Stanmore Post - 22 May 2020
Dear Parents,
Firstly thank you for your support and understanding since the school went into lockdown in March. You have helped us by meeting the challenges of home learning and ensuring that your children have remained physically and mentally active and in touch with school. We appreciate all of the positive messages that we have received including the lovely 'hello' video from some of our Stanmore Children.
In accordance with the Prime Minister's announcement on Sunday 10th May, we are continuing to make plans for the first phase of a return to Stanmore Primary School for Years R, 1 and 6. This will only happen in line with Government Guidance expected by Thursday 28th May. However, like all schools we have made plans ahead of confirmation by the Government. Should this change, we will contact you by email or text no later than Sunday 31st May. Opening information will be posted on the website.
At Stanmore Primary School, the return dates are planned for:
Monday June 1st Children of critical workers and vulnerable children and Children in Year R
Tuesday 2nd June Children in Year 1
Thursday 4th June Children in Year 6
As you would want and expect from us, we are following all available Government and Local Authority advice in working to create a range of health and safety measures.
This letter sets out the practical measures that we are taking to reduce the risks for children and adults as we return to greater numbers on the school site. There are further documents that accompany this newsletter, which can be found on our website https://www.stanmore.hants.sch.uk/news/2020/3/16/coronavirus-stanmore-primary-update
School will not look or feel the same for your children. You can help prepare your child by sharing the photos of the site with them and sharing the 'social stories' that will help give a clear message about what they can expect. These can be found at: www.stanmore.hants.sch.uk/news/2020/5/22/resources-to-help-your-child-in-their-return-to-school
Managing the risks for your children
The guidance makes very clear that primary-age children cannot be expected to comply with social distancing - we will manage groups of children in 'pods' of 15. These 'pods' will have their own classroom space and central to our plan is that they work separately from other pods.
Children will be taught in half year groups - We have plans in place for 8 pods. Where possible we will keep children of the same year groups within a pod. It may be necessary to have some mixed age pods, particularly for children of critical workers and vulnerable children in Year 2-5
Most children will not be taught by their class teacher - There will be up to two adults familiar to your child, but not necessarily their class teacher. The work will be planned with input from their year-group teacher; they aren't guaranteed to be with that teacher.
We will set systems in place to maximise hygiene practices - frequent handwashing practices will continue, as well as a regime of cleaning surfaces and contact points throughout the day. Children will also have their own desk and equipment to use wherever possible, with highly restricted sharing of resources. Children will need to bring a water bottle and lunch box but no other bags or equipment including soft toys and mobile phones
First Aid and management of cross contamination - Every class has a first aid kit and a book to record incidents and any potential C-19 cross contamination. The teacher will deal with any first aid incidents and record them in the class book as a 'green' incident. A first Aider will be called to the class for a head bump or more serious cut or bruise and record this as an 'amber' incident. Parents will be notified by text or phone call in the same way as usual. Parents will continue to always be notified straight away in the event of a serious medical incident. We ask that you remind your child about the need for good hygiene including managing coughs and sneezes. If there has been any risk of cross contamination this will also be recorded. Staff have PPE to use if there is a first aid incident or a child accidentally wets or soils themselves. Don't worry, we have spare clothes for your child.
If your child becomes unwell with symptoms - please don't send your child to school, if they have a new or continuous dry cough, a high temperature and loss of smell or taste. Please let us know and book your child to be tested immediately. Other families in your child's pod will be notified that they need to stay at home until the test result is returned. If the test result is positive, the symptomatic child will need to stay at home for 7 days. The other children in the group will need to stay at home for 14 days. If the test result is negative then the ill child should stay at home until they are well and the remaining children can return to school immediately. This is also the case should a member of staff show symptoms.
If your child becomes unwell with symptoms at school - they will be cared for by a member of staff in Acorns. You will be contacted and asked to collect your child from Acorns and then advised to follow the Covid-19 guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection.
Managing the School Day
School start and finish times - These will remain the same initially. The gates will be locked at 9:30am allowing for longer because of the queuing system. We are aware of 'pinch points' at the school gates, therefore there will be an in/out system marked with 2m intervals.
Drop off and pick up - Social distancing is expected across the school site and we rely on you to manage that up until you get to the classroom doors. There will be a 'check in' and 'check out' queue for parents and children leading up to the classroom door. These will be marked at 2m intervals. Only one parent can accompany the child onto the school site.
Wrap around provision - This remains under review. Children mixing before and after school compromises the strategy of keeping children in their groups to lower the risk of transmission and therefore parents should not expect that this provision will resume at this time.
Attendance At present, parents have been 'booking' children in for days that match shift patterns. Children of critical workers in Year 2-5 may still prefer to continue with this arrangement. However, children returning in Year R 1 and 6 should preferably attend school every day. The reason for this is that we can't manage a check in system for greater numbers across the school without compromising safeguarding. It will become almost impossible to track who is or isn't in on any day.
Notifying the school of absence or non-attendance If a child is not returning we must receive this in writing with a reason for your decision. We may be able to re-assure you. If a child is attending but is absent due to illness, parents MUST phone the office every day by 9am stating the reason for absence.
All penalties regarding non-attendance have been suspended - although the Government strongly encourage children to attend, they will not be challenging school attendance during this period. Some will not be able to attend because their families are self-isolating or shielding. We will support your decision regarding what you feel is best for the safety and wellbeing of your children
Managing the school experience
The curriculum in school - we are really looking forward to seeing children back in school and are working hard to create a curriculum that can be delivered in these unusual circumstances. Children will work mainly from their desks, using our lovely grounds whenever possible. Children in the Early Years and our younger children in Year One, will be encouraged to keep a safe distance. It will not be appropriate for them to sit at desks all day or to learn without sharing some resources and equipment. These will be wiped down with sanitising spray or washed regularly.
The virtual curriculum - this will continue, but instead of sending work to stanmoresupport, work will be submitted to Mr Read at year1and2@stanmoreprimary.com Miss Hurley at year3and4@stanmoreprimary.com and Mrs Atkins at year5and6@stanmoreprimary.com
We will not be able to provide the full depth and breadth of curriculum that your children are used to - mental health and wellbeing will be the priority on return. Time will be spent listening to your children and reassuring them. In addition to this, children in Catkins, will be re-integrating into school life and getting used to separating from their parents ready for transition to Year 1. In Year 1, children will be re-visiting the early reading skills including phonics, and revisiting early number skills in preparation for Year 2. In Year 6 we aim to give children as much 'closure' as we can to their primary school years, while focusing on readiness for Kings in terms of their work.
Playtime and Lunchtime - Each pod will be allocated an outdoor space. Year R and Year 1 will eat in the hall, with spaces set out carefully to minimise contact. Older children will remain in their classrooms and lunch will be brought to them, or they will eat from their lunch box. Tables will be wiped down with sanitising spray before and after lunch and bins will be emptied regularly. All children should wear trainers ready to be outside and enjoy freedom of movement during the day where less restricted use of the grounds will be timetabled for each pod. Sorry, no football or contact sports including tag at break, lunchtime or as part of exercise.
Clothing - children should wear school uniform and trainers. Normal good personal hygiene and regular washing of clothes is recommended.
Behaviour - Please talk to your children about the need to follow the school rules, including those on social distancing. We are working on a revised behaviour policy and further guidance on this will follow. Adults are asked to respect these guidelines and support us in managing the risks while on site, whatever your personal views. We belong to a community and have shown tremendous support for one another during lockdown.
We will do the best we can to make the reopening of our school as smooth as it can be. I am proud of the staff team who remain positive and determined to make the very best of this situation. We are working hard to consider every operational element and we will continue to smooth out issues as they arise so please bear with us. It may seem daunting at the moment, but we will quickly adapt as we have done over the past couple of months. We are really looking forward to welcoming back the children in these year groups and look forward to when we can see all of our children back in school.
Best Wishes
Sharon Taylor