Dear Parents/Carers

We hope you are all keeping well through these challenging and unprecedented times. I know it hasn’t been easy for anyone to adapt to the lockdown measures and we certainly don’t underestimate the impact it is having on our children.

Childcare Provision

We continue to offer this provision as outlined by the Department for Education (DfE) based on the premise that it is safer for children to stay at home wherever possible. We appreciate that employers are having to adjust to home working for employees and we understand this may not be sustainable in some cases. This childcare provision has a cap of 15 places. If you find it impossible to keep your child at home due to work commitments outside of the home please contact school to see if we can support you in our childcare provision.

Phased Return of Pupils to School

The government has indicated they would like a phased return for pupils in Reception Class, Year 1 and Year 6 from 1 June 2020. This timescale is an aspiration and may yet be changed if the government’s own five tests for return aren’t met. This will become clear when the government speak to the nation again on 28 May 2020. As a school we do not intend to start the phased return until week beginning 8 June 2020. The governors will meet on Tuesday 2 June to consider the risk assessments required for opening and the plan for the phased return. A key element of the decision will be if the infection rates are continuing to decline nationally. However you will be aware that infection rates currently vary significantly throughout the regions in England and the rest of the UK. Our region currently has some of the highest infection rates in the UK and should be a key factor in making a decision. Please be assured that in reaching decisions, the safety of our school community is paramount.

Planning for the Phased Return (Reception Class, Year 1 and Year 6) – Week Beginning 8 June 2020

We are aware that many of you will not be sending your child(ren) into school for the phased return and thank you for letting us know.

Our current planning is to have classes split into smaller groups (bubbles) and that your child(ren) will attend in their group (bubble) initially one day each week. These groups will stay together at all times and will not mix with other groups or share equipment. Cleaning regimes will be intensive and risk assessments deal with all aspects to reduce the risk of cross contamination. It is an aspiration that before the end of term we will have Year 6 in all together at some point, so they can have a celebration of some description (to be confirmed) with all staff present too. Exact details of the phased return will be provided after the governors’ meeting scheduled for 2 June 2020.

Year 6 Updates

Thank you all for engaging with Miss Wiblin on Google Classroom this half-term. All of the hard work and effort prior to lockdown is appreciated and recognised by us all. Unfortunately the specific preparation for SATs didn’t culminate in you taking the tests this year, but rest assured it will help you in preparation for any future tests and assessments.

The transition to secondary school will be different this year and we are waiting to hear how each secondary school is going to support your transition in terms of work linked with our school. Staff from some of the secondary schools have already been in touch with school to arrange conversations with your Class Teacher and the school SENCO where appropriate.

It is our intention to invite all of Year 6 back for their Leavers’ Mass and a celebration of their time in school, with the whole school community and parents present. It is hoped that this will be possible in September 2020 although it will be dependent upon government guidelines. IT WILL HAPPEN at some point in the future when restrictions are lifted and we will try to compensate for the disruption caused by the current lockdown.

Whole School Phased Return 1 July 2020

If the current restriction guidance is still in place, it is highly unlikely that the whole school phased return will happen on 1 July 2020, but we will be planning for this eventuality nearer the time and keep you all posted as to how this may be implemented.

School Uniform

We would normally now be taking orders in school for school uniform for September 2020.  We have decided to move to an online system for ordering and details will be with you soon – hopefully after the half-term break. We will let you know once this online facility is in place.

Half – term break

Please note school is closed for half-term next week and will re-open on Monday 1 June 2020. There will be no Home Learning set this week and I would ask you to respect this period as a rest time for all our staff.

Thank you for your continuing support, take care and stay safe.

God’s Blessings on you all.

Yours faithfully

Martin Humble

Headteacher