RE: Plans and Details for September 2021

 

Dear Parents & Carers,

 

I would like to share with you some of the recently announced changes that the Government hopes will be in place in schools from September 2021 when they move towards stage 4 of their roadmap for the country. As always we will be required to follow government guidelines and will share school procedures as and when these are updated. Final arrangements for schools will be confirmed by the government during the summer holidays and we will then communicate these to families accordingly through our App, Email and Website. Please look out for these updates.

 

Please find below a list of suggested changes that will come into action if the current government guidance released in July remains in place:

 

• Attendance will be compulsory for all children. Any absence that is not related to illness will be unauthorised and will result in fines being issued in line with government guidance. All absences should be reported to the office through the school phone number, in line with the expected absence procedures.
• Where children or staff display Covid related symptoms and/or test positive for Covid 19, they will be expected to self-isolate in line with government requirements. NHS Test and Trace will work with the positive case to identify close contacts and they will be advised to take a PCR test. The government hopes that individual children identified as close contacts will not need to self-isolate unless they test positive themselves.
• Any children who display Covid related symptoms while in school will need go home, complete a PCR test and self-isolate.
• Children will not be required to start and finish school through staggered timings. School will have a soft start in place from 8.30am to 8:45am/ 8.55am (children will be able to go directly to classrooms from these timings), with all children in Year 2- 6 expected to be in school by 8.55am. Start time for Reception and Year 1 will be 8:45am.

• Please note parents/carers of children from Years 2-6 will only be allowed to drop children off at the gates in the morning and children will be supported to walk to classrooms using staff supervision. Parents can drop off at the front or back gates. This will avoid crowding at the start of the school day and continue to increase pupil independence which has been a real success throughout the pandemic.
• Only parents of Reception and Year 1 children will be permitted onto the playground in the morning. These year groups will continue to come in using the back gate.
• Collection for all children will be:

3.15pm - Reception and Year 1

3:25pm - Years 2 -6.

All parents/carers will be allowed to collect directly from classrooms/allocated areas as usual. We encourage adults to be mindful to avoid crowding.

• There will be no extended day on a Tuesday.
• Parents/carers will be allowed to make their own judgement on face coverings and wear them as they feel is appropriate while on the school playgrounds/entrances.
• Parents/carers could be asked to wear face coverings during any close contact or meetings inside the school building.
• All children will be required to wear full school uniform. All uniform should be labelled as there will be no provision for lost property collection due to increased hygiene issues.
• There will be no central place for lost property. Children will need to take responsibility for their own belongings so please make sure everything is clearly labelled.
• Children can continue to wear P.E kits into school on P.E days. P.E days for each year group will be made available through the school App, Email and website
• No parents/carers will be permitted to enter the school building and reception area without an appointment. We still strongly encourage parents/carers to telephone or email communications to the school where possible and avoid crowding near the reception entrance.
• Regular handwashing measures and good ventilation in classrooms will remain in place.

• Hot lunches will continue as normal. The school lunch menu will commence from week 1 and is available on the school website as usual. Children can bring in packed lunches as per usual but no children will be allowed to go home for lunch.
• School will need to be informed in advance if children need to attend any medical appointments during school time and proof of appointments will need to be provided.
• All children will be required to be accessing Google Classroom for homework provision and if needing to self-isolate. This is in line with the government expectation of a home learning provision in place if further lockdown procedures need to take place in the future.
• Breakfast club and FunZone provision will continue to be available. Parents/Carers will be required to book through parent pay. Please request further information through the School Office.
• Trips for the whole school and swimming should resume in September 2021.
• The government may change procedures and put stricter measures in place if they feel that Covid cases increase in the school and the local community. We will work with our local Health Protection Team for further support and guidance. School will then follow the Government Contingency Framework and Outbreak management plans required by the government.

 

Our main priority will always be to ensure that school is a safe environment for both our children and staff. Please follow the government guidelines and do not send your child to school if anyone within your household is displaying Covid19 symptoms or have tested positive for Covid.

 

Further guidance and detail will be provided through a Federation Risk Assessment which will be sent out on the school App and Website before the start of school and when government guidance is confirmed.

 

We hope by reintroducing our regular school procedures in line with government guidance we can return to normality in the next academic year.

 

Once again, I thank you for your continued support, patience and understanding during this time and wish you a restful summer break.

 

Fondest regards,

 

Mrs C Snowden

Principal