Dear parents and carers

We are so looking forward to welcoming everyone back on Monday 8th March.

Thank you for your patience as we finalised our plans for all of the children coming back to school on Monday 8th March. We know that you will be anxious to know all of the arrangements so we will try and give you as much information as we can here. We appreciate that there is a lot to take in but we would be grateful if you could take the time to familiarise yourself with the details. Please also remember that while schools are going back on the 8th, we are still in national lockdown and households should not be mixing outside of school at this time.

The Department for Education have provided a guide to the return for parents and carers which you can view by clicking the button below:

The guide explains why the government believes it is the right time to open schools to all children, saying that, "Schools closed to most pupils during the third lockdown to help reduce overall social contacts across the country whilst the NHS experienced significant pressure, not because schools were considered a high-risk setting to staff or pupils.

The consensus view from SAGE continues to be that missing out on classroom-based education has severe impacts for children and young people, with clear evidence that further time out of schools and colleges is detrimental for cognitive and academic development, learning, health and wellbeing.

Evidence from the Public Health England-led Schools Infection Study continues to show that infection rates in schools mirror infection rates in the wider community, suggesting schools are not the main driver of infections."

The guidance also states that:

"School attendance will be mandatory for all pupils from 8 March. The usual rules on school attendance apply."

I know that all of us want to keep our children safe, and also for them to be in school as much as they possibly can be from now on to minimise any further disruption to their education. To do this we all need to work together and support each other in preventing the spread of Covid-19. Please familiarise yourselves with the following details and please do your part in following the procedures put in place to keep everyone safe.

1. Minimising contact and social distancing - How will classes be organised?

We all want to keep as many children in school learning as much as possible, and we understand that some families found it frustrating when whole year groups needed to self-isolate last year. After much consideration we will move to class bubbles on our return. We are putting in many additional measures to try to prevent a whole year group bubble from having to close. Children from different class groups will not have contact with each other and will be separate in lessons, play times and lunchtimes (please see section below for more about meals). Whole school and Wing activities such as assemblies will not take place. We do however recognise the importance of school community, therefore virtual assemblies will take place via Teams.

The only exception to this will be children in Reception - due to the location of the toilets and the nature of how they learn in EYFS, these children will continue to work as one year group bubble and will have their lunch in the hall.

We need your support to maintain these class bubbles. Please ensure your children do not travel to and from school with children from other classes.

We hope that as government plans are reviewed we will keep assessing the situation and look to form year group bubbles again if Covid cases significantly reduce. We are sorry that some children will not have direct contact with friends in other classes but believe this is the best approach at this time.

Due to circumstances such as staffing, provision of toilets etc. we may not be able to maintain discreet class bubbles at all times. Therefore we cannot guarantee that the East Riding Public Health team will not ask a whole year to isolate in the event of a positive case, but it will be less likely and above all will help prevent the spread of cases.

2. Arrival at school & collection

The start and finish times for each class will be as follows:

East

• Nursery: Start 9.00am, pick up 12.00
• RC: Start 8.40am, pick up 3.15pm
• RW: Start 8.50am, pick up 3.25pm
• 1W & 1H: Start 8.40am, pick up 3.15pm
• 1P: Start 8.50am, pick up 3.25pm
• 2AW: Start 8.40am, pick up 3.15pm
• 2P & 2A: Start 8.50am, pick up 3.25pm

West

• 3O: Start 8.35am, pick up 3.05pm
• 3M (was 3S): Start 8.40am, pick up 3.10pm
• 3C: Start 8.45am, pick up 3.15pm
• 4S: Start 8.35am, pick up 3.05pm
• 4B: Start 8.40am, pick up 3.10pm
• 4GB: Start 8.45am, pick up 3.15pm
• 5M: Start 8.50am, pick up 3.20pm
• 5H: Start 8.55am, pick up 3.25pm
• 6H: Start: 8.50am, pick up 3.20pm
• 6R: Start 8.55am, pick up 3.25pm
• 6C: Start 9.00am, pick up 3.30pm

Important points for drop off and collection

• Children will all go in through classroom doors ( 1W - continue through Main entrance). This is a change for children in the West building.
• Children will use hand sanitiser immediately on entry to school.
• Gates will not be opened before 8.30 and not until 3.00 at pick up time - please ensure that you socially distance if you need to wait to come onto site.
• Please ensure that you stick to your timings and arrive promptly.
• Please do not come on to the school site early before your start/pick up time. We must maintain social distance between parents as well as class bubbles to continue to help everyone move out of lockdown.
• Please ensure social distancing from all other parents whilst on the school site. Parents are asked to leave the site promptly and not gather at the school gates with other parents. It is very important with our full school community coming back that we all do our bit to socially distance.
• We ask that all adults wear a mask when on the school site (unless you are exempt)
• Children are to be dropped off and collected by one parent or carer only, and we ask that this adult does not enter the school building.
• We encourage you to walk to school where possible.
• Please continue to follow the one way systems in place (see map).
• In order to avoid contacts across groups, children are not to travel to school with other children other than their own siblings. This also means that parents must not bring children other than their own to school (unless in a childcare bubble.)
• For parents with more than one child in school, we ask that you leave the school site between drop offs, and follow the access directions given above. Also, please do not leave children alone on the school site.
• We understand that timings may be an issue if you have more than one child in different wings, so some leeway will be given in these circumstances.
• In cases where you have more than one child and the gap between their start times is 20/25 mins (for example between 3O at 8.35am and 6C at 9.00am) please use your discretion. Opt to arrive at a time in the middle of the two to avoid a lengthy wait on site but also ensuring the teacher with the later start is able to admit them.

3. What to bring

• Children must wear a full school uniform. Please make sure children have warm clothing as we will be learning outdoors as much as possible and windows will be open in classrooms to increase ventilation.
• Children are permitted to bring one bag to school to carry their items - this can be a carrier bag or a small bag that can fit on the back of chair or placed under the desk as cloakrooms will still be out of action.
• Please do not bring PE bags or any other bags. On PE days children are asked to come to school in their PE kit. (See section below)
• Children are permitted to bring a coat, healthy morning/afternoon snacks, a named FULL water bottle and a packed lunch each day (if applicable). Water bottles must be taken home to be cleaned and refilled on a daily basis.
• Children are not to bring any of their own stationery including pencil cases.
• Children are not to bring any toys, games or balls.
• Children should only bring a mobile phone if absolutely necessary, as we will not be able to keep these safely locked away as we usually do. They will have to remain with your child and we cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage.
• If your child requires medicine to be administered in school, a form must be completed beforehand. The forms can be found on our website under the ‘Wellbeing’ tab. Medicines should go to the classroom on arrival at school.

4. PE

Children will be having an allocated day for their PE time. In order to limit the amount of things children are bringing into school, we would like children to come to school in their PE clothes on their PE day. PE kit still need to be in line with the school uniform policy please:

• White t-shirt/dark shorts.
• Jogging bottoms and school jumper. (Please ensure PE kit items are plain with limited logos/branding.)
• Children can wear jogging bottoms over shorts so that they are prepared for both outdoor and indoor PE.
• No earrings should be worn on a PE day.

PE days are as follows:

5. Homework/Online Learning

Now that we are able to welcome back all pupils, we want to continue to use this platform for pupils to access homework which includes spelling, access to Rising Stars, Reading Eggs and Numbots.

In the unfortunate event of a bubble closure, all learning will return to Jotter in the same way as was provided during the lockdown in January and February. This will include daily lessons for maths, English and topic/afternoon activities. Children may be asked to upload their work.

It may be necessary for individual pupils to isolate at home or remain at home because they are shielding. Again, JotterLearn will be used to access learning for pupils. In addition, we will endeavor to provide a hard pack of activities, relevant to each year group. This may need to be posted out.

6. School Meals

The school kitchen will be fully operational and will provide schools meals from March 8th. School meals cost £2.70 and should be paid for online via ParentPay in advance as usual. (Universal free school meals will be provided for children in EYFS and Key Stage 1.)

The latest menu can be viewed on our website by clicking here.

Lunchtimes will be staggered with class groups going to the dinner hall to pick up their meals and then take them back to the classroom to eat them. We hope this will help to keep the class groups separate.

Reception children will continue to eat their lunch in the hall.

7. Behaviour Expectations

Our Behaviour Policy and the addendum relating to Covid-19 can be found in the policy section of the school website. Please familiarise yourself with the expectations, click the buttons below to view.

8. In the event of illness

Should your child start to get symptoms of COVID-19 please arrange to get them tested. DO NOT BRING YOUR CHILD TO SCHOOL

The main symptoms of COVID-19 include:

• a high temperature – this means your child may feel hot to touch on their chest or back (you do not need to take their temperature with a thermometer)
• a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if they usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
• a loss or change to their sense of smell or taste – this means they may tell you that they cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different.

To book a free COVID-19 test, visit the NHS website or phone the NHS on 119:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/get-a-test-to-check-if-you-have-coronavirus/

You can get a test at a testing site, or by asking for a home testing kit.

In the event of your child or a member of your household developing symptoms or testing positive please inform the school immediately and ensure that the whole household self-isolates.

9. Regular Testing

About 1 in 3 people with coronavirus do not have symptoms but can still pass it on to others. Regular testing of people without symptoms is important to help stop the virus spreading and protect your loved ones. As lockdown restrictions gradually ease we all need to play our part to help protect each other.

Primary school pupils will not be asked to test at this time. However further information from the government is due to be released about home testing

Parkside staff will be taking regular rapid lateral flow testing and these tests are also being made available to parents and carers (defined as "households, childcare and support bubbles of primary and secondary-age pupils.") More information from the government will follow about how you will be able to obtain these test kits.

If you get a positive result from a rapid lateral flow test, it means you are currently infected with coronavirus and risk infecting others. When you report your result (details of how to do so will be included in your test pack), you will be provided with further information on the next steps to take. You, anyone who lives with you, and anyone in your support bubble, must self-isolate in accordance with current national and local guidance.

Government guidance about testing can be found by clicking here.

10. Precautions in School

• The one way systems for moving around the school will continue to be in place as before to help maintain bubbles.
• We will keep the building as well ventilated as possible by opening windows.
• From Year 1 upwards, children will continue to be seated in forward facing rows of tables.
• There will still be a 'Teacher Zone' marked out at the front of the class to help the teacher maintain 2m social distancing.
• Teachers and other staff will wear masks around the school and in class where social distancing is not possible.
• Primary school children are not expected to wear masks at this time.
• Access to handwashing facilities OR hand sanitiser will be available at all times, throughout the school, including in toilets and each classroom.
• There will be a ‘Disinfection & Hygiene Station’ within each classroom with access to disposable towels and disinfectant spray, tissues and hand sanitiser to allow teaching staff to regularly sanitise as required.
• Tissues will be readily available at all times in classrooms. Children will be regularly reminded to use a tissue or their sleeve to capture droplets. Hands must be washed after coughing or sneezing – staff will monitor this within their bubble.
• Bins will be available in each classroom and other key locations to encourage ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’.
• Equipment will be allocated to each child to avoid sharing.
• Resources (such as toys or books) will be allocated to a specific class/year bubble and will be regularly cleaned.
• Posters will be displayed prominently throughout the site to reinforce hand hygiene and ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’.
• Each bubble will be allocated specific toilet cubicles.
• Regular cleaning will take place throughout the day.
• In the event of First Aid being required, the staff member administering will wear PPE.

11. Precautions at home/out of school

Please click here to view full and detailed self-isolation guidelines. Please adhere to these if affected and help to stop the spread.

Please maintain good hand hygiene at home. When your child returns home they should thoroughly wash their hands. Packed lunch boxes and water bottles should be washed thoroughly on a daily basis.

Please keep following all national and local guidelines. If we all keep doing our part it will help to keep bring case numbers down. Please remember that 'stay at home' guidance is still in place until March 29th. Get the latest information by clicking here.

12. Visitors

Local Authority guidance states that visitors to the school "should be kept to a minimum and safe systems must be discussed in advance. Visits must therefore be by appointment only, and kept to a minimum. Wherever possible visits should be held out of school operating hours."

With this in mind we would ask that parents contact the school by telephone or email in the first instance. Please do not come up to the office in person, or try to speak to your child's teacher face to face at pick up or drop off times. An "in person" appointment would only be made if it it is agreed to be necessary by both parties. We hope that most queries and concerns can be dealt with to everyone's satisfaction over the phone and through electronic communication.

Where pre-arranged visitors do come on to the school site, social distancing and good respiratory hygiene procedures must be adhered to. All visitors who access the site must be requested to read and sign the Visiting Agreement. Contact Details must be obtained for Track and Trace purposes. Any individual who does not sign the Visiting Agreement may not be permitted access to the school.

13. Contact details

It is really important that we are able to contact family members quickly and easily, and to know that our updates, announcements and newsletters are getting to you. Please let us know of any changes to your contact details as soon as possible by emailing parkside.primary@eastriding.gov.uk.

14. Settling back in and ‘catching-up’

I know that many of you will be concerned about the impact of this second lockdown on your child’s learning. On the return to school we will be quickly re-establishing school routines and expectations as well as working on identifying children who have found lockdown particularly difficult emotionally or academically. The well-being of the children will be our main emphasis. We will conduct gentle assessments such as short quizzes in English and maths and plan appropriate teaching to support children to make progress. One of our key aims will be helping children to regain confidence as they return to the school setting, as well as reigniting their love for learning. The exciting activities we have planned for Science Week for the first week back will be a perfect way to do this.

Virtual parent consultations will take place via SchoolCloud after Easter on 21st and 29th April. Details about booking appointments will be sent out nearer the time. If you have any particular concerns in the meantime, please do get in touch with us by telephone or email.

I hope that this has provided you with the information that you need. We very much look forward to seeing you on Monday – please look carefully again at the times for individual classes. It is very important that we stagger times to ensure everyone’s safety on site.

Kind regards,

Miss S O'Brien, Headteacher