As I’m sure you can imagine we are really excited about welcoming all of our children back to school next week. I did however think it was really important to let you know exactly how we intend to do so as safely as possible.

We have followed all the advice available to allow the full return of all classes next week and have been working hard to make sure it is safe to do so. The National Education Union have produced a detailed checklist for safe opening, which both myself and the staff have worked through meticulously so school is as safe as possible for both adults and children.

All of the pupils will remain, throughout the day, in their year groups and will avoid any contact with the other year groups in school. This will mean staggered break and lunchtimes and no whole school gatherings, such as assemblies. It is important that we maintain social distancing wherever possible to minimise close contact especially between adults and children. To help with this all of the children’s desks in class will be facing forward.

To reduce the adult numbers on site, particularly at the start and end of the day, there will be a 30 minute window (from 8:45am in the morning and 2:45pm in the afternoon) when children can be escorted to or collected from their classroom doors. Where families have more than one child in school siblings can all arrive at the same time.

Can I ask that only one adult per family accompanies the children on to the school site? 

We have completed individual risk assessments for all of the staff, especially those who may fall into the higher risk categories or be living with people who do.

There will be enhanced cleaning schedules in school, extra hand washing and sanitisers available throughout school and in every class. We will also teach the children about good respiratory hygiene so they know what to do when coughing and sneezing.

The children’s wellbeing will be at the forefront of our planning. I do feel it is important we help everyone understand what we are all going through and give everyone a chance to express their feelings and emotions about what has been a difficult time for us all. The curriculum will be carefully planned to be appropriate and manageable, taking into account  staff wellbeing and trying to avoid any unnecessary workload.

We will follow the contingency plans in line with the local authority if we do have confirmed cases in school and will communicate with you how to get tested should you or anyone in your family display symptoms. In the case of further lockdowns we have been looking into how we can enhance the children’s online learning and will be utilising Google Classrooms.

I will be in touch again next week with some finer details and will post some videos so the children know what to expect on their first day next week and more importantly how adults can locate the correct classroom door!

During these unsettled times it is important that we all learn together, school leaders, teachers and assistants, pupils and parents. Any lessons we can learn, that improve the safety of all, can be put swiftly into action if we all work together.

Enjoy the bank holiday weekend and please stay safe.

Mr Jackson