21 Jul September 2020 – Full Opening
Dear Parents and Carers,
We are pleased to share with you that St Mary’s school will fully open for the new school year starting in September, following government guidance released on 2nd July.
In line with government guidance, school will continue with protective measures in place. School undertook a new risk assessment using the risk assessment guidance from the local authority.
The guidance encourages the safety of children through the use of ‘bubbles’ and safety of staff through social distancing and protective measures.
Leaders have a Return to school plan in place using information known at today’s date. The key objectives are:
1. Ensuring the risk to pupils and staff is minimized as much as is possible
2. Provide a broad and balanced recovery curriculum which promotes wellbeing and mental health support
3. Delivering full time education (our new Reception will have this by the last week of September)
Enclosed with this letter is school information provided in the form of questions and answers. We hope you find this helpful. Please email the parent email address should you have any queries. You will receive a further letter before the start of the school year in September.
Once again, we thank you for your continued support during the school’s official closure and for supporting your child with their learning. This has been a challenging time for all across the country with the coronavirus pandemic.
Your continued patience as we work through the new school year is also appreciated.
Questions and Answers
Who will be returning to school?
In line with government expectations, every child on roll at St Mary’s school is expected to return to school from September. Government states this will be mandatory.
Children in Year 1 to Year 6 start back at school on Monday 7th September. Our new Reception class will have a different start date and an opportunity to meet their new class teacher and teaching assistant. A separate letter for our Reception families will be sent providing information about your child’s induction.
When will my child start and finish school, and at which school gate?
As we have so many families at St Mary’s, we have introduced a sibling system to allow for smooth and safe departure from school.
Group A: If you have one child attending the school, then you are ‘group A’, you will need to drop your child from 8.40am – 9am at the correct gates for their year group and then collect your child from the same gate that you dropped them off at for 3.10pm.
Group B: If you have more than one child attending the school, then they are considered as a sibling group and are ‘group B’. You will need to be aware that in the morning, you will have to drop your children from 8.40am – 9am at the correct gates for their year group and then collect all of your children from one gate (the Fowler road gate) at the same time at 3.20pm.
St Mary’s is introducing a ‘soft start’ to the school day to allow time for children in years 1-6 to promptly enter the school grounds and to help reduce the number of people on the pavements. The soft start timing is 8.40am – 9am. This means that children in group A and B, can be dropped off to their correct gate anytime from 8.40am – 9am. When children arrive at their allocated school gate, they will be directed by school leaders to enter the school building to their classroom. In line with the school risk assessment and guidance from the local authority, families will not be able to enter the school premises at the start or end of the school day. After your child (ren) enters the school, parents/carers must leave to help avoid too many people being together in one place at a time on the pavement.
Start and End Times
Please keep away from the school gate and keep to social distancing. Thank you.
Reception
Start of Day
Group A & B: 9:00am at Shillingford Street Gate
End of Day
Group A: 3.10pm at Shillingford Street Gate
Group B: 3.20pm at Fowler Road Gate
Year 1 and Year 2
Start of Day
Group A & B: 8.40am – 9:00am at Shillingford Street Gate
End of Day
Group A: 3.10pm at Shillingford Street Gate
Group B: 3.20pm at Fowler Road Gate
Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6
Start of Day
Group A & B: 8.40am – 9:00am at Fowler Road Gate
End of Day
Group A: 3.10pm at Fowler Road Gate
Group B: 3.20pm at Fowler Road Gate
What does my child need to bring?
• School bag
• Water bottle and fruit snack (the fruit snack must in a labelled bag/box). Please be aware that with the protective measures, schools cannot use water fountains.
• Packed lunch (if you do not opt for the school’s packed lunch)
Children must not bring in toys from home.
Will my child need to wear a school uniform?
Yes. Children must be in full school uniform.
Is the school still using the ‘bubbles’?
Yes. Children will be in a class ‘bubble’. Some children will have opportunity to work with staff in small group ‘bubbles’ during the week.
Will children have playtimes?
Yes. Each class bubble has an allocated area of the playground to use so they can keep within their bubble. Contact sports will not be allowed or the use of the mound with the protective measures in place. Each class bubble has provision to some playtime equipment which will be cleaned regularly.
What will my child have for their morning snack and lunch?
For the morning snack, you may send your child with a piece a fruit for them to eat.
For the first half of the Autumn term, all children will be provided with a Caterlink ‘lunch in a bag’. If you wish to prepare a home packed lunch for your child, you may do so however please remember no nuts are allowed. Children will stay in the classroom in their bubble whilst they eat their lunch. At this time the children will not be eating their lunch in the school hall. We will review this at the end of the first half term and inform parents and children of changes.
What will my child learn?
The school will implement a recovery curriculum to support children as they return to school. This will start with a Happy Classroom topic to support children and families. Activities are set up to build children’s confidence, friendships, settling into new routines and supporting children to ‘learn to learn’ at school again. Circle time activities will include PSHE sessions. Our Sports Coach will also be supporting children with staff. Teachers will work in partnership with families to work together as we help children settle into their school routines. Children will have additional time outside to reinforce turn taking and social skills. Each class will also spend time talking about how they are feeling and thinking about how we can look ahead. Activities during the Happy Classroom topics at the start of September will include maths and English building on what children would have experience with.
How will levels of hygiene be maintained?
• Children will have their own pack in their trays (pencils, rubber etc)
• Handwashing and sanitizing will be built into the daily timetable
• Tissues and bins with lids are provided in every classroom.
• Daily cleaning is in place and regular cleaning of ‘bubble’ resources
Who is my child’s teacher and teaching assistant next year?
Reception: Miss Mann and Miss Michelle
Year 1: Miss Cianter and Miss Sarah
Year 2: Miss Coates and Miss Geraldine
Year 3: Mr Simes and Mr Benjamin
Year 4: Mr McLaughlin and Miss Teresa
Year 5: Mr Cota and Miss Kelly
Year 6: Ms Rocque and Mr Michael
How will I contact my teacher?
Parents/carers will not be permitted on site. If you wish to talk with your child’s class teacher, please call the school office.
Will there be breakfast club or after school clubs when we return?
Unfortunately, we cannot provide a breakfast club or afterschool club. This will be reviewed and parents notified of any changes.
Will my child/children be going off-site for trips?
Children may walk around the local area, but we will not be using public transport or taking children into closed spaces, such as museums whilst this guidance is in place.
How long will this continue?
The Government guidance issued on 2nd July has no ‘end date’. School will respond to local and government directions as and when informed to do so. We will continue to review procedures and will update you with any changes
Letter to Parents – September 2020 Full Opening
Yours sincerely,
Genevieve Prayag
Headteacher