Dear Parents/Carers,
We are looking forward to all the children returning to school. I know it has been tough on families during lockdown. Thank you for the way in which you have supported remote learning. You have been amazing. It is absolutely natural for children to feel nervous about returning. Please don't worry.
School Lunches
We will be offering hot meals to each year group, one day per week until Easter. We have tried to increase the number but the logistics of keeping classes separate, disinfecting tables and seats, following Government guidelines, as well as having the space to safely accommodate more children, and being able to get hot meals to classrooms while they are still warm have proved complex.
Infection Rate
As we welcome all children back to school, the infection rate is 88.9 per 100,000, although much lower than it has been, is still four times higher than when children returned last time. We are doing everything we can to prevent the spread of the virus, we would appreciate your support as well.
Face Coverings
From Monday there will be a considerable increase in the number of children and adults coming onto the school site. Please can all adults wear face coverings when dropping children off or picking them up at the end of the day.
Social Distancing
Thank you to all the parents/carers who have maintained social distancing measures when coming onto the school site. Please can you continue to do this.
Chromebooks
Thanks to all parents/carers who supported children's remote learning. I know it hasn't been easy, particularly when you were working from home, or where there were more than one child needing support. You have been brilliant. Can I ask that all Chromebooks/iPads are returned to school on Monday March 8th 2021. Please can you make sure that the chargers are returned with the chromebooks as there is a considerable cost incurred to replace them. We will be re-allocating the IT kit to year groups. The return of kit is important, particularly if classes need to self-isolate in the future.
Book Amnesty
If you have any Accelerated Reading books or any other books belonging to school at home we would really appreciate you returning them. We have just spent £5,000 on new books for the children to read but would welcome the return of any books you have belonging to school.
Lateral Flow Testing
Around 1 in 3 people with coronavirus (COVID-19) do not have symptoms but can still pass it on to others. Regular testing of people without symptoms (asymptomatic testing) is important to help stop the virus spreading. As lockdown restrictions gradually ease, we all need to play our part to help protect each other.
On Sunday 28 February, the Department of Health and Social Care announced that from Monday 1 March, households with primary school, secondary school and college age children, including childcare and support bubbles, can test themselves twice every week at home as schools return from Monday 8 March. Households, childcare and support bubbles of primary, secondary and college staff can also be tested. Twice-weekly testing will also be offered to adults working in the wider school community, including bus drivers and after school club leaders. The twice-weekly test kits can be accessed:
- via employers if they offer testing to employees
- at a local test site
- by collecting a home test kit from a test site
- by ordering a home test kit online
Schools should not give test kits to parents, carers or household members and should not order more test kits for this purpose. Letters containing advice on where to access testing will be made available for schools to share with parents and staff shortly.
Sue Talbot