29th May 2020

Dear Families.

As I have said many times to lots of different families over the last few weeks, social distancing in school is very hard to maintain.  Some of our older children can maintain 2m distance but some of our children do not understand or want to stay a safe distance from their peers. As such we have managed the school by considering the very particular needs of our school cohort and so far the children have been happy and successful in school.  This has been aided by the staff meeting the needs of your children.

I thought you would like to know what actions we are currently taking as part of the risk management in school to protect your child and the staff as much as we can.

DURING THE SCHOOL DAY                                                                                                                      

• Classes have been paired together. As of 1^st June we have made sure all pupils are with their regular classroom teams or one other class team with whom they are familiar. This will help with consistency of emotional care
• There will never be more than 24 children in the school at any one time and these children will be spread around different areas of the school.
• The children will be in groups of no more than 4 children with 3 staff. Occasionally there are only 2 or 3 children in the group.
• The staff are spilt into 2 teams and only one team is in school at any one time.

• Windows and doors are propped open for ventilation whenever it is safe to do so.
• Outdoor play is encouraged in different areas for each group of pupils.
• Pupils will be outside as much as possible.
• Handwashing is happening frequently and consistently with the support of the staff.
• There are no whole school gatherings, e.g assemblies,
• All meals are eaten in classrooms.
• No visitors are allowed into school during the school day unless it is essential repair work.  As from 1^st June any work that is needed to be done in school will take place out of your children’s hours and all areas will be cleaned down after the work is complete.
• Several rooms have been locked and are no longer available to the pupils.

ARRANGEMENTS AT HOME

To support our efforts in school, families should remember the following:

• Households MUST ensure they maintain the social distancing rules. If families are known to be breaking these rules, parents will be asked to keep their child at home /away from school for up to 14 days.

• Your children should wear clean uniform every day.
• Packed lunches should be in a small lunch bag or plastic container.
• Children should remove their clothes as soon as they get home and have a shower or a bath on returning from school each day.

If there is a confirmed case of Covid19 in school then my actions would be in line with the guidance provided by the Government and Public Health England.

GUIDANCE IF THERE IS A SUSPECTED OR CONFIRMED CASE of COVID 19

• When a child, young person or staff member develops symptoms compatible with coronavirus, they should be sent home and advised to self-isolate for 7 days. Their fellow household members should self-isolate for 14 days. All staff and students who are attending an education or childcare setting will have access to a test if they display symptoms of coronavirus, and are encouraged to get tested in this scenario.
• Where the child, young person or staff member tests negative, they can return to their setting and the fellow household members can end their self-isolation.
• Where the child, young person or staff member tests positive, the rest of their class or group within their childcare or education setting should be sent home and advised to self-isolate for 14 days. The other household members of that wider class or group do not need to self-isolate unless the child, young person or staff member they live with in that group subsequently develops symptoms.

LOCAL AUTHORITY TRANSPORT

The LA Transport Team will consider the protective measures they can put in place on school vehicles.  The school does not hold responsibility for the transport but is working very closely with them at all times.

If there is anything else you would like to discuss with me then please call school next week and I would be very happy to speak with you.

Mrs Murphy