Dear Parents and Carers

Good morning, I hope you had a relaxing bank holiday weekend and were able to join in the festivities in some way.

I am writing because I anticipate that many of you will have questions about the implications of the Prime Minister’s plan for a measured phased move out of lockdown and the possibility that the school may reopen to some students on the 1^st of June.

We have been preparing, as much as possible, to welcome more children back to school but, like you, we have only just heard this announcement from the Prime Minister and will wait to receive more information from the government about what this means for organising our school. In the short term nothing has changed and we continue to remain closed, except for the most vulnerable and those children of key worker parents who are unable to be at home.

Some information about our contingency planning:

• We have non contact thermometers and sufficient hand sanitiser and soap to ensure that, on arrival, every child has their temperature taken and washes their hands (no child will be allowed into school with a fever and regular hand washing will be part of our routine).
• We are advised that the risk of infection is reduced outdoors, so we will make maximum use of outdoor learning whilst the weather allows. 
• It is likely that even the year groups selected for a return to school will not be attending a full week, but in some kind of a rota with their peers to reduce numbers (again we can’t be sure of this). 
• There will be flexibility on staffing and children will not always be taught by their regular teacher due to some members of staff needing to continue to ‘shield’, but we do have enough staff to run safely ensuring that there is always a first aider present in school.
• Playtimes, lunch and the beginning and end of the school day will be staggered to ensure the minimum amount of group gathering (including for parents).
• Children will still have the option of a hot meal in school.
• There will be no assemblies, performances or other large group events in school (there will be no Year 6 leavers events this term but we will arrange something for the autumn if permitted).
• There will be no face to face parent events or meetings.  Any parent teacher conversations that need to take place will be conducted by telephone.
• Essential school business with the office will be conducted via online booking, by telephone and through the letterbox outside the front door of the school. There will be a member of office staff available on the playground to collect essential medicines.
• If you choose not to return your child to school during this phased return there will be no penalty – this will be your choice as a parent considering all the factors that impact on your own family circumstances (this will be reviewed for September though).

Thank you for all the wonderful messages of support we have received from so many families; they have often cheered us up on tricky days. We so miss all the children and can’t wait to see them back in school when it is safe for them to be here.

Very best wishes

Moya Whitehead​​​​​​