As you will now be aware, the Goverment have made the decision that from the week commencing 1st June, schools are to reopen to Nursery, Reception, Year One and Year Six pupils. Over the last two weeks we, as a school, have worked tirelessly to ensure we take every measure we can to keep our pupils as safe as possible. We have followed government guidelines to adapt our routines and procedures in school whilst ensuring that pupils happiness and transition back into school is still at the forefront of everything we do.
This aim of this document is to give you, as a parent or carer, real clarity in what the school day will look like for your child and a clear understanding of the measures we are taking to ensure their safety is given full priority. We felt that by presenting you with all of the facts means that you can make an informed decision that is right for you and your family at this difficult time.
What are we doing to keep all in school safe?
The following is a brief overview of some of the steps we are taking to help reduce the risk in school. We will constantly update our practice in light of new guidance and advice from our Trust, the Government and Public Health England.
• Displaying coronavirus infection control measures information posters around the school. We will also be regularly sharing these messages with children via lessons and Class Briefing.
• Encouraging good hygiene by promoting the importance of hand washing for at least 20 seconds with warm water and soap / hand sanitizer throughout the day.
• Installing alcohol-based hand sanitiser dispensers throughout the school.
• Ensuring children and staff understand that they must cover their mouth and nose with a tissue before they cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue away. This includes posters and education to promote this, tissues and new bins in classrooms etc.
• Asking staff and children to wear freshly washed clothes each day.
• Increased cleaning regime ensuring frequently touched objects and surfaces are cleaned and disinfected more regularly than usual.
• Staff have undertaken additional training on hygiene control.
• Children will be working in small groups of no more than 15 children. These are social ‘bubbles’ suggested by the government. Children can interact, learn and play with children within their own bubble but groups will not mix or interact with each other. This is to limit the potential for children to come into contact with the virus should someone who is asymptomatic be in school. We will try to put the children with at least one adult they know and have worked with. However, we cannot guarantee they will be with their usual teacher. We will try to place them with children they like but it may not be possible for them to be with all of their friends.
• Children will have a work station which will be approximately 2 metres distanced from other children.
• Groups will have designated toilets and handwashing facilities reducing the chance for them to interact with children or adults from outside of their group.
• Children will have their own key equipment (e.g. pen, pencil, ruler, eraser) so we can limit sharing. Resources will be cleaned regularly and any resources that need to be shared (e.g. Ipads) will be cleaned before being used by another child.
• Activities in F1 and F2 have been set up to limit the amount of equipment available to enable this to be cleaned regularly. Visual reminders such as markings on the floor and posters are present to help limit the number of children within a given area. They will also have their own table and chair spaced at 2 metre distance from each other which will be used for whole class teaching, story time, phonics etc.
• We will be encouraging groups to work outside when possible in designated areas. F1 and F2 will benefit from two new temporary outdoor learning spaces kindly donated by Tedbar Tinker Hire. This will enable play to take place in a well ventilated outdoor space that is shielded from both the summer sun but also the rain. We are also fortunate to have had fencing loaned to us, also by Tedbar Tinker Hire, which has enabled us to create separate outdoor areas for these children. We would like to thank Tedbar Tinker Hire for their help and generosity as this would not have been possible without them.
• Classrooms will be kept well ventilated by having windows and doors propped open as much as possible.
• A one-way system has been implemented in school and around the site. Movement around school will also be limited as children will not need to leave their designated areas and can enter and leave school via the classroom door where they are based.
• We will be closing school in the afternoon each Wednesday to allow for a through deep clean of both classrooms and resources. This will also enable teachers to continue to prepare online learning for those children not yet back in school.
• Any child or member of staff who presents with symptoms will immediately be isolated and sent home from school.
• Calling NHS 111 if someone becomes unwell, isolating any unwell people in a separate room, and providing a separate bathroom, where possible.
• Teaching and reminding the children of the importance of good hygiene through our regular Class Briefings and lessons.
Drop off and collection
We are asking, where possible, for families to follow a one way system on Wellfield Crescent. This is to help increase social distancing with people not having to cross paths on the pavements. We also have a one-way system in place once you enter the school site. Signs and floor markings are there to help and staff will be on hand each day to guide everyone to the appropriate entry points etc. To view a clip of our one way system, please visit the special section of our website here: www.woodsettsprimary.co.uk/families/covid-19-support/june-1st
Early Years(F1 Nursery and F2 Reception
What do I need to know for my child?
On entry and exit to the school grounds a member of SLT will be available to help direct you, along with markings on the gates and footpaths.
Classrooms do look quite different and children will have to spend more time learning and playing at desks in order to encourage social distancing.
Some areas of provision have been removed for hygiene purposes and those still in place will be cleaned at regular intervals. Some areas of provision have been adapted and relocated to allow for more social distancing.
Children in Foundation Stage will be split across the classrooms. Someone will be available on the morning to direct children to the right place.
Provision of the outdoors has been split with fencing and outdoor marquees to help provide each EYFS group with a sheltered space to play.
Mrs Gray and Miss Sheppard will continue to plan the activities for the children.
We will aim to make children aware in a child friendly manner of the ways they can keep themselves safe in school- hand washing regularly, avoiding physical contact, moving around safely.
Children are encouraged to bring minimal items to school with them, a coat and packed lunch (if they would like) are suggested. No stationery, books, PE kit or toys will be needed. If they can bring their own water bottle, this will help too.
Expectations for school uniform will be relaxed but it is an expectation that children are wearing clean appropriate clothes every day and that clothes are washed before they are worn again.
Children in Nursery F1 can arrive from 8.40am and be collected at 12noon. If they are entitled to 30hours, the finish time is 2.45pm.
Children in Reception F2 can arrive from 8.50am and be collected at 3.00pm (except on a Wednesday when it will be 1pm).
Year One
What do I need to know for my child?
On entry and exit to the school grounds a member of SLT will be available to help direct you, along with markings on the gates and footpaths. Children in Y1 will walk themselves through the green playground gate around to their classrooms where they will be greeted by staff.
Some classroom items have been removed for hygiene purposes and those still in place will be cleaned at regular intervals. Some areas for learning have been adapted and relocated to allow for more social distancing.
Children will have their own equipment kept in either a plastic wallet or their own drawer.
Children in Year One will be split across two classrooms. Someone will be available on the morning to direct children to the right place. Miss Braidley will continue to lead the learning of all Y1 children with some additional staff supporting the second group to facilitate smaller class sizes.
We will aim to make children aware in a child friendly manner of the ways they can keep themselves safe in school- hand washing regularly, avoiding physical contact, moving around safely.
Children are encouraged to bring minimal items to school with them, a coat and packed lunch (if they would like) are suggested. No stationery, books, PE kit or toys will be needed. It would be useful for children to bring their own, named water bottle.
Expectations for school uniform will be relaxed but it is an expectation that children are wearing clean appropriate clothes every day and that clothes are washed before they are worn again.
Unfortunately, we will not be sending home items such as reading books as this could present a risk to families.
Children in Y1 can arrive at 9.00am and be collected at 3.15pm (except for Wednesdays when it will be 1pm).
Year Six
What do I need to know for my child?
Where possible, we are asking if Y6 children can bring themselves to school and walk home alone. Please indicate this on the booking form. On entry and exit to the school grounds a member of SLT will be available to help direct the children, along with markings on the gates and footpaths.
Some classroom items have been removed for hygiene purposes and those still in place will be cleaned at regular intervals. Some areas for learning have been adapted and relocated to allow for more social distancing. Children will have their own equipment envelope to further increase hygiene.
Children in Year Six will be split across two rooms, the current Y6 classroom and Y5 classroom. Someone will be available on the morning to direct children to the right place.
Mrs McFarlane ill continue to lead the learning of all Y6 children with Miss Veal taking the lead with the second group.
We will aim to make children aware in a child friendly manner of the ways they can keep themselves safe in school- hand washing regularly, avoiding physical contact, moving around safely.
Children are encouraged to bring minimal items to school with them, a coat and packed lunch (if they would like) are suggested. No stationery, books or PE kit will be needed. It will be useful to bring a water bottle.
Expectations for school uniform will be relaxed but it is an expectation that children are wearing clean clothes every day and that clothes are washed before they are worn again.
Children in Y6 can arrive at 8.30am and finish school at 3.30pm (except for Wednesdays when it will be 1.00pm).
Find out more...
Please visit the special section of our website at www.woodsettsprimary.co.uk/families/covid-19-support
Here you will find more information and also see our short information video to help see how school looks and to help answer some of the questions you may have about returning to school.
Thank you again for your patience and understanding at this difficult time. We appreciate that this is an extremely difficult time for families and we understand that you may have concerns and worries; quite rightly so. We hope that having communicated our plan for your child, and the school, you have all of the information to help you make an informed decision that is right for you and your family.
In order to help us further with our plans we are asking parents of children in F1, F2, Y1 and Y6 to complete the online form to indicate if you wish your child to have a place from week commencing June 1st. The link is included in the letter emailed to families. Please can we ask that you complete this as it will help us to ensure we have sufficient spaces, resources and staffing in place.
I hope this document finds you and your families well and I look forward to seeing some familiar faces again soon.
Best wishes from
M Revill and all of the team at Woodsetts Primary School.