Dear Parents and Carers, 

Hope you have all been enjoying this incredible weather we have been experiencing recently.

Having listened carefully to direction from Councillor Imran Khan (Bradford’s Policy Holder for Education);

“Advice from public health has established that in our district, only two of the five tests set by government have currently been met. As a result, the council is concerned that the 1 June date is too soon for the safe return of reception, year one and year six pupils.”

Then through detailed consultation with our governing board, neighbouring MyBD5 Headteachers and the Local Authority; the following course of action has been agreed regarding a phased wider school opening. Again, as with everything at the moment, this plan is only conditional and will depend on updates from the government, Department for Education and Public Health.

School will open for Year 6 children on Monday 15^th June

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

School will open for Year 1 children on Monday 22^nd June

School will start at 10 a.m. to allow a controlled and staggered arrival with Year 6 children, key worker children and other groups already attending school. Following the same reasoning school will finish at 2 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 and Year 1 classes (from the onset). 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.

It is NOT COMPULSARY to send your child to school and you will have my full support on whatever you decide is best.

When we have learned from our suggested phase return plans for Year 6 and Year 1, I will write to you regarding the reintegration of other year groups. This situation is completely new to all of us and I am not prepared to make any false promises or reassurances at this stage.

Above all, I will endeavour to ensure that every child has a chance to come back to school before the new academic year and I am currently liaising with staff to see if we can make this possible throughout the six week’s holidays. This way we will not be compromising the safety of children by rushing to have every class back at the same time.

If you have any further questions or enquiries please email or telephone the school office.

Thanks again for your unabridged guidance and support.

Look after yourselves and stay safe,

Victoria Hartford