Keeping in Touch
Returning to School News
Welcome back to the final half term of this academic year. I hope you all managed to get some time outside during the half term break and were able to take advantage of the new social distancing measures. Even though some changes have been made to the lockdown rules, I hope you will all still remember that hand-washing and social distancing are both extremely important especially if you are seeing anyone from another household. You can't touch them; you MUST keep two metres away. I know this is strange, and it feels weird, but the most important thing we can do is keep ourselves and those we love safe, healthy and well.
We have not yet opened to children as we are waiting for the five tests, asked for by unions to ensure staff and pupil safety, to be met. Meanwhile we are preparing the school building to welcome back pupils as soon as possible. This means reorganising classrooms so that desks are socially distanced; preparing equipment so that each child has their own items of stationery; planning rotas for lunchtime and the use of the playground to limit numbers at any one time and creating ‘bubbles’ for each returning year group and the attached staff. This is just a small number of the many measures we are taking to ensure as safe a return as possible for everyone.
The small groups which we have to create to allow children to return are known as ‘bubbles’ Each ‘bubble’ will have a maximum of 15 children and be managed by 2 adults. Once a ‘bubble’ is established, that member of staff and those children will remain together all the time they are in school and separate from any other ‘bubble’. It means your child may not be in the same bubble as their original class teacher and friends.
With all this in mind we have had to revise our possible return date. We are hoping to invite Year 6 pupils to return on Monday 15th June. If your child is in Y6 you will receive a phone call in the week beginning 8th June to advise you of all the arrangements for returning.
If all goes as planned with the return of Y6 pupils, we will then plan to have Y1 return during the week beginning 22nd June and Reception during the week beginning 29th June. You will receive a phone call the week prior to any possible return to confirm. All pupils will be coming back on a part time basis. This is likely to be 2 days a week and for a reduced day. Days and timings will be confirmed during the phone call you receive to tell you about our arrangements. It is unlikely that we will be able to accept pupils from any other year group before the summer holidays as we simply do not have sufficient staff to create enough ‘bubbles’.
If there is any change to these plans I will let you know via the homepage of the website and by parent mail.
Parents, this is a ten minute video from the Association of Online Safety specialists, it provides a good round up of all the main online safety issues to consider. It advises parents to be more vigilant during this time of increased online activity and offers some good signposts to keep children safe online. Parents Online Safety Film
Remember to keep up to date with what is going on in the world by checking the Newsround website or by reading First News. Click here for the Newsround home page. Click here for the most recent edition of First News.
We can still provide a childcare place for eligible children. We need confirmation from your employer about your critical worker status and what times you need to work. If you need to access this service please email emergency@sfdprimary.co.uk for an application form. Remember, this is emergency childcare only to be used as a last resort when there is nobody else at home or available to look after your children. They are safer at home. With less children, there is also less risk to the staff coming in to do this supervision.
Parents, remember it is okay to go for a walk with your child to get some fresh air as long as you strictly observe the social distancing rules. Watch this video to see what that means https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/51989370
It does lift your spirits to walk in the sunshine for a bit, but remember, no playgrounds or play equipment and no meeting up with friends, just a walk!
