September re-opening – updated 27 August 2020

Updated 27 August 2020

We are now very much looking forward to September when we can welcome all children back to school.

Please see the latest update information for parents/carers below:

Re-opening update 27 August 2020

|July 2020 update

What will re-opening in September look like?

Over the course of the last week, we have carried out a new risk assessment based on the guidance released by the government, ahead of the planned re-opening of the academy to all children in September. This risk assessment has now been approved in principle by our Board of Trustees, however it is subject to a further audit in August. This second step is necessary to ensure we take into account any changes to our circumstances, new or updated government guidance or any localised infection control measures required in response to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

We will be in touch in the last week of holidays to confirm any remaining details however the following is an overview of what that will mean for your child:

• We have planned a phased start to the first week of term to enable us to establish new behaviour and systems to ensure the safety of children and staff. All our children will be in school by the end of the first week.
• We have organised staggered starts and ends of the day to minimise congestion – please ensure you walk to school wherever possible and maintain social distancing with other children and families on the way to and from school. There will be a one way system both inside and outside of the school building – please follow the signs to help us keep the site safe. Staff will be around to help if needed. No bikes or scooters are permitted on the school site.

Please refer to the table below to see your child’s start date and time in September.

*we will let you know by email which group your nursery or reception child is in.

• If you are accessing 30 hours of nursery provision and you have not yet given us the days your require your child to attend all day, or you wish to change, please let us know as soon as you can, and by the end of the Summer holiday at the latest by emailing the school office. Please provide your child with a packed lunch in a named and lidded plastic container (not a fabric-style lunch bag) when they attend all day (no nuts, nut products or derivatives are allowed in school). Children staying all day will finish school at 3.30pm.
• Please ensure your children maintain social distancing outside of school and only mix with other families according to government guidance. Please only allow children in Year 5 (from aged 10 years) and Year 6 to walk to and from school independently if you are confident they are able to maintain social distancing. If you have not given permission for your child to walk home alone from September 2020 and you wish to do so please contact the school office.
• Children will be organised in class bubbles linked to as few adults as possible. Class bubbles will not mix so playtimes will be staggered in separate areas and lunches will be eaten in classrooms. The lunchtime menu will be adapted while this is necessary to ensure safe transportation of meals – further details will follow. We will ensure that children have sufficient breaks and plenty of time outside.
• If your child brings sandwiches to school for lunch we are requesting a named lidded plastic box is used instead of the fabric-style lunch bags, for ease of cleaning (no nuts, nut products or derivatives are allowed in school).
• Children are able to bring a healthy wrapped snack for mid-morning (no nuts, nut products or derivatives). Fruit and milk services will resume at the start of term. We ask that children bring a personal water bottle and that this is taken home for cleaning every day. Please ensure that the amount of personal belongings is limited to essential items (no stationery required). Mobile phones are only permitted for children in Years 5 and 6 (10 years+) walking to and from school independently.
• Children will remain in their classroom for the majority of the school day – assemblies will take place virtually.
• It is essential that we minimise the adults in the school building; please do not enter classrooms. If you need to speak to a member of staff or need information, please contact the office by telephone or email so that we can make arrangements or use Dojo. The school office will be closed to prevent congestion in this area. Staff will be around outside of the classrooms too if you need any assistance.
• We have established thorough hygiene measures including frequent cleaning throughout the school day. Children will be asked to wash/sanitise their hands regularly and to use the ‘Catch it, Bin it, Kill it’ message by using a tissue or sneezing/coughing into their arm. Please help us to reinforce this at home.
• All children (other than Early Years) will have their own set of equipment for personal use. Equipment in Foundation will be thoroughly and regularly cleaned. We will send reading books home – these will be quarantined for 72 hours on return before re-use.
• Masks have not been recommended in the government guidance other than when social distancing is not possible to maintain or where support is provided to someone displaying symptoms.. PPE is available for staff to use where risk assessments have identified this is appropriate.
• We expect all children to attend from their start date in normal uniform.
• We are able to offer wrap round childcare between 8:00am and 5:00pm in order to support working parents. The costs for all children attending will be £3.25 for breakfast club and £4.00 until 5pm for afterschool club. Please email or telephone the school office to arrange during working hours. It is important to book at least a week in advance by emailing the school office.

 

Across the academy posters will be displayed to help remind our children of the need for good hygiene, including washing our hands regularly – a message our staff will reiterate, but we would also welcome your support in reminding your child too. Over the summer we will be working to ensure there are multiple handwashing or hand-sanitising stations in place throughout the academy in support of this, ready for the start of term.

We are very much looking forward to welcoming all children back on their start date looking smart in their school uniform. We will ask them to come in PE kit on PE days to avoid changing – you will be notified of the day. We understand that you may feel apprehensive about your child returning but please be reassured that children returning have been delighted to be back in school and have settled back in very well. We are here to support you to talk through any concerns you may have.

If you have any concerns or specific questions regarding your child’s return in September, please let us know via email at primary@dalp.org.uk or by phone on 01777 705017. Please note that our response times over the summer break will be longer than usual, as we have limited staff cover during this time.

Free school meals during the summer holiday

As previously mentioned, the government has announced that those currently eligible and in receipt of the free school meals scheme will continue to receive this over the summer holiday. In line with this guidance, a single e-voucher from our supplier Sodexo will be provided to cover the period 20 July to 28 August 2020.

Finally…

So, for now, we wish you and your family a very restful, and importantly, a safe and healthy summer break – and we look forward to welcoming all our children back in September.

Covid-19 School Risk Assessment Template for September re-opening