September – Welcome back to school and nursery.

We are excited about seeing all the children back at school and nursery in September.  Our experienced and empathetic staff are looking forward to meeting their new classes in the induction sessions at the beginning of term. They have been looking at research about children with gaps in their knowledge and will be starting the school year at the place where your child left off. There will be plenty of time put aside to settle your child into school and nursery and a gentle embracing of school routines, so that all children feel comfortable with learning and can share their experiences whilst away from school or at school in lockdown.

The children will be coming back into school over a few days – introducing small groups back to their new classrooms and class mates.  You will have been sent an email at the end of term with the dates your child will be expected in school but outlined below is the schedule.

Induction timetable September 2020

If you are worried about your child settling back into school – please do let us know and we can arrange longer inductions if needed.

As we will still be within the Covid 19 pandemic in September, there are new Government guidelines we have to follow to keep children safe.  We have outlined below the guidelines and protocols we are adopting as a school and nursery to keep children safe.  Please do feel free to ask if you have any questions.  Families also need to be aware that things may change over the holidays too, so please keep checking your emails for any updates. The government has produced some supporting information for parents that can be found on this link. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/what-parents-and-carers-need-to-know-about-early-years-providers-schools-and-colleges-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak/what-parents-and-carers-need-to-know-about-early-years-providers-schools-and-colleges-in-the-autumn-term

Attendance

It will be statutory to send your child to school in September – so the normal rules about children being away from school and nursery apply.  Please phone in by 8.45am if your child is ill and not attending school or nursery. Holidays need to be taken outside of term time – this is especially important this year as the children need to be in school and nursery as much as possible to ensure they catch up with their gaps in knowledge.

Social distancing

The school and nursery will be following social distancing guidelines and would appreciate all families do the same, so that we keep staff and children safe.  One positive Covid 19 case in a class bubble could mean that everyone in that class misses 2 weeks of schooling as they will need to isolate.

Covid 19 illness/suspected or confirmed

If you or your child have any symptoms of Covid 19, please do not send your child to school – let the school know and get them tested as soon as possible.  Please do let the school office know the outcome of the test as soon as you can as a positive test will mean that class bubbles will need to be closed and deep cleaning take place.  Parents may need to collect their children at very short notice if there is confirmed case of Covid 19, or staff feel that a child has signs of a high temperature, cough, lack of taste or smell.  Please do let your employers know that this may affect you.

Class bubbles

The children will stay in their class bubbles during lesson and play times – this is to reduce the number of contacts they make during the day.  If one of the children or staff in that bubble has a confirmed case of Covid 19 the whole bubble will shut and the rest of the children will need to isolate.  We would like to avoid this – so please make sure you are extremely careful at home to follow social distancing guidelines at all times.

Lunches

Our catering company will be providing Packed Lunches for those who qualify for Free School Meals or are in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2.  Other children can also order the packed lunches at the normal cost daily, payment by Parentpay as usual. Hot meals will not be available initially.

The lunches come in a paper picnic bag and include sandwiches, crisps, cookie or yoghurt, fruit and a drink.  Children will eat outside or in their classrooms in class groups. If you do not want a school packed lunch, then please send your child in with their own packed lunch. 

Water bottles

Children need to bring water bottles each day – named please.

Outdoor play clothing

All children, except nursery where it is provided, need full outdoor kit in school.  Water proof legging/trousers, coat that can get dirty and wellingtons.  The children will need to be on the field in ALL weathers as we need to space children out at playtimes. The children play out in all weathers, so if it is cold or wet ALL children need to wear a coat with hood to school or nursery and if it is hot they will need a sunhat and cream already applied

PE

PE will be mostly outside and the children need to come to school and nursery in PE kit for the whole day. PE kit available on the website. http://www.initiallyyours.co.uk/schools/tibberton_primary_and_early_years/uniform_and_sports_kit.htm

Uniform

School children will be expected to wear uniform – but it should be fresh on each day.  On PE days children need to come to school in PE kit including trainers.  As the weather gets colder this should also consist of navy or black joggers/leggings and a school PE sweatshirt/warm sensible sweatshirt – not a hoodie as they are dangerous for PE. A school PE sweatshirt is available on the uniform website. See below.

http://www.initiallyyours.co.uk/schools/tibberton_primary_and_early_years/uniform_and_sports_kit.htm

Nursery children need to come ready for PE every day in velcro trainers, t-shirt, joggers/legging/shorts and non-hooded sweatshirt.

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PE days – days to wear PE kit to school and nursery

• Nursery – Everyday
• Reception – Tuesday and Friday
• Year 1 – Monday and Wednesday
• Year 2 – Tuesday and Wednesday
• Year 3 and 4 – Monday and Thursday
• Year 5 and 6 – Friday

Morning drop off

Parents will need to drop off their children at the green pedestrian gate in the mornings. 

Nursery, Reception and Year 1 and 2 will need to be dropped at the gate at 8.45am - they will go straight into their class rooms. 

Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 will need to be dropped off at 9am – they will go straight into their classes. 

 EYFS and KS1 start at 8.45am

  KS2 start at 9am

We realise this may be annoying if you have children in different year groups but it is recommended in government guidelines and is the only way we can spread the children out and reduce crowding at the gate.    

Nursery pick up for children coming mornings only.

This will be from the green gate at 11.45am – staff will bring children to the gate.

Afternoon pick up

Staff will bring children to the green gate to be received by parents.

Nursery children staying all day will need to be picked up from the green gate at 2.45pm.

Reception – whilst Reception children are on mornings only pick up will be at the green gate at 11.45am.  Once they are staying for lunch, times will be advised.

Nursery afternoon children will need to be picked up at 2.45pm

Reception, Year 1 and 2 children will need to be picked up at 3pm. 

Year 3, 4, 5 and 6 children will need to be picked up at 3.15pm.

Again, we appreciate that it may be less than convenient for multiple pickups, but we do ask you to be patient and on time to pick up your younger children promptly, even if you have to then wait for your older ones.  Please acknowledge social distancing guidance whilst waiting and be aware of the neighbours who live around school.

Equipment – bags and pencil cases

KS1 and KS2 Children will NOT need anything other than a water bottle, their lunches, personal medication and reading books/book bags in school.  Please do not send in rucksacks or bags as they clutter the corridors and make less room for children and staff to keep social distancing.  EYFS children will need a bag of spare clothes to be left at school or nursery – named please.  All children can leave a named bag of forest school/outdoor clothes at school.

Keeping in contact

If your child cannot come to school/nursery or you need to get hold of school or nursery in an emergency please phone/email the office. Although we love to see you and miss the contact, visitors are discouraged from coming to the office – if possible, please ring or email any enquiries. The classes will still have Tapestry so you can continue to use it to upload photos to your child’s account and the staff will post photos of some activities at school too.  As the staff will be teaching everyday, they will not be monitoring it as closely as they do now, so please email any urgent questions to the office.

Music lessons

Piano lessons will not be starting back immediately when school starts. 

After school and breakfast clubs

The parents who have expressed an interest have been contacted about these clubs and the arrangements involved.  If you need extended care please do let the office know and we will add your child’s name to our waiting list.

Risk assessment

Our risk assessment will be updated and sent out to you before school starts back.

The curriculum

Staff will continue the curriculum from where the children left off at Easter, they will be concentrating on basic skills to start off.

In Nursery staff will focus on the prime areas of learning including communication and language, personal, social and emotional development (PSED) and physical development.

In Reception staff will focus on the above and language, early reading, mathematics, phonic knowledge and extending their vocabulary.

For children in KS1 and KS2, staff will prioritise identifying gaps and re-establishing good progress in the essentials (phonics and reading, increasing vocabulary, writing and mathematics).  They will identify opportunities across the curriculum so children read widely, and develop their knowledge and vocabulary.

The curriculum will remain broad, so that the majority of pupils still have access to a range of subjects over the year, including sciences, humanities, the arts, PE/sport, RE and RHE.  The national tests for KS1 and KS2 will still go ahead as planned in 2021. 

Play therapy

We feel this is an important option for parents whose children may need to access play therapy after 6 months of lock down - please let the office know if you are interested in accessing play therapy sessions.  The Play Therapist has clear social distancing rules and a Covid 19 risk assessment in place.

What happens if we go back into lockdown?

If the government calls for another lockdown, we will follow the guidance at that time and families will be able to access Tapestry daily for work set and communication with parents.  Tapestry provides parents with a way to interact with the staff in their child’s class – ask questions and get support.  As staff are in school teaching the keyworker children during lockdown, live lessons are difficult to provide. Tapestry provides a social media type link – families are generally used to using social media and can access this easily even if they have poor internet connections or limited ICT equipment.

We are looking forward to seeing your children back at school from the 4^th September onwards.  If you have any questions please do let us know.

Thank you    The Tibberton CP School and Early Years Team