Dear Parents and Carers,
Following the Prime Minister’s announcement on Monday, our schools will reopen to all pupils on Monday 8th March. We’re very much looking forward to welcoming back more of our pupils to face-to-face education then.
In order to prepare the school for full reopening, there will be no critical worker provision on Friday 5th March, except for Nursery provision. This will give us time to get things ready for the return to school the following Monday. Nursery provision will be unaffected. For the same reason this Friday will also be designated a ‘no screens day’ for children working at home. Teachers will be in contact with more details about this.
It is important to highlight the context in which our schools are reopening. The country remains in lockdown and the vast majority of our staff have not yet received the Covid vaccination. In Croydon, new cases have been falling, though this is yet to result in a subsequent fall in those being treated in Croydon University Hospital or in covid-related deaths which is why the role we all play as individuals to reduce transmission remains critical. There have also been reports of the South African variant within the local community. With all of this in mind, we are continuing to be extremely cautious in terms of our Covid safety plans.
As a reminder, your child should self-isolate and not come to school if they:
- Have coronavirus symptoms or have tested positive
- Live with someone who has symptoms or have tested positive
- Are a close contact of someone who has tested positive.
Clinically Extremely Vulnerable Pupils
In line with the latest government guidance, pupils who are clinically extremely vulnerable should not attend school. If your child is in this group, they should continue to learn from home until further notice.
Remote Learning
For pupils who are self-isolating or shielding, we will continue to offer remote learning. All other children must attend school by law; if anyone is absent for any other reason than self-isolating or shielding, then remote learning will not be provided.
Face Coverings
In order to be able to allow children to be able to play and socialise with the children in their bubble, we are asking that children from Y1 to Y6 wear a face mask when in school. They will be taught the safe way to wear face coverings and will be asked to remove them for PE lessons, when eating and when drinking. We have introduced this for children in the key worker provision this term and it has been very successful. Children have quickly become comfortable with this and it has meant that they have been able to socialise with their peers more easily.
In line with government advice we are asking that face visors or shields are not worn.
Staggered Times
The start and end times will remain as they have been this year.
Attendance
All children are expected to return on Monday 8th March. Attendance at school will become mandatory again on that date and we will follow up in the usual way if children are absent.
Ventilation
Enhanced ventilation arrangements will be in place. Windows and doors will be opened for at least five minutes every 20 or 30 minutes. Children and staff should wear warm, outdoor clothing in colder weather.
School Uniform
Children should continue to wear their own, warm, easily washable, clothes to school each day. Clothes should be suitable for PE and sports activities as children will be taking part in physical activities every day. Children should wear trainers.
We will consider the reintroduction of school uniform at the start of the new academic year.
Club Provision
In line with current government guidance, we will work to resume club provision at our schools. The government has stated that this provision should only be provided to support parents/carers to work, attend education and access medical care.
Our current ‘roadmap’ to resume club provision is as follows:
- Breakfast Club
- After school sports clubs
- Games Club/After School Club
We aim to open Breakfast Club when we return on 8th March. This will only be for parents/carers who meet the government criteria above. We are in the process of setting up a new electronic club booking system, ‘Magicbooking’, which will simplify the booking and payment process. We will send you details of this as soon as they are ready. This will be the only way to book club provision, so please do not contact the school office about club bookings before receiving this information.
Breakfast Club will take the place of the early morning provision that has been in place to date.
Details of the other club provision will follow in due course.
Bubbles
We will continue to reduce contact between pupils and staff in school by forming bubbles. We will keep these as small as practically possible. We will ensure that bubbles do not have any contact with other bubbles in school.
Finally, I would like to thank you all for your ongoing support over such a sustained period of change and challenge. We are really looking forward to seeing our children and families in person again.
With best wishes,
Susan Papas
Executive Headteacher
