Dry Drayton Church of England (C) Primary School
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Back to school September 2020
Sat 29 Aug 202029th August 2020
Dear Parents and Carers,
We hope that you have had a break this summer and have enjoyed the good weather we have had for most of the time!
We are so looking forward to our children returning and for us to be a complete school again. Years 1 to 6 are due back on Thursday 3rd September and the new Reception children on Monday 7th. There are a few changes from when everyone was last in school, which we would like to share with you, along with general information about the new school year (I am sorry but this is a long letter).
The risk assessment has been revised in order that we can create as safe a place as possible following government guidance. The key points are that we will operate at two bubbles: Reception with KS1(infants) and KS2. Children will share the cloakroom area and the toilets, so staggered start and finish of the school day (see further down the letter) and break times are what we have planned and children will become very familiar with washing their hands. Social distancing between children within a bubble will not need to be so strictly adhered to as we know that younger children may not be able to maintain this. They can share toys and maths equipment for example.
These are the other measures we have in place for our return which follow the government guidance. We will:
- manage confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the school, in line with current public health guidance - this means your child may be asked to self-isolate for 14 days (based on advice from our local health protection teams) if they have been in close, face to face contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus
- ensure that everyone cleans their hands more often than usual, including when they arrive, when they return from breaks, and before and after eating - this should be done for 20 seconds with soap and running water or hand sanitiser (we prefer the use of soap to sanitiser)
- promote the ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ approach, to ensure good respiratory hygiene
- enhance cleaning, including cleaning frequently touched surfaces more often
- minimise contact and encourage maintaining distance as far as possible which will involve asking children and young people to:
- stay within their specified separate bubble
- maintain distance between individuals in different bubbles
- arranging classrooms so that children are seated facing the front as far as is possible
- staff maintaining distance from pupils and other staff as much as possible
See the attached letter explaining what happens if there is a suspected case in our school.
We would be grateful if you could remind your child about how school is a little different from normal and what will be expected of them.
We would appreciate your doing the following to support us please:
Do not send your child to school if:
- they are showing coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms
- someone in their household is showing symptoms
Arrange a test if you or your child develops symptoms and inform us of the results via the school office and to me via ClassDojo.
If the test is positive, follow guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection, and engage with the NHS Test and Trace process.
It is really important that you help us to implement these actions by following the advice set out here and wider public health advice and guidance.
Please send your child to school with fresh uniform every day. One set may be left unworn for a day whist the second set is used for school. You do not need to wash it after every school day.
They will also need a water bottle, PE kit, waterproof coat and wellies for playing on the field and for Forest School. If you have any pairs of wellies which are too small, we can start a welly exchange – we have some in the collection already!
KS2 children may also bring a pencil case for their own use. No sharing of frequently used equipment, like pencils, is allowed.
Be mindful to keep your distance from other families in the playground. At present, the government are not recommending the use of face masks in school, but please feel free to use one yourself at drop off and collection times.
Start times:
The doors will open at 8.45am and children can come in from then but only at their allotted time thus:
8.45am for Family names between A and E
8.50am for Family names between F and M
8.55am for Family names between P and W
Finish times:
3.05pm for Family names between A and E
3.10pm for Family names between F and M
3.15pm for Family names between P and W
If your child is attending a club after school, they will remain in their classroom with a member of staff until 3.15pm
It is very important that you keep to these times to save congestion in the cloakroom and toilets. Please let me know of any problems you have regarding timings. Siblings in the same bubble will be asked to share cubbies to store their coat and PE bag.
Breakfast Club and After School Club at Little Owl will be up and running from Thursday 3rd so please make sure you book your child in. Other after school clubs will commence Monday 7th and can be found on the website - these also need to be booked in advance.
Individual and small group music lessons will return in September. Piano is currently fully booked, so please contact the office if you would like to be added to the waiting list.
For more information about woodwind, contact the teacher Kirsty Body on www.harmoniamusic.com
We are delighted that Charlotte Pergande will continue teaching singing and ukulele as Jess Roberts has started a new venture helping children through her music. See the attached letter about booking Charlotte’s lessons.
Staffing:
A reminder of who is where:
Class Name
Year Groups
Staff
Room
St Julian
R, 1, 2
Mrs Spink (M,T,Th,F) and Mrs Laguna (W)– Teachers
Mrs Patel and Mrs Tolhurst (M-Th) - TAs
Same classroom in the newer part of the building
St Etheldreda
3, 4
Miss Hampton (all week am only)
Mrs Scott, Mrs Hegan, Mrs Sweetnam (pms)– Teachers
Mrs Sweetnam - TA
Old Yr 5,6 classroom
St Edmund
5, 6
Mrs Scott (T-F am only)
Mrs Hegan (M am)
Mrs Scott, Mrs Hegan, Mrs Sweetnam (pms)– Teachers
Mrs Sweetnam - TA
Old 3,4 classroom
Mrs Field, Mr Walker, Mrs Sweetnam and myself will be teaching across the school Tuesdays and Thursdays.
We have new catering arrangements, about which we are very excited. The weekly menus look delicious. Mrs Arnold will be sending you more details shortly.
Lastly, we have new gate arrangements at the entrance! There is a pedestrian only gate to the left so you no longer walk through the carpark. The old car gates have been moved to the edge of the playground and will be locked from Sunday evening to Friday evening. Easier access to the carpark during the school day will hopefully reduce any parking problems for local residents.
Enjoy the rest of your Bank Holiday Weekend and we are so looking forward to welcoming you all back on Thursday 3rd.
Best wishes,
Sonia Hegan
Headteacher
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