot wait to get the old Marshfield back up and running as soon as possible.
Thank you in advance for your support, insight and understanding.