September 2020 - Welcome Back! 

Welcome to St. Peter's C.E. Primary School!

On Thursday 27^th August I emailed parents in order to share our plans to welcome all of the children back to school this Autumn term.  Please find detailed below how we intend to do this.  Please click on the FAQs to expand the questions and read through the information carefully.

As I am sure that you can appreciate, it has been a significant undertaking to update and complete our risk assessment in response to the latest government and WSCC guidance, let alone prepare for a new academic year.  All of the control measures and arrangements being put in place are informed by our experiences from the Summer term whilst continuing to ensure that the health and safety of pupils and staff remains paramount in any decisions that are made.  Both staff and governors have been involved in the process and the full detailed risk assessment is available at the bottom of this page.

As stated when we first re-opened on 1^st June, the arrangements being put in place are focused upon reducing the risk of direct or indirect transmission of Covid-19.  These plans cannot eliminate the risk of Covid-19.  If parents have further questions regarding some of the decisions being made which affect all schools then I would urge you to read the latest government guidance which is a public document.  At the bottom of the page you can also read the government leaflet entitled ‘Returning to primary school: what parents need to know.’

Please be reminded that we are asking that only Year 1, 3 and 5 pupils come into school on Thursday 3^rd September.  The children will spend the morning with their class teacher from last academic year before transitioning to their new class with their new teacher in the afternoon.  Our new starters in Reception are also invited to come into school for the afternoon only from 1.15pm to 3.15pm.  Families should come into school following the one way system into the school playground where their class teacher will greet them.  These arrangements have been put in place so that those children who are changing classes can be supported as a smaller group for the day, especially as Year 3 and Year 5 were not ‘officially’ in school last term.  On Friday 4^th September we are excited to welcome all of the children back into school!

Despite some things still being ‘strange’, we will obviously be doing our utmost to ensure that the start of the Autumn term is a positive and successful experience for all.  

With very best wishes,

Mr J. Savage
Headteacher

What overarching principles have informed planning?

To prepare to welcome all pupils back to school in September, the most recent government guidance sets out a number of ‘systems of control’ or preventative actions that schools are expected to have in place or properly consider.  One of these is, “minimise contact between individuals and maintain social distancing wherever possible.”  This will be achieved at St. Peter’s by keeping the children in their distinct classes throughout the school day whilst doing everything possible to minimise contact and mixing between groups.  It has always been recognised by the government that young children may find it difficult to socially distance however we are still encouraging both pupils and adults to ‘Be Smart, Keep Apart’.  Posters reminding everyone of this are placed prominently around school.  In addition, blue fish are painted on the route into school and in the playground that are 2 metres apart.  Staff can now operate across different classes in order to facilitate the delivery of the school timetable however the latest guidance expands upon the 2 metre idealism stating that adults and children, “should avoid close face to face contact and minimise time spent within 1 metre of anyone.”

How will the school day be different?

The school timetable has been adjusted to enable classes to be kept apart during the school day and reduce congestion in the corridors, entrances and exits.  One of the most noticeable changes being made in order to facilitate this is that KS1 and KS2 classes will no longer have break time and lunch times together.  Drop-off and pick-up times will again be staggered however, having looked carefully at families who have more than one child at the school, we have endeavoured to minimise waiting times. Following government guidance the staggered start and finish times do not reduce the amount of overall teaching time.  An implication of this therefore is that pupils must not be dismissed earlier than the specified time.

When families arrive at St. Peter’s we will again be operating the one-way system walking to the playground along the path as per normal and leaving via the car park maintaining a 2m social distance at all times.  As always, we actively encourage all families to walk, cycle or scoot to school if at all possible.  Please refrain from parking directly outside the school gates in Holmans.  At an allocated time, staff will be available in the playground to collect the children.  We again ask that all families do their utmost to be prompt and stick to their allocated times for drop-off and pick-up which are detailed below.  Should families need to wait in the playground then we ask that the space on the far side of the playground by the bank is used, of course maintaining a strict 2m social distance between families.  There is no need for the children to line up by their class emblem at present.  At the end of the day, staff will walk the children onto the playground and dismiss them to waiting parents.  Pupils arriving after 9.00am should enter via the front office following the one-way system in the corridor to their classroom.  The new timings are as follows:

Where two classes have break time or lunchtime play at the same time then the playground will be split down the middle creating two clearly defined zones.  This was trialled and proved successful at the end of the Summer term.  The staff on duty will of course monitor both groups however the children will only be allowed to play with the children in their class. Collective Worship will be at 10.15am each day and will take place in classrooms via zoom or will be class based.

What will my child need to bring with them?

Where possible, every child returning to school should bring with them:

• a book bag which must only contain a reading book, reading record and homework book (no secret stowaway toys please!);
• a pencil case containing a pencil, ruler, sharpener, colouring pencils and a writing pen if appropriate;
• a refillable water bottle (to be taken home and washed everyday); and
• a mid-morning fruit snack that your child can open by themselves and which doesn’t take too long to eat!

Normal school uniform is required and the children must dress suitably for the weather.  Where necessary we will make use of cloakrooms to store coats, lunchboxes and small bags.  Please ensure that your child does not bring with them any additional unnecessary items.  Once the term starts you will be notified on which days your child will have PE.  On these days the children must wear their PE kit to school.  They do not need to bring their uniform to change into.  As previously stated, parents must be mindful of the changeable weather.  Additional layers may be required whilst the windows remain open for ventilation.    

Does my child need their medicine in school?

If your child usually has an asthma pump, or other agreed medication, with them in school on a daily basis then these must also return to school with them.  Please speak to Ms Griffin in the school office regarding medication in school.    

How will good health and hygiene be maintained?

In line with government guidance, tables will be set out in forward facing rows rather than groups in all classes with the exception of Greenfinch Class (Year R).  For the majority of the day, the children will be in their own class and will only use resources allocated to the class including playtime and PE equipment.  

Due to the whole school now returning, we are no longer able to allocate toilet areas for the sole use of a group however staff will continue to monitor the use of the toilets ensuring that only one pupil goes at a time.  Each classroom has a hand washing ‘station’ so that all pupils and staff can clean their hands regularly with soap and water.  Handwashing routines will continue as in the Summer term (i.e. upon arrival, after an activity, before break, after break, before lunch, after lunch, prior to leaving school, after using the toilet and following any cough or sneeze).  The ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ approach continues to be very important and the children will be reminded of this.  We will ensure that we have an ample supply of tissues to support everyone to follow this routine. 

As previously stated, school uniform is to be worn as normal apart from on the days where your child has PE.  Please be reminded that every item of clothing must be clearly and securely named.  We appreciate that some parents may want to continue to wash their child’s clothes more regularly than normal however we still feel that the uniform is most practical for school. 

Should your child hurt themselves, feel unwell or have a toileting accident during the school day then of course we will endeavour to help and support them as would be expected.  Wherever possible, incidents will of course be dealt with by staff members assigned to the class however this may not be possible at break time. Staff will endeavour to maintain social distancing as best as possible to protect themselves and others.  In exceptional circumstances, parents will of course be called.

What if my child becomes unwell during the school day? 

If a child becomes unwell during the school day, but IS NOT displaying symptoms associated with coronavirus then they will be monitored within their group in the first instance.  Following close monitoring, if no improvement is seen and further concerns regarding health and wellbeing are raised, then staff will make the decision whether a parent needs to be contacted.

If a child becomes unwell during the school day and IS displaying symptoms associated with the virus, then they will be immediately taken to the hut (Woodpecker Classroom) for isolation and parents will be contacted.   PPE will be worn by staff caring for any child while they await collection.  The most recent guidance states that this would apply if anyone in the school becomes unwell with:

• a new and persistent cough; or
• a high temperature; or
• has a loss of, or change in, their normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia);

Pupils, staff and other adults must not come into the school if they have these symptoms, or have tested positive for coronavirus in at least the last 10 days.  In response to any infections, the school will fully engage with the NHS Test and Trace process and contact the Surrey and Sussex HPT (health protection team).  Families are expected to follow ‘stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection’.

What additional cleaning is being undertaken at school? 

As always, over the Summer holidays the school underwent a deep clean.  All areas will be cleaned at the end of each day as normal and additional cleaning will take place utilising antibacterial spray as and when needed.  Due to two classes using the hall for lunch, the tables and chairs will be cleaned between sittings.  In addition, the toilets and sink areas will undergo an additional clean at the end of lunchtime.  Please be reminded that only pupils in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are entitled to receive a hot meal through the universal infant free school meal scheme.  Some children in KS2 may also be in receipt of free school meals.  If your child is now in KS2 and you wish for them to have a hot school meal then please visit https://westsussex.mealselector.co.uk/Page/147/WS-Meal-Selector to find out how to register and order in advance.

In all classes, but particularly reception, any practical resources will be cleaned between uses.  Resources to be used by other groups will either be cleaned thoroughly after use or in some cases left unused for 72 hours.  When reading books are returned these will also be taken out of use for 72 hours.  Laptops and the iPads will be used on a rotation across the week, again ensuring time for a thorough clean between classes.

What if I need to contact my child’s class teacher/ the school?

As in the Summer term, the school office is the single point of contact for all questions and queries.  Teachers and support staff will not be available in the morning to respond to questions or receive messages at this time.  Wherever possible, we ask that contact is made by phoning 01444 892314 or emailing: office@st-peters.school.  Urgent enquiries can be made at the office however the privacy glass will remain closed and only one family is permitted in the entrance at a time.  Just to reiterate, no parents will be allowed in the school building. As always, all enquiries will be directed to the relevant staff member ensuring a response as soon as possible.  Thank you for your understanding. 

 Full Opening Risk Assessment
 Back to School Primary Leaflet 

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