Parent Letter – May 22nd 2020

Dear Parent/Guardian,

I hope this email finds you and your families well.

As we approach the end of another successful week of teaching, I wanted to touch base to politely remind the community of our weekly timings to ensure we minimise risks and educate our children as safely as we possibly can. To date, the way in which the community has managed the adjustments to the schedule and its knock-on effects, has been admirable, and all the more reason for everybody to remain vigilant at all times to ensure our continued success.

I must also emphasise that any child exhibiting symptoms must not come to school under any circumstances until they have been tested to confirm they are virus free and any child whom has a household member exhibiting symptoms, must enter a period of quarantine for two weeks until the household is confirmed as virus free. Your support in this regard is greatly appreciated.

Daily Protocols and Procedures:

• Each year group will arrive and depart at staggered intervals throughout the day (siblings will be allowed to be dropped off together)
• All movement around and within the building is to happen with the expected 2 meters distance in place.
• Upon entering school, students will use hand sanitizer before going to classrooms.
• Students will wash their hands every time they leave and enter the classroom.
• No parent entry into school.
• There will be no lunchtimes.
• All break times continue to be staggered to reduce the number of children outside in the playground at any one time.
• Any children exhibiting any symptoms before school will be refused entry and any child developing symptoms at school will be sent home immediately.
• Cleaning at lunchtime and deep clean every day from 3-6pm which includes extensive cleaning of door handles, desktops, toilets, bannisters and all tiled floors.
• A thorough desktop surface clean before departing for the playground with antiseptic spray and wipes (which will be provided for each class)
• The availability for teachers to wear face masks when within immediate proximity to the students (1-1 and incidents of First Aid)

Expectations of children:

• Children will be allowed in the building at the assigned start times only.
• Children enter the building without parents.
• Children must sanitize their hands when entering the building.
• To respect the ‘hoola hoops’ in the playground that are placed on the floor to help regulate the distancing between children whilst playing and interacting.
• Children must adhere to the 2-meter rule when entering and exiting the building.
• Children will wash hands upon leaving and entering the classroom using the hand sanitizer available.
• In order for these arrangements to work well, it is really importantfor children and parents to adhere to the times and expectations without fail.
• Children will assemble outside as they would do normally before being called to the classroom. Social distancing rules will be observed at all times both inside and outside.
• To ensure they are fully prepared with everything they need to work as normal.

PE Class Timings:

• Your child’s PE time is listed below, please ensure all children have the correct PE attire otherwise participation in the classes will not be allowed.

Pick Up and Drop Off Times:

• I have listed the children’s arrival and departure times below for easy reference to ensure accurate planning for pick-ups and drop offs.

Expectations of parents when picking up and dropping off:

• Parents will arrive at the assigned staggered start time and dismissal time – it’s so important to respect these times to ensure social distancing and the schedule we have in place. The functionality of the timetable is dependent upon the staggered timings throughout the day. When timings are not adhered to the designated starting time compromises the safeguarding procedures we have in place and by default increases the opportunity of contamination.
• Siblings are able to be dropped off at the same time but not picked up at the same time unless the older children have completed their required tasks in a timely manner allowing them to leave at the same time.

The schedule and School Next Term:

At this moment in time nothing will be changing regarding the current schedule. To date it has worked well and has allowed almost a hundred students to learn and participate in school life again on a daily basis. I have considered the impact of a revision of its current format to accommodate key workers for the duration of the entire day, and unfortunately, it’s not possible

With regard to the start of school in September it’s extremely difficult to determine exactly what the schedule will look like with so many variables still in the air. In essence we have three potential situations;

• A return to school with the current government guidelines still in place and a continuation of the current schedule with split days.
• Due to rising cases within the city the schools return to a lockdown and the school returns to a schedule for key workers only as it was before June 1^st.
• A change in the government social distancing guidelines and expectations that allows for larger class sizes and a return to our original schedule prior to the lockdown.

Thank you for your continued support during these very different and challenging times.

Should you have any questions or concerns then please do not hesitate to contact me at school either by email or telephone.

Yours Sincerely,

Mr Roberts