Letter to parents September opening 7.7.2020

Tuesday 7^th July 2020

Arrangements 2^nd September 2020

Dear Parents and Carers,

We are looking forward to welcoming back all children to school on Wednesday 2^nd September; we will offer breakfast and afterschool clubs as previously stated in our last letter to parents. Attendance from 2^nd September is mandatory for all pupils.

I am writing to you to share our plans for September as a result of the latest government guidance issued to schools in regard to September opening.

Measures we will take from 02/09/2020:

• Children will be supported to keep good hygiene, by regular hand washing and being encouraged to not touch their face.
• All children are to bring a bottle of hand sanitizer (60% alcohol content or above) into school each day.
• The school will be split into 2 groups: Class 1 and Class 2 & 3.
• Lunchtimes will be staggered to allow both groups to eat and play in their separate groups.
• Children will be seated front facing and side by side in classrooms, where possible.
• The playground and field will be zoned to allow the two groups to play separately.
• To minimise mixing between groups children will use designated entrance/exits for classrooms, corridors will be demarcated to support this.
• Parents are not to enter onto the playground or the school building unless for a pre-arranged appointment. All children are to enter via the demarcated 1 way system on the drive, we ask that only 1 parents per family drops off or collects their children. Children will be greeted on the playground by an adult and will move into their group on the playground.
• At home time parents are asked to wait, socially distanced, on the drive way and school car park area and children will be sent to parents by staff members.
• There will be no whole school assemblies.
• For afterschool sports clubs finishing at 4.15pm (Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday) children are to be collected on the playground in the same way as home time.
• Parents collecting children between 4.15 and 5.00pm from afterschool club are to enter the school reception, ring the bell (hand sanitizer will be available) and children will be escorted to the reception by a member of staff.

If a pupil or staff member shows symptoms:

• Staff & children must not attend if they have symptoms or are self-isolating due to symptoms in their household or via receiving an alert from the NHS ‘track & trace’ process;
• If anyone becomes unwell with a new, continuous cough or high temperature or anosmia in an education or childcare setting, they will be sent home and advised to follow the COVID-19: guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection guidance;
• Anyone who displays symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) can and should get a test;
• Where the child or staff member tests negative, they can return to their setting and the fellow household members can end their self-isolation;

If a pupil or staff member tests positive:

• Where the child or staff member tests positive, the rest of their Class or group will be sent home and advised to self-isolate for 14 days. The other household members of that wider class or group do not need to self-isolate unless the pupil or staff member they live with in that group subsequently develops symptoms;
• Parents/carers will need to be ready and willing to:
  1. Book a test if they are displaying symptoms. All children can be tested, including children under 5, but children aged 11 and under will need to be helped by their parents/carers if using a home testing kit;
  2. Provide details of anyone they have been in close contact with if they were to test positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) if asked by NHS Test & Trace;
  3. Self-isolate if they have been in close contact with someone who develops coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms or someone who tests positive for coronavirus (COVID-19);
• If we become aware that someone who has attended school has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19). We will contact the local health protection team. This local health protection team will also contact schools directly if they become aware that someone who has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) attended the school – as identified by NHS Test and Trace;
• If Schools have two or more confirmed cases within 14 days, or an overall rise in sickness absence where coronavirus (COVID-19) is suspected, we will continue to work with our local health protection team who will be able to advise if additional action is required; in some cases, our local health protection team may recommend that a larger number of other pupils self-isolate at home as a precautionary measure.

May I take this opportunity to thank you in anticipation for your understating and support in this new phase for the children, families and staff at St George’s. As always, if you wish to discuss any areas further please do not hesitate to make contact with school, so that a mutually convenient time can be arranged.

Yours sincerely,

Mrs Rebecca Manning