Dear Parents/Carers,

I know all of you will be anxious to know what measures we are putting in place to reduce risk in our school. The Newdale team have all been working hard on a robust plan to ensure the best possible safety around reopening school. Please find below measures we are putting in place:

• Very regular handwashing throughout the day (please ensure they do this just before leaving for school and as soon as they arrive home). We do not require that children wear masks or gloves – this is in line with government guidance – Coronavirus: implementing protective measures in education and childcare settings.

 Personal protective equipment (PPE) including face coverings and face masks

Wearing a face covering or face mask in schools or other education settings is not recommended. Face coverings may be beneficial for short periods indoors where there is a risk of close social contact with people you do not usually meet and where social distancing and other measures cannot be maintained, for example on public transport or in some shops. This does not apply to schools or other education settings. Schools and other education or childcare settings should therefore not require staff, children and learners to wear face coverings. Changing habits, cleaning and hygiene are effective measures in controlling the spread of the virus. Face coverings (or any form of medical mask where instructed to be used for specific clinical reasons) should not be worn in any circumstance by those who may not be able to handle them as directed (for example, young children, or those with special educational needs or disabilities) as it may inadvertently increase the risk of transmission.

• We have plenty in supply of soap and disposable towels as well as sterilising fluid for regular toy/resource cleaning.
• Staggered start and end of day times to ensure we do not have large numbers of children on site at any one time (please do not arrive early or late as we need to be strict with times).
• As few parents on site as possible with staff to ensure swift drop off and pick up. Entry and exit points staffed to ensure sensible queueing and no congregations of people.
• Staggered and zoned playtimes/lunchtimes to ensure lots of space to play safely.
• Reduced lunchtime to limit the risk of close contact with others.
• Increased times outdoors when learning wherever possible.
• Maximum class sizes of 15 with the same staff (where possible).
• Spaced out classrooms with high risk items that are difficult to clean removed.
• Increased ventilation in classrooms.
• Identified pathways through school to minimise contact.
• Increased toilet cleaning and regular classroom cleaning with antiviral disinfectant which is known to kill coronavirus.
• Packed lunch and school dinners separated to allow for smaller numbers of children sat eating together.
• Children to come to school in PE kit – tracksuit bottoms and trainers with a school uniform jumper to reduce risk when children get changed.
• Children to be allocated stationary to use as their own, rather than sharing.
• Children to bring in own water bottle and take home for careful washing each day.
• Limited items to be brought in from home to reduce risk: packed lunch (unless having a school dinner), base camp/forest school footwear, medication, water bottle. Please do not send in any other items, including wonderful work that has been completed so far over lockdown – this can be photographed and uploaded to the school blog.
• Any messages for the school team will need to be communicated through the office via the telephone, email or text please to avoid having parents on site unnecessarily.

I really do hope you are reassured by this list and hope you can see we really are trying our best to follow guidelines and keep both children and staff as safe as possible.

You will soon be sent notification from the Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 lead as to your child’s start/end times,  where your entry and exit points are, your kit requirements, lunch organisation and much more.

Kind regards,

Miss Cook

Dear Parents/Carers,

 As you will have no doubt heard, yesterday the Prime Minister outlined guidelines that schools MAY return on a phased opening from June 1^st starting with Reception, Year 1 and Year 6.  At this moment we are waiting for further guidelines from the Government and the local authority.  We will of course update you with more information as it becomes clearer to us.

 Thank you for your continued patience during this difficult time.

 Kind regards

Miss Cook

Headteacher

Dear Parents/Carers,

We have proudly managed to stay open every single day since lockdown, in order to support our key worker children and families. We have consulted with all parents who use the hub and they have kindly managed to rearrange shifts etc so that we can officially close on Friday 8^th May. The reasons for this are that we want all staff (especially those who are in every day) and all children, to have a day off linked to the ‘Victory for Europe’ (VE Day) celebrations. We feel that this is an important part of our history and one that needs to be recognised by everyone.

 ‘Victory in Europe Day, generally known as VE Day or V-E Day, is a day celebrating the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender of its armed forces on 8 May 1945.’

Clearly we would have stayed open if key worker parents could not re-arrange shifts, as we remain committed to supporting everyone who is on the front line supporting us all in defeating Covid-19.

I know teachers and I would love to see any photos you showing what you got up to celebrating, but please remember that the Government rules stay the same – only leave the house to exercise, to collect essential food items and to collect necessary medical supplies.

Enjoy the day everyone, but stay safe.

Miss Cook

Headteacher

Newdale Primary School and Nursery

Dear Parents/Carers,

We are as keen as you are to get back to normal and I promise to let you know more information as I receive it.

We understand how frustrating it is to have a lack of information about schools from the government and only wish we could be emailing with more solid news.

Our PM is addressing the nation today, which we hope will give us more of an insight, but I suspect it will still be vague and not give us the definite answers we are looking for.

I know the Local Authority are asking individual Headteachers for their thoughts by way of returning to school, but I also know that as yet, there is no set date or clear plan around which year groups will return and how that will be implemented.

In the meantime, I would like to thank you for all of the support you are giving children at home with their online learning, as we know that this will make such a difference to them as we return and catch up.

Kind regards,

Miss Cook