Dear Parents/ Carers,
Thank you for your patience in waiting for further information regarding the Government’s aims to begin the phased reopening of schools. When I spoke to parents on the last Friday before the school closure began when it was all so uncertain how long this would happen for, I remember saying that I expected/hoped/prayed it would be sometime in the Summer term. Never once did I consider it would be in the way we are now proposing to work. School will not be school as you know it and this is saddening and concerning for us all.
I apologise in advance for the length of this letter: I have tried to keep it as brief as possible but it is crucial you have a full understanding of what school will be like and the measures we are putting into place to minimise the risks as much as possible so you can make an informed decision when considering whether you want your child (if eligible) to return to school as when this is agreed.
To make reading easier, I have added headings so you can skip to the parts relevant to you/your child. I have also included a key question and answer section and finally a quick summary section for key points which again might help give you a good understanding without reading every word! If there is anything that is not clear, please do not hesitate to get in touch via the e-mail address below.
Once you have read this letter and made your decision about your child/ren, please e-mail me (headteacher@anthonybek.derbyshire.sch.uk) with the name/s and year group/s of your child/ren and Yes or No in answer to the question, ‘Will your child be attending this term if a date to return for your child is given?’ Please answer this questions for all children regardless of their year group as we do not yet know if the Government advice on the use of rotas or on the inclusion of other year groups will change. I do not want to rush your decision as I appreciate there’s a lot to consider, but would appreciate your response as soon as possible but no later than Thursday 21st May so I start to work out what is/isn’t possible and arrange timetables and staffing.
YOUR CHOICE
I must stress again that the choice will be yours. We will do everything we can to minimise the risks, as you will see in this letter, but no-one can fully eradicate them so it will be your choice whether your child attends and you will not be penalised for non-attendance if you decide you want your child to remain at home and continue home learning. We will, of course, continue to support your child with home learning in the same way that has been so far, albeit it may be with different staff members in some cases.
UPDATE
Since I sent the last message, you will have no doubt seen a wealth of information presented in the media about the different thoughts about the reopening of schools and I am sure, like us, you have been overwhelmed and confused by some of the messages and of course it will have raised lots of concerns. You will also be aware that unions are now involved and we don’t know how/if this will change the Government guidance. What is clear though, is that we need to plan for the phased reopening so we are ready to open the doors to an increased number of pupils when it is safe to do so.
Our stance has not changed in that we know that regardless of whether the Government meets the 5 key indicator targets by the 1st June, we WILL NOT be opening to any additional pupils (other than those in the key worker/vulnerable group that already attend the school) on this date as there is a significant amount of work to be completed in school to ensure it is safe for an increased number of staff and pupils. We need to re-organise the building to include one way systems, add signage, set up EYFS individual stations, remove all soft-furnishings, re-organise classrooms to set out tables 2m apart, remove excess furniture, remove excess resources, set up individual resource packs, source personal protective equipment for staff when having to have contact with pupils, e.g. through first aid or personal hygiene etc. So I can confirm that the very earliest time we could possibly begin a phased reopening would be Mon 8th June and I do stress this is just the earliest date possible- not a given date. It may be that all of the above takes more time to put in place. We would not begin the reopening until all measures were in place to ensure we are operating as safely as possible.
Once we have everything in place to begin the phased reopening, this would be done gradually. All eligible pupils would not start on the same day. We would invite one additional group at a time. We might add a new group each day or we may wait a two or more days before adding a new group. This would depend on the evaluation of each day. It may be that we have to make further changes so it is crucial that we reopen slowly and carefully to ensure we can keep everyone as safe as possible. Parents would receive messages the day before to confirm we are ready for the next group to begin.
How COVID 19 transmits
The Government guidance states:
‘Transmission of coronavirus mainly occurs via respiratory droplets generated during breathing, talking, coughing and sneezing. These droplets can directly infect the respiratory tracts of other people if there is close contact. They also infect others indirectly. This happens when the droplets get onto and contaminate surfaces which are then touched and introduced into the mouth or eyes of an uninfected person.
In all education, childcare and children’s social care settings, preventing the spread of coronavirus involves preventing:
To reduce the risk of transmission of infection we will:
1.Minimise contact with individuals who are unwell. Parents will be asked not to send any child to school who is displaying any symptoms of COVID 19 and to keep them at home for a period of 7 days or until a negative test result is received. If a child or staff member becomes ill at school with suspected symptoms, they will need to leave as soon as possible. Whilst waiting for adults to collect pupils, they will be placed in isolation.
Isolation
Our disabled toilet/ medical room will be the isolation room. This room has been chosen as any child who is displaying symptoms needs to be isolated and sat in a room with a window. This room also has a medical bed if they are feeling significantly unwell. Pupils who are isolated also need access to a toilet that no-one else needs to use so this room is ideal as the child will not need to go anywhere else and risk infection to others if positive. Once the child leaves school, the isolation room will not be used by anyone until it is fully cleaned.
A staff member will sit on a chair outside of the room (with the door slightly open unless the child is using the toilet) so the staff member can monitor the child but maintain a safe distance. If a staff member has to be in contact with a child displaying symptoms, they will wear a full personal protective equipment.
2. Clean hands often. Staff and children will be expected to wash their hands for 20 seconds with water and soap (as per the guidance) when arriving to school, after break, before dinner, after dinner, before leaving school and anytime they cough/sneeze. Hand sanitisers will also be available for use.
3. Respiratory hygiene (catch it, bin it, kill it). Children in Y1-Y6 will be given individual packets of tissues on their tables and encouraged to use tissues if they are going to cough or sneeze and immediately throw the tissue in the lidded bin in each room before washing their hands in the classroom sink. Tissues will also be available in EYFS although not in individual packets and these can be quite fiddly for young pupils.
4. Clean surfaces that are touched frequently. All surfaces will be cleaned before pupils arrive. Each classroom will also have a bucket, cloth and disinfectant spray to use by teaching staff throughout the day. Surfaces will be wiped again at lunchtime and then cleaned after school. Deep cleaning will also take place mid-week every week in all areas where groups are working. Each time a group visits the toilet, the handles of toilet flushes, taps and door handles will be wiped by the supervising staff member. In Early Years, the resources/ toys on each station will be cleaned before the next child moves to that station. Staff will ensure all I PADS and laptops are wiped after use, using appropriate wipes for the equipment so they are clean for the next group.
5. Minimise contact and mixing. Pupils will be put into a groups of between 10 and 15 pupils. They will remain in this same group throughout the day. Tables will be set out 2m apart with one child per table in KS1/2. Stations will be set up in EYFS to promote social distancing. Staff will be allocated a group to work with and will remain with this same group to minimise mixing. All groups will have two staff members each day- for the majority of groups, these staff members will be consistent all week. However, with job share/ part-time staff, there will be some groups that see more than two staff members. Collection and drop off times and points will be staggered to minimise group sizes. Break times, lunchtimes and use of outdoor learning spaces will be staggered/timetabled to minimise contact. Staff will use the Amazon speaker system to let other classes know when they have returned to their classrooms to ensure paths don’t cross. Staff will have time slots for group toilet visits. Only one child will be permitted in the toilet at one time. Individual pupils will be accompanied by an adult from their group to the toilet between group visits if needed to ensure cleaning of handles etc is complete.
6. Use Personal protective equipment (PPE)
We will provide full face screens, aprons and disposable gloves to:
7. Remove excess furniture to reduce the number of surfaces that could harbour the virus All excess furniture will be removed from classrooms to give maximum space and to ensure all surfaces can be wiped more frequently.
8. Limit the sharing of them Each child in KS1/2 will have their own set of resources, e.g. pencil, ruler, glue stick, rubber, pencil crayons etc to avoid the need for pupils to cross contaminate resources. EYFS will have set resources on each table but these will be cleaned before pupils rotate to the next station.
9. Limit resources generally Staff will use the least amount of resources necessary to prevent contact with lots of resources which then need cleaning.
10. Prevent cross contamination between home and school Children will not be asked to bring organisers and books to school. Parents will therefore not need to sign organisers. However, we would hope that reading at home would still continue where the family situation permits this. However, we do not want to promote pupils changing books in school so would ask pupils to read books they have at home. PE kits should be left in school for as long as possible. We appreciate, from time to time, they will need to go home to be washed.
11. Parents and visitors will not be permitted onto the school grounds (with the exception of Parents visiting the reception office if enquiries cannot be made by telephone). Such visits will need to be outside of the school collecting times, e.g. between 9am and 2:50pm.
12. Contractors only permitted if really necessary to enable safe working All non-essential work will be delayed to reduce the number of possible contractors working in school. Where contractors have to work, social distancing will be adhered to. This may include moving groups of pupils and re-cleaning or if another suitable space cannot be located and the work is urgent, it may be that certain group/s do not attend of certain days.
13. Expect that families of children attending the school will adhere to social distancing rules Whilst we do not have a legal right to police the behaviour of the community, we do have a right to be safe in our workplace as do the pupils that attend. If we feel that the behaviour of some families is putting staff and pupils at a genuinely increased risk (and we have firm evidence of this from reliable sources-not hearsay), we will contact the family/families and ask them to keep their child at home for self-isolation period of 14 days and remind them of the expectations set by the Government for the safety of everyone.
We have completed risk assessments of the whole school and identified the safe number of pupils each classroom could hold and used this to inform the offer below.
Places in school
Each group will have a set time for dropping off and collecting. These times will be staggered so we don’t have groups mixing or too many parents in one place at the same time. We ask that only ONE parent drops off and collects their child to reduce the number of people present. Each group will have a drop off and collection gate. Parents will not enter the school premise to reduce contamination. 2m distancing markings will be painted on pavements. Collecting parents will be asked to use these markings to maintain social distancing.
Each group would attend every day except Wednesday. School would be closed to all pupils except the key worker group and the Nursery group from 12:30pm on Wednesday each week. This is to enable staff planning and deep cleaning to take place. Usually, we have staff members that rotate to cover each teacher’s planning time but this is not possible as staff need to stay in the same ‘bubble’ group. This will be under review- it may be that we find a solution where this is not needed. Equally, it may be that we have to increase this to school being closed for the full day on Wednesdays.
We will offer places in the following order of priority in relation to classroom and staffing availability.
This is the group of pupils currently attending the school. They are currently taught as one or two mixed aged groups (depending on the number of pupils each day). If these pupils are in the other eligible groups, ideally they should be moved to be taught with their year group. This is particularly important for EYFS pupils as they would be able to have further access to the limited EYFS resources in use, that will not be available in the key worker group classrooms.
We will only offering breakfast club and after school club (until 5:15pm) from the 1st day of increased groups in school, to children in the Key worker group, so if your child needs to attend either of these services or if your child needs a place in school on Wednesday afternoons, they will remain taught in the Key worker group rather than in their own year group (if their year group is one of the eligible groups). Please indicate this when you send your e-mail.
Once we begin the phased reopening to more groups of pupils, the key worker group of pupils will be supported in the Y3 and Y4 classrooms. Each of these spaces can take between 8 and 10 pupils. If the group is larger than this, they will move into the Y5 and Y6 classrooms as well. This could then impact our ability to offer places to Y6 pupils as they are the last priority set by the Government for the classes named so far.
Provision will continue in the same way- pupils working on separate desks with their own resources. However, they will now follow timetables for use of playgrounds, toilets etc to ensure the groups don’t mix.
2. Nursery
Following our risk assessment and measuring of the available space, we can offer 10 places in a morning and 10 places in an afternoon. There are no other classrooms in the school suitable for Nursery due to which have toilets and sinks which are the appropriate size, changing facilities and an enclosed outside area. This means we do not have enough places for all Nursery pupils to attend. The Government ask that we don’t operate a rota system where some children attend one week and some attend another.
We do not feel, at this time, that we can safely offer places to pupils who are in the first year of Nursery (N1-those not going to Reception in September). At this age, most pupils are still very dependent on adults, with changing, helping to dress/undress, fastening coats, wiping noses, toileting etc. They are also the age group who will understand social distancing the least and regularly put things in their mouths. They will not be able to understand the way that we propose to operate Nursery and those pupils who have yet to start our Nursery, will need a lot of reassurance when separated from parents and which would require close contact and this would put staff at increased risk. We therefore do not feel we can offer what these pupils need.
Therefore we have decided to offer places to Nursery pupils who are starting Reception in September 2020 only. This may change further down the line so I would still appreciate all parents, including those of pupils not going into Reception in September to send an e-mail stating whether they would/ would not take a place if offered under the same circumstances.
We cannot offer 30 hour places as we need time in between the two different groups attending to deep clean Nursery so these eligible pupils would just be offered a morning or afternoon session along with the other pupils. If your child is currently in N2 and receiving 30 hours provision, and you want a place, please indicate on your reply slip whether you would prefer am or pm.
The most significant changes will be felt by our pupils in the Early Years. To try to maintain social distancing wherever possible, we will have to operate in a very different way and all staff are concerned about this. It goes against the whole ethos of the Early Years Curriculum so staff are worried about the impact these changes would have on pupils. At present, children learn through play, socialising freely with other pupils. They complete tasks freely, moving from area to area, choosing activities that they are interested in at the time, working with different pupils and working in groups. Resources are available for them to select independently out of the range of drawers and shelves within each area.
To try to maintain social distancing and limit the possible spread of the virus, our Nursery classroom and outdoor area will be set up with 10 stations spaced 2m apart. All excess furniture and resources would be stored elsewhere (not in the Nursery building) to minimise the number of surfaces that children can touch and therefore that need to be cleaned. There would be set resources out on each station and it is only these resources that pupils will be able to use. Group times, where pupils sit in a circle to enjoy a story would not happen in the same way. We may be able to use part of the dining room with spots spaced out every 2m on the floor for children to take part in such activities but this would be dependent on how the children cope with that and the availability of the space.
One child will play/complete activities at each station for an agreed length of time. Some kind of signal will be used to show the end of this activity. Children will complete some form of dance/ rhyme/song etc whilst stood near their stations led by one staff member whilst the other staff member cleans the resources used at each station. Children then rotate to the next station and repeat this process. They will have time indoors and outdoors to take part in activities.
Each group will have two staff members. We will do our best to ensure at least one of these is from the current Nursery staffing so the pupils are familiar with them but this may not always be possible due to staff availability and splitting the groups into smaller groups so children may be working with unfamiliar staff (they will all be our staff, however- we will not be using supply staff or staff from any other school.)
3. Reception
Following our risk assessment and measuring of the available space, we can offer 10-12 places in our Reception classroom and 10-12 places in our dining room (with both groups sharing the Reception outdoor space and toilets on a rota basis- each cleaned before use by the other group).
The most significant changes will be felt by our pupils in the Early Years. To try to maintain social distancing wherever possible, we will have to operate in a very different way and all staff are concerned about this. It goes against the whole ethos of the Early Years Curriculum so staff are worried about the impact these changes would have on pupils. At present, children learn through play, socialising freely with other pupils. They complete tasks freely, moving from area to area, choosing activities that they are interested in at the time, working with different pupils and working in groups. Resources are available for them to select independently out of the range of drawers and shelves within each area.
To try to maintain social distancing and limit the possible spread of the virus, our Reception classroom, dining room -if needed- and outdoor area will be set up 10-12 stations spaced 2m apart. All excess furniture and resources would be stored elsewhere (not in the Reception class) to minimise the number of surfaces that children can touch and therefore that need to be cleaned. There would be set resources out on each station and it is only these resources that pupils will be able to use. Group times, where pupils sit closely together would not happen in the same way. We may be able to use part of the dining room with spots spaced out on every 2m the floor for children to take part in such activities but this would be dependent on how the children cope with that way of working and the availability of the space.
One child will play/complete activities at each station for an agreed length of time. Some kind of signal will be used to show the end of this activity. Staff will clean each station before the pupils move onto the next one. The children would probably do some kind of dance, chant, rhyme etc led by one staff member while the other staff member cleans the stations. Children then rotate to the next station and repeat this process. They will have time indoors and outdoors to take part in activities.
Each group will have two staff members. We will do our best to ensure at least one of these is from the current Reception staffing so the pupils are familiar with them but this may not always be possible due to staff availability and splitting the groups into smaller groups so children may be working with unfamiliar staff (they will all be our staff, however- we will not be using supply staff or staff from any other school.)
Pupils will be able to order school dinners or bring their own sandwiches. They will collect these on a rota basis and eat in the classroom so the pupils are not mixing with other groups.
4. Year 1
Following our risk assessment and measuring of the available space, we can offer 12 places in our Year 1 classroom and 12 places in Year 2 classroom for our Y1 pupils.
Rather than a carpet area for all children to sit together on and tables in groups of 6 or 8, the tables will be spaced out throughout the room individually spaced 2m apart with one child at each table. (It would look like exam class set up if you can recall from your own education). All excess furniture and resources would be stored elsewhere to minimise the number of surfaces that children can touch and therefore the number that need to be cleaned and also to ensure they have the most amount of space in the classroom.
Children will each have a named desk and their own set of resources on their table so only they are touching them. Teaching will be led from the front of the class rather than sitting at the tables with pupils. Staff, will of course, support pupils but will be trying to maintain as much social distance as is possible. They will wash their hands when touching one child’s book before touching another.
Quite rightly, staff are concerned about how children in Y1 will cope with this style of teaching/ learning. It goes against the whole ethos of the KS1 curriculum so staff are worried about the impact these changes would have on pupils. Children in Year 1 are used to be taught as a whole class on the carpet and working very closely together in small groups at tables so this will be a very different way of working for them. Much of the learning in Year 1 is very practical with some play based learning like the Early Years. Delivering the Y1 curriculum would usually reqires the use of a wide range of resources to do it effectively but staff will need to minimise the resources used to ensure everything can be kept clean.
Staff will do their best to ensure lots of learning can take place outside to give the pupils different experiences and to break up the day. Outside areas will be zoned and timetabled so pupils in different groups do not come into contact with each other.
Each group will have two staff members. We will do our best to ensure at least one of these is from the current Year 1 staffing so the pupils are familiar with them but this may not always be possible due to staff availability and splitting the groups into smaller groups so children may be working with unfamiliar staff (they will all be our staff, however- we will not be using supply staff or staff from any other school.)
Pupils will be able to order school dinners or bring their own sandwiches. They will collect these on a rota basis and eat in the classroom so the pupils are not mixing with other groups.
5. Year 6
Following our risk assessment and measuring of the available space, we can offer 12 places in our Year 6 classroom and 12 places in Year 5 classroom for our Y6 pupils. This could be increased to a maximum of 15 in each space but this would compromise the pupils view of teaching.
Rather than tables being in groups of 6 or 8, the tables will be spaced out throughout the room individually spaced 2m apart with one child at each table. (It would look like exam class set up if you can recall from your own education). All excess furniture and resources would be stored elsewhere to minimise the number of surfaces that children can touch and therefore that need to be cleaned and to ensure they have the most amount of space in the classroom.
Children will each have a named desk and their own set of resources on their table so only they are touching them. Teaching will be led from the front of the class rather than sitting at the tables with pupils. Staff, will of course, support pupils but will be trying to maintain as much social distance as is possible. They will wash their hands when touching one child’s book before touching another.
Resources used would be kept to a minimum to ensure everything can be kept clean.
Staff will do their best to ensure lots of learning can take place outside to give the pupils different experiences and to break up the day. Outside areas will be zoned and timetabled so pupils in different groups do not come into contact with each other.
Each group will have two staff members. We will do our best to ensure at least one of these is from the current Year 6 staffing so the pupils are familiar with them but this may not always be possible due to staff availability and splitting the groups into smaller groups so children may be working with unfamiliar staff (they will all be our staff, however- we will not be using supply staff or staff from any other school.)
Please be aware that all the usual activities associated with Y6, e.g. Leavers’ assembly, Alton Towers visit, Leavers Disco, Transition to secondary school days etc will NOT go ahead this year.
Pupils will be able to order school dinners or bring their own sandwiches. They will collect these on a rota basis and eat in the classroom so the pupils are not mixing with other groups.
Year 2, 3, 4 and 5
At present, apart from the aim that all primary school pupils return for 1 month before the summer, there has been no guidance about the pupils in Y2-5. We will, of course, continue to support your child at home and keep in regular contact. Please be aware though that the staff doing this may change due to being needed to teach the increasing groups in school.
Clearly, splitting classes in two or even three means that we have used the classrooms that these pupils would normally for other year groups so unless a significant number of pupils didn’t attend, we would not have the capacity to include any of these year groups. Many schools thought a rota approach might work but this hasn’t been supported by the Government so at this time, we are not able to offer any places or indicate when places might be available. We do not yet know if the Government has a priority order for these groups either. We have our own ideas about this but I feel it is pointless sharing them as it may not be the same as the Governments ideas if/ when these are published.
Even though there’s currently no plans to offer places for these year groups, I would appreciate a response by e-mail to indicate whether you would/ wouldn’t want a place for your child under these circumstances if the opportunity arose. Please read the Y1/Y6 section as these are the same provisions that would be in place for your child’s year.
Playtimes/lunchtimes
Each group (EYFS not included) will have staggered playtime to ensure groups don’t meet.
Rules and activities on the playground will promote social distancing which means some games will not be permitted, e.g. Tag and team games. However, games which can be played safely by two people will be encouraged:
Other areas will have set number of pupils permitted, e.g. one person on each part of the trim trail on both playgrounds, one child in each bay on KS1, only 3 scooters permitted on the track etc.
If the weather is fine, pupils will be able to play on the field in zoned areas for their group to ensure the groups don’t mix. Each group will have a box of resources they can use which will include games which support social distancing, e.g. skipping ropes, bats and balls.
Free School Meals
If eligible, pupils who attend school will receive free school meals at lunchtime each day if they choose this option. Those who are not attending school either by their own choice or because places aren’t available will continue to be offered the food hamper each fortnight if they are eligible and they request it. The next food hamper will be ready for collection on Wednesday 3rd June.
Extended services (breakfast club and after school club)
To ensure staff and pupils have minimum interactions with other pupils, extended services will only offered to the parents of key worker pupils (as it is currently). It is also proposed that this is only offered until 5:15pm each day to ensure the room used by the key worker children can be cleaned before the following day during the cleaning and caretaking hours. There is be a limit of 10 pupils to ensure staff are able to maintain social distancing with the group. It is possible that the after school provision may have to be cancelled if we have staff absence concerns.
Vulnerable pupils
Children who have been classed as clinically extremely vulnerable due to pre-existing medical conditions should not attend school but continue with home education. We will not be offering places to such pupils.
Children who are clinically vulnerable (but not extremely) would be considered a higher risk of severe illness from COVID 19 and parents should therefore follow medical advice about their child’s attendance.
Children who live with someone who is clinically extremely vulnerable should only attend school if the setting can provide and they can adhere to and understand stringent social distancing, otherwise they should not attend school. We would not recommend these pupils attend school as we can’t control the actions of other pupils and they may be less able to maintain a social distance.
Key Questions
No. It is your decision to make and no penalties will be given by school, the local authority or the Education Welfare Officer. Schools will still maintain contact to ensure the child is still completing educational tasks in their home setting.
2. My child is classed as medically extremely vulnerable due to their medical needs. Should they attend?
No. Any child who has any health condition that puts them at significant risk if they were to get COVID 19 should stay at home and continue with home learning. We will not be offering any places to pupils in this category.
Children who are classed as medically vulnerable (e.g. at risk of being more ill than the average person if they were to contract COVID19), but not extremely vulnerable should seek medical advice about a return to school but even if medical professionals say the child can attend, every parent has the right to keep them at home.
3. If my child doesn’t attend school, will they still be supported with home learning?
Yes. All children will continue to have tasks set for them through all the current means being used. Staff will still maintain contact with pupils although this might not be your child’s teacher or teaching assistant due to staff working in school. They will be liaising with them though so your child’s teachers will still be kept informed.
4. Will my child miss out on activities, e.g. Sports Day, Awards ceremonies, Rewards days, Disco, Y6 Leavers’ trip etc if they don’t attend school?
It is not possible to hold any of these events whilst maintaining social distancing so all of these events have been cancelled for all pupils. We have not yet decided if/when awards will be given out for attendance up to the point of closure or for stars of the year etc. Many businesses supplying these goods remain closed so at present, such discussions are not a priority but we will be having these discussions at some point later in the term. It may be that we decide to hold an Awards ceremony in the Autumn term when I am hopeful we are returning to normality.
5. I have children in the eligible year groups and those not eligible, e.g. Y6 and Y2. Can siblings that are not eligible attend?
Only children in the key worker group that is currently attending, Nursery (only those going to Reception in September), Year 1 and Year 6 can attend at this time. This may change when the Government releases new guidance and if the space/ staffing in school permits but for now it is only those groups mentioned.
6. My child is in year 6 and usually travels to school and home without an adult. Is this still allowed?
We would prefer all pupils to be dropped off and collected by an adult living in the same household so the adult can ensure the child is socially distant from others on the journeys. However, if this is not possible and you trust that your child will manage this, they can come alone.
7. What happens if a child or staff member shows symptoms in school?
If any child that is attending school now or in the future exhibits any of the symptoms related to COVID, they will be isolated until a Parent can collect them. We would ask that you immediately book a test for the child, which you can do online and inform us of the decision as soon as you receive it. You will be asked to keep your child at home for 7 days (even if the symptoms go away) or until a negative test result is achieved, whichever is sooner. Any siblings that attend the school will also be sent home at the same time. The whole household needs to self-isolate for 14 days (or until you have a confirmed negative test result). We realise that many illnesses may have similar symptoms but we will need to take every precaution to ensure the safety of all so we appreciate your cooperation and understanding regarding this.
8. What happens if a staff or child that attends school tests positive?
If a positive test result is given, every child and adult in the same ‘bubble’ group will be sent home and told to self-isolate for 14 days. Testing in this scenario is not required as it takes different lengths of time for the virus to present in different people so all pupils and staff in this group only would need to self-isolate. E.g. If Ben is in group 1 and he tests positive, all staff and pupils in group 1 stay at home for 14 days. Ben also has a brother in group 2. His brother also stays home for 14 days but the rest of group 2 and the staff continue attending school unless someone develops symptoms and tests positive, then the same procedure would occur. This is why the groups need to maintain distance from each other and why staff supporting the groups need to remain consistent so it is easy to trace possible contacts. Everywhere that the person who has tested positive has been will be deep cleaned before being used by anyone else. This is why it is crucial that shared spaces, are limited and are cleaned thoroughly after each use.
9. Will my child be able to attend breakfast club and after school club?
Breakfast club and afterschool club will only be open to those pupils in the key worker group to ensure we prevent groups mixing. Numbers will be limited to 10 however to ensure social distancing can be managed. The after school club will finish at the earlier time of 5:15pm to enable time for a thorough clean.
10. What happens if I say I don’t want a place but then change my mind?
If your child is eligible for a place and we still have space, we will offer your child a place if you later change your mind. However, if we have already offered the place to another child and have no further spaces left, we will not take a place from another child to give your child a place even if your child is a higher priority as this would be unfair to the other child.
Summary of key points
I know reading this makes it sound almost like an army boot camp and as a school we would prefer not to open in this way but we will do what is asked of us when it is safe to do so, in the safest way possible. Equally, we will of course, do our best to ensure pupils enjoy the school day but it will not be like the school day they are used to for the safety of all and we want you to be fully aware of this to be able to make informed choices. You know what your circumstances are and whether you feel the provision we can offer would be the right choice for your child. Please remember we will support whatever decision you feel is right for your child and we are always here to help if needed.
Please keep safe,
Mrs Johnson