Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.
Thank you everyone for following the signs and arrows around school on drop off and pick up. Everything has worked really smoothly, and that has been helped enormously by everyone, children, staff and parents, all pulling together.
Now we have all the year groups back that are due to be back before summer, we can see how things are working and will tweak things accordingly. One small change, from tomorrow, contrary to the home school agreement you signed a few weeks ago, children can bring a piece of fruit as a mid morning snack. Obviously, this is completely optional, as not all children like fruit. However, please do not send anything else other than simple fruit, i.e. nothing in packets, boxes etc.
Thank you for your continued support.
Stay safe and well, Mr. Matthews
This message was also sent via the school app.
Yesterday you will have received an email to confirm your child's place back at school starting next Monday, but only if you have previously requested that they come back before summer. Please note the start and end times are different to the usual school day, these have been shared with you previously. Y6's day is from 8.30am - 2.45pm, Monday to Thursday. It is really important you keep to these times, as we need to avoid any contact between parents and children from different bubbles. We are using a one way system around the outside of school, so please follow the signs for Y6 (Giraffes 1 or 2). Don't worry, there will be staff around to direct you. Please send in a pencil case with pencils etc which will stay in school until we break for summer. Children don't need to wear uniform, but must be in clean clothes every day and wearing something they can run around in. Please make sure hair is tied back just as usual. Stay safe and well, Mr. Matthews
Spring North, formerly The Families and Wellbeing Consortium, has been awarded a contract from the Department of Education to support struggling families across the school holiday period by developing a series of holiday clubs across Blackburn with Darwen.
The ‘Get Stuck In’ Clubs will operate from 3rdAugust – 30th August at local venues across the area and will provide a range of fun activities and a hot meal for children aged 4-16 years. The activities will be age appropriate and will be run by experienced partners from the region.
Click here for more details.
https://springnorth.org.uk/charity-support/getstuckin/
Message to parents of children in Reception and Year 1
Yesterday you will have received an email to confirm your child's place back at school starting next week, but only if you have previously requested that they come back before summer. Please note the start and end times are different to the usual school day, these have been shared with you previously. Reception children's day is from 9am - 3pm, and Y1's day is 9.15 - 3.15pm. It is really important you keep to these times, as we need to avoid any contact between parents and children in different bubbles. From Monday we will be using the one way system around the outside of school, so please follow the signs for Reception (Rabbits) and Y1 (Bears). Don't worry, there will be staff around to direct you. Stay safe and well, Mr. Matthews
Letter to all parents, 17th June 2020
Dear Parent/Guardian,
I hope that this update finds you well and you are continuing to find ways to keep going during challenging times. As I write, I feel as though I have only recently updated you all but am aware that this week has brought two significant announcements both locally and nationally, that I am sure you will be aware of given the press coverage.
Delay in re-opening Lancashire Schools until at least 22nd June for Year 6, Year 1 and Reception.
A couple of weeks ago Blackburn with Darwen’s review of the current local situation concluded that the Government’s ‘Five Tests’ had still not been met in our area. Therefore, they asked schools to continue to pause their plans for re-introducing Year 6, Year 1 and Reception in a phased manner until the 22nd June. Happily, they reviewed the situation last Friday, and now deem it safe for the wider reopening to go ahead.
What does this mean for Ashleigh?
As we have continued to communicate, all plans were always likely to be changed by local and national factors. We have discussed as a team the best way to modify our plans. It is really important that the shorter period of time that is now left in the term (4 weeks) is taken into consideration but also we do not ‘rush’ to put in place procedures that are not safe.
On Monday 22nd, the children in Reception class (Rabbits) whose parents have already requested a place, will start back.
On Wednesday 24th, children in Year 1 whose parents have already requested a place will start back. Please note, if your child is in Y2, they cannot return at this time.
On Monday 29th, children in Year 6 whose parents have already requested a place will start back at school.
Only children whose parents have already requested a place will be able to return. We have created a system of bubbles 4 days a week from Monday to Thursday (as has been outlined previously), in order to ensure social distancing takes place as far as possible. Key worker children will continue to access school Monday to Friday, avoiding Fridays wherever possible, in order for deep cleaning to take place.
I am sure you will all understand that, although the idea of priority year groups does not sit well with us as a school, ensuring that Year 6 have some form of closure and transition before moving to high school is very important. Every pupil has been disadvantaged in some way during this closure but, as a year group, they have missed many of the significant moments that they would normally enjoy in this final term and we hope to mitigate that loss in the best way that we can. As a school, we have the opportunity to rectify some of the consequences of this closure with all other pupils next year.
The school remains open for those pupils of key workers who require us to provide childcare. I appreciate all those families who have been considerate of the pressures that this provision has placed on the school and staff by making alternative arrangements where available. As usual, if there are any issues please do not hesitate to contact school.
Government announcement to ‘drop’ plans for all year groups to return in July
Last week, Gavin Williamson (Education Secretary) announced that the Government’s initial plan to bring all pupils back in July has been reversed.
What does this mean for Ashleigh?
Unfortunately, this means that all year groups will be unable to return before the summer. I feel at this point that it is fair that parents understand the position that we have been in as a school.
As I am sure you will be aware, head teachers nationally made it clear that it was impossible to bring back all pupils under the current guidelines (simple mathematics of staff and space). I have therefore been concerned that a national plan was given to parents that was impracticable or that would require a significant change of the guidelines in a very short period of time – most notably about bubble sizes. Equally though, I wish to reassure parents that the concept of ‘picking and choosing’ significant year groups does not sit well with us as a school. We remain hopeful that this decision will now give an opportunity for a national plan to be created that can bring all pupils back successfully in September.
Following this confirmation, we are discussing ways that we can increase support for all pupils and families. As such, you may notice some changes to home learning over the next few weeks in an attempt to keep it fresh.
I would stress that families should also continue to contact school should you have any concerns or (as many of you have done) just have a chat if you require reassurance or a sounding board. Please ring school or if you want to contact your child’s teacher direct, use the contact form on your child’s class page on the website. Email and the school app remain the key ways for us to communicate successfully.
Government plans for September re-opening
This week, both the Education Secretary and Prime Minister discussed their hope that all year groups will return in September. More news is due imminently. You, as a parent, are likely to find out at the same time we do as a school what the plans are for the new year.
What does this mean for Ashleigh?
We have already begun to discuss the challenges that will be faced next year for pupils and the need to modify the curriculum that we teach. I know that many parents are concerned about the ‘academic’ loss of time and progress over this period but I wish to assure you that this will be dealt with. We share some of those concerns as a school but we will do everything in our power to rectify that over the coming months and years and we will work together - between home and school - to do so. It is also worth remembering that the entire nation is in this position (even though some areas of the country opened for ‘priority’ year groups two weeks ago, only 6.9% pupils are estimated to have been in school) and there will therefore need to be a national strategy. It is understandable to be concerned about your child’s academic progress – I would always encourage such parental support – but it is worth remembering that the majority of pupils, no matter the position their family finds itself in at this point, may have made ‘reduced’ progress in reading, writing and maths. Equally, there will be some children who have benefitted from 1:1 time that would not be an option in school, even if it is just for short periods of the day. I say this, in the hope that it may give some families comfort who may feel that it is just their children who are affected by the closure. I am confident that, working together, this can be resolved next year.
As a school community, in collaboration with a national strategy, we will need to support these pupils to make up some of these gaps next year and, at the moment, I would repeat that anything that can be done at home will help pupils. It is still crucial that families do not apply unnecessary pressure to themselves at present by setting unrealistic expectations for home learning.
More importantly, our curriculum will need to address the need to teach pupils how to socialise with each other again and to deal with some of the anxieties and worries felt by pupils during this period. Again, we will consider carefully how to manage this. There will also be a carefully planned approach to re-introducing pupils into school. I know that some parents may worry about the transition into new classes but I am confident that this will be easily overcome: We have a kind, caring and emotionally intelligent staff who will ensure that pupils return to a safe, warm, happy environment whenever that happens.
If there are to be ongoing ‘social distancing’ measures in September these will be communicated to all families. I am sure there remains a suspicion that schools receive prior warning about Government announcements but I assure you we do not. At the moment, it is pointless to speculate further and I hope that September will be as ‘normal’ as possible.
This continues to be a very challenging time for everyone, but we will carry on doing our best to support our pupils and families, in the same way that you have supported your own children, fellow parents and the staff team. The response of everyone in our school community during this difficult time has been fantastic, and I know that we will be able to carry on by supporting one another.
We are desperate for all pupils to return but we know that we must follow the Government guidelines so that it is safe to do so. The most important thing remains the safety and wellbeing of all our community. Everyone has faced strains in relationships and challenges that we could not have anticipated over the past three months but we will get there if we continue to look after one another.
Stay safe and well,
Mr Matthews
Dear parents. We received this from the local authority late last night.
'The Director of Public Health has advised all schools in Blackburn with Darwen to delay their wider opening until at least 22 June in response to the regional rise in the R rate. Therefore we unfortunately will not be starting our phased opening from Monday 8th June as planned.'
For now, we will continue to open for key workers children only, as we have previously done. If you are a key worker and your child is in Reception and they were due to be part of the Reception bubble from Monday, please be assured they can continue to be part of the key worker bubbles going forward. Stay safe, Mr. Matthews
The following document contains the structure and logistics of a planned, safe return to school, using Government and BWD guidance, assimilating a ‘bubbles’ model into the context of Ashleigh Primary School. The tailored risk assessment should be read alongside this.
Ashleigh Primary School COVID19 Response -Proposal to begin to increase pupil numbers
Overarching Principles
Government guidelines make clear that ‘early years and primary age children cannot be expected to remain 2 metres apart from each other and staff’. Instead, schools are asked to work through a ‘hierarchy of measures’ to reduce the risk within these groups:
• avoiding contact with anyone with symptoms
• frequent hand cleaning and good respiratory hygiene practices
• regular cleaning of settings
• minimising contact and mixing
The Government have asked schools to plan a safe, phased return from 1st June for current EYFS, Year 1 and Year 6 pupils (in that order). Blackburn with Darwen on the basis that the Government’s 5 tests had not yet been achieved put this date back to the 8th June at the earliest.
The staffing structure has some flexibility built into it, but we want to limit staff changes as much as possible, so that should an infection be present, contact and trace will be more achievable. This means that, should there be some non-COVID staffing attendance issues, it might be possible to re-deploy staff (and staff are prepared for this possibility) but, in some instances, it might be deemed unsafe to do so and therefore pupil groups may still be asked not to attend school (key worker groups are staffed more heavily on a rota to stop this being an issue for them). We will endeavour to not make further changes to the timetable but this is not necessarily possible and all parties would need to be as flexible as possible. Start dates for pupil year groups are proposed but will be confirmed with each year group prior to them starting.
This proposal and the attached risk assessment are based on reducing risk. No planning can take away all risk from any activity.
The nature of the current pandemic mean that this is likely to change, both before any proposed dates and once the plan has begun. All best endeavours will be made to keep all relevant parties informed of such changes.
The proposal will not be put into action until the Government’s ‘5 tests’ are achieved.
Arriving and Departing School
|
Groups of children |
Bubble |
Location |
School Day |
Entry into school |
Exit at end of the day |
|
Reception |
Rabbits A |
Reception Classroom |
9.00am – 3.00pm |
Reception class door |
Reception class door |
|
Year 1 |
Bears A |
Year 1/2 Classroom |
9.15am – 3.15pm |
Kitchen door |
Kitchen door |
|
Year 1 |
Bears B |
Year 4 Classroom |
9.15am – 3.15pm |
Kitchen door |
Junior door |
|
Year 6 |
Giraffe A |
Year 6 Classroom |
8.30am – 2.45pm |
Junior door |
Junior door |
|
Year 6 |
Giraffe B |
Year 5 Classroom |
8.30am – 2.45pm |
Infant door |
Infant door |
|
Key workers |
Key A |
Year 2 Classroom (multimedia suite) |
8.45am – 3.30pm |
Main entrance |
Kitchen door |
|
Key workers |
Key B |
Year 3 Classroom (multimedia suite) |
8.45am – 3.30pm |
Main entrance |
Junior door |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The main gate will be the only way on to the grounds, the infant end gates will be the exit. Parents should follow the arrows and not cross any do not enter points. In order to maintain social distancing, only one adult may come on to the playground to leave or collect their child, keeping any other children off the premises wherever possible. They should stand on one of the coloured dots on the playground.
It is deemed preferable that Year 6 are also escorted to school, to discourage them from congregating, but we understand that this may not always be possible. It will be made clear to pupils that they should not break the 2 metre rule, even with members of their bubble, and this will be reflected in the School’s Behaviour Policy.
Parents are encouraged to walk to school, rather than drive, by the Government during this period.
The intention behind staggered times is for queues to be minimal. It is important that children are arrive and leave school at the allotted times, so that we avoid clashes between bubbles.
Why? Congestion at the start and end of the day is one of the main areas of concern for transmission as numbers on the site will be the highest they can be. It will need everybody to take responsibility and think about how to protect pupils, staff and other parents by staying away from one another. It also means that staff will not be available for conversations at the beginning and end of the day and hand overs must be extremely brief.
Location of Bubbles
Pupils will be split into ‘bubbles’, based mainly around their year group. There will not necessarily be a correlation between the child’s current class teacher and/or location (as has been previously explained). This means that it may be that your child will be in a bubble with different staff than they may be used to. Infant age groups will be taught by two members of staff, ideally one teacher and one teaching assistant. Year 6 groups will be taught by one member of staff, ideally one teacher.
Bubble groups are likely to be spread evenly to start. Pupils choosing to come back sooner in the term, as opposed to later are therefore no more or less likely to be placed with your child’s current class teacher.
We have been asked to work with no more than 15 pupils in a group by the government, but we deem it to be safer the fewer pupils are in a group, certainly initially. As I am sure you can imagine, although you may prefer your child to be with their class teacher, it is mathematically impossible to make this work in any other way. Parents may wish to take this into consideration when deciding whether to send pupils back or not.
How will bubbles work?
Where possible, children and staff will stay fixed to a bubble so that the transmission of germs is reduced to solely that group. They will have no/extremely limited contact with other bubbles in school. The bubble will stay together for the entirety of the day and there will be no physical whole school events (such as assemblies).
Bubble pupils will have assigned toilets and sinks to use. This may be within the traditional ‘girls’ or ‘boys’ bathrooms but every bubble will have their own cubicle toilet.
Bubble pupils will play together at break and dinner but stay separate from other bubbles. They will eat dinner in their own classes, having the dinner left at the door.
Within the bubbles, pupils cannot and will not be expected to keep a two metre gap from one another, although our Junior pupils in particular will be encouraged to think about personal space.
In reality, this means that our reception and year 1 pupils will continue to mingle within their own bubble – pupils at this age naturally wish to interact in close proximity with one another and, to not allow them to do so, would reduce a large amount of the purpose of school at this young age. It is also difficult to envisage how teaching at this age may be achieved if a distance was set between all pupils. Most importantly, experience tells us that young pupils may understand the concept of keeping a distance but are unlikely to stick to it.
Junior pupils will work in ‘spaced out’ settings, but our classrooms would not allow for a distance of two metres between desks. Junior pupils will be encouraged to consider reducing close contact with others but, at playtimes, this is unlikely to be maintained. Any pupils who wish to keep distant at playtimes will be given an area to utilise in order to do so but pupils will, most probably, choose to continue to mingle within their own bubbles.
Why? It is really important to consider, within any guidelines, what are realistic expectations that can be achieved. While staying two metres apart sounds fine on paper, experience tells us that children will be unable to maintain this and it will be impossible for staff to police this fully. This, as stated before, is reflected in the Government guidelines.
Key Group Bubbles
The bubbles containing key worker children will be run on a rota basis so that all teaching staff have some time away from school – this is important so that all teaching staff have chance to continue online learning for those children not in school. No more than two staff will run the childcare bubble and this could be a teacher and teaching assistant or two teaching assistants, depending on staff availability. If numbers are low, one member of staff may be deemed more appropriate.
Please note that no pupil can be in two bubbles at once, therefore key worker pupils will be in the respective ‘Key Group’ bubble not one of the other year group bubbles.
There are supplementary staff available in the childcare groups as this may expand beyond one bubble.
Any children of confirmed key workers are eligible to attend, using the same advanced notice system that has been in place since the school closure. Contact is made via office@ashleigh.blackburn.sch.uk and the list has been updated to reflect current information from parents.
Why? By keeping the Key Worker Group bubbles as bubbles of their own, we are avoiding the risk to pupils and staff of any pupils being in more than one group and increasing the risk of transmission.
Key Elements of the structure of the day
The backs of chairs or spaced out pegs in cloakrooms will be used to separate limited items brought in by pupils (no bags) – only bring: bottles, coats, sunhats). Suncream should be applied before the start of the day if necessary.
An electronic register will be taken so that no physical registers are passed between bubbles and the office.
Regular handwashing intervals are factored in, including on immediate entry to school, after play and before eating. If access to the sinks is not possible, hand gel will be used instead until pupils can wash their hands properly.
Increased toilet breaks for each class will be arranged, to avoid pupils going too often at other points during the day.
Dinners will be eaten in class. A packed lunch will be provided from the kitchen team (in line with other schools) for all EYFS and Year 1 pupils. The usual school rules re. no nuts, fizzy drinks etc/ providing a healthy, balanced lunchbox apply. Please note, all key worker children in Year 3-6 will continue to bring their own packed lunch unless they order a school lunch in the usual way.
* Vouchers will continue to be ordered for all eligible Free School Meal families (as has been the case for the past two months). Please note that this is not the same as ‘Infant Free School Meals’ and we have contacted any eligible families. If your financial circumstances have changed over the past few months, please contacts Ms Adamson to see if there may be further support available to you.
Pupils will drink from their own water bottles as the water fountains will be out of action. Please wash and refill it before returning it to school the following day.
Why? These are arrangements to reduce the risk of transmission between pupils and staff. As such, the school day is likely to feel very different but we have attempted to create the best possible solution with the limitation that we face.
Time in school
Pupils will attend school from Monday to Thursday (apart from key worker pupils who can come in on a Friday if absolutely necessary, requests for these places will continue to be arranged via email as previously).
The proposed starting dates that school are working towards, but will be continually reviewed, are:
W.b. 1st June - Open to key workers and EYFS/ Year 1 teams to prepare rooms.
W.b. 8th June - EYFS return
W.b. 15th June - Year 1 return
W.b. 22nd June - Year 6 return
Why? The principle behind the staggered start is that less year groups to begin will allow the procedures and routines required to be embedded safely, for staff, pupils and parents, before pupil numbers build further. It will also give staff the necessary time to modify rooms, which in some cases will be considerable, and must also be done safely as too many staff in the building at once increases the risk for everybody. This week should have been a holiday period, but the staff team will use some of this time to begin the preparation procedures. It is crucial, if this is to work, that school is re-organised as effectively as possible before pupils return to school, so that they can become accustomed to their new environment quickly.
Opening in this phased way, and then only from Monday to Thursday, means that pupil numbers can be kept to safer levels once all 7 bubbles return to school in some way. It also allows further cleaning of the building to be undertaken in a safe manner. Although this system will not be preferable for all, consideration was given that it may allow some working families to negotiate with employees their working arrangements once pupils have up to 4 days a week in school. It is also important to remember that some year groups are still in a position where we have not been asked to plan for their return, given the guidelines currently in place. This means that, although we would ideally prefer to be able to provide more for all of our pupils, we see this as being an unexpected opportunity for some pupils to return but that this must be handled safely.
It should be noted that we will only confirm arrangements for the return of the next age group once we are satisfied that the arrangements for the previous year group have been effective. We will contact each year group separately to arrange this.
The priority groups have been identified by the Government as starting with youngest first. The routines around Year 6 will be slightly different (more attempts made to distance pupils more often), which is another reason why their start is being delayed for slightly longer. We have calculated that there is enough time to achieve the transition aspects that we feel are necessary but also need to add a little more detail to our plans now we know that some things are unlikely to happen.
REGULAR CLEANING OF SETTINGS
Cleaning
Deeper cleaning will be undertaken when the rooms are vacant, mainly Fridays) through an increase in cleaning staff time. Staff will also attempt to clean shared resources as they go.
Each room will have the usual cleaning products available to use during the day, while still understanding that everything cannot be cleaned instantly as the priority of bubble staff is the safety and supervision of pupils.
The focus after school will be increased cleaning of shared spaces, following the risk assessment to identify hot spots.
HYGIENE
A series of measures will be implemented to improve hygiene within bubbles. Key priorities (further identified on the risk assessment) are:
One bubble at a time, will visit the designated toilet area and designated sink/cubicles to reduce the need for other bubbles to mix.
Clothing
Uniform does not need to be worn. Practical clothes, suitable for outdoor sports, should be worn by all, including sensible shoes. There will be no PE kits held in school at any point, to reduce additional items which can transmit germs. Clothes should be washed regularly and pupils should wear fresh clean clothes each day. Allowing own clothes to be worn hopefully will take away the pressure to wash and dry clothes each night, as it might have done if the usual uniform arrangements were in place.
AVOIDING CONTACT WITH ANYONE WITH SYMPTOMS
Medical checks
The Government Guidance will continue to be followed and pupils and parents regularly reminded. No pupil or parents, showing any symptoms, should enter the premises. Any pupils or staff showing signs within the building will be dealt with as per the risk assessment.
Parents will also be reminded that any pupils with any other illnesses should be kept at home, as this increases the workload for staff. The usual ‘we will try and get through the day’ does not apply at present.
The Government Guidlines explicitly state not to use temperature checks, although individual parents are, of course, welcome to use this as a guide themselves as they would normally do and they may find this a usual check to take before setting off for school in the morning. No child with a temperature should enter the building anyway.
If school identifies any symptoms from staff or pupils within reception, year 1 or year 6 bubbles, the whole bubble will be asked to isolate for a period of minimum 7 days from the end of that school day or until a test result has been returned to confirm or deny a positive result. It is important that parents provide evidence of the result of this test to the headteacher/deputy headteacher before their child returns to school. Further details are held within the risk assessment. If a parent keeps a pupil off school, a conversation will be held with the parents to ascertain if it is felt that these are symptoms concurrent with cornonavirus.
Why? In order to provide the safe procedures that pupils and staff deserve, it is considered sensible to be very cautious as we proceed. Initially, the need to isolate should there be any signs of symptoms is deemed to be the most sensible approach to provide the re-assurance that staff and parents require in these circumstances. As with all of this strategy, there will be constant review of procedure and timescales. It will require the full co-operation of all for these measures to be effective.
ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS
Curriculum
What the children need to learn, and what they can be taught, will be significantly disrupted by the ongoing situation. The focus must be returning to school in a calm, safe manner and it is unlikely that many pupils will be in the right frame of mind to absorb the curriculum at the usual pace. Therefore, there will be a temporary focus on these areas until things can return to normal (which looks most probable to be in the Autumn as a minimum):
R/Year 1
Year 6
Key Worker Bubbles
Communication
Parents
The channels developed over the past few months will continue to be the main platforms for communication – School website/APP and email. It is vital that the minority of parents who have still not signed up to the school APP do so. Unfortunately, it will not be possible to maintain our usual ‘open door’ policy, as I am sure that parents will understand. Communication should be kept to a minimum and staff cannot be approached, in order to keep a two metre gap between non-bubble members. We are working to develop our use of class emails further to allow bubble staff to communicate with parents when necessary.
All forms will need to be completed electronically, should any be required. This includes (in rare instances) administration of medicines in school.
If parents decide to register pupils to return, they must notify non-attendance through the normal phone call.
Home School Agreement for children in Reception, Y1 & Y6 who hope to return to school before 20th July 2020.
Please find below a copy of the temporary Home School Agreement for June - July 2020. This needs to be agreed by parents before children return to school. Please reply to the email Ms Adamson sent you to acknowledge you accept it.
Dropping Off and Collecting
Health risks
Controlling the Virus and Hygiene
Medication/Illness
Provision
Name of Parent/Carer (s): ________________________________________________________
Child: ____________________________ Year Group: _________________
Signed: ___________________________ Date: _______________________
Emailed to all parents on Monday 1st June 2020
Monday 1st June 2020
Dear Parent/ Guardian,
Hopefully you are all well and continuing to look after each other during the current global pandemic. Further to the information sent via email last week (also posted on the website and APP), this letter gives more details about the possible opening of school to larger numbers of pupils over the next few weeks.
The current situation still remains ‘conditional’, dependent on the Government’s ‘5 Steps’ being met and the Department for Education are continuing to discuss a variety of proposals for a safe, phased return to school life for EYFS, Year 1 and Year 6 pupils (as well as continuing to support children of key workers where necessary). As such, the situation is constantly changing, however, provisional plans have been made in consultation with staff, governors and the local authority.
Key elements will be outlined to you here but there is also a detailed plan which will be posted on the school website tomorrow, once I have walked through school with a health and safety colleague from the local authority later today. A detailed risk assessment has been created and is also being updated to include any updates which come from the government. This will also be available via the school website later this week.
Overarching principles of a return
Government guidelines make clear that ‘early years and primary age children cannot be expected to remain 2 metres apart from each other and staff’. Instead, schools are asked to work through a ‘hierarchy of measures’ to reduce the risk within these groups:
• avoiding contact with anyone with symptoms
• frequent hand cleaning and good respiratory hygiene practices
• regular cleaning of settings
• minimising contact and mixing
The Government have asked schools to plan a safe, phased return from 1st June for current EYFS, Year 1 and Year 6 pupils (in that order).
Blackburn with Darwen decided that it would be safer for this date to be delayed until Monday 8th June at the earliest.
When might my child be able to return?
The proposal, risk assessment and previous information distributed to parents, reflect the carefully considered decisions that have been made. We have decided that the safest way to return to larger numbers in school safely is to take a careful, phased approach, introducing one year group at a time. The proposed dates that school are working towards, but will be continually reviewed, are:
W.b. 1st June - Open to children of key workers only (Mon-Friday, 8.45am – 3.30pm)
W.b. 8th June – Reception pupils return (Mon-Thurs, 9.00am – 3.00pm)
W.b. 15th June - Year 1 pupils return (Mon-Thurs, 9.15am – 3.15pm)
W.b. 22nd June - Year 6 pupils return (Mon-Thurs, 8.30am – 2.45pm)
When year groups are re-introduced, they will work in ‘bubbles’ of no more than 12 and attend school Monday to Thursday. This will allow for additional cleaning to take place. Key workers children will continue to be able to attend school on a Friday, but only when absolutely necessary.
How will school be different?
Key changes:
What if my child does not return to school?
We will still support all pupils, whatever their year group with home learning, although this may be slightly less than previously if your child’s normal class teacher is teaching a bubble in school. We will keep parents informed on any changes.
We do not want pupils not in the Government’s ‘priority’ year groups to be disadvantaged or for parents in reception, year 1 or year 6 to feel pressured that a decision not to return to school means that we will no longer support them at home.
Next steps for children whose parents have already confirmed they would like them to return before the end of term.
As I have previously stated on several occasions, the decision over whether your child returns is solely yours. We have attempted to provide detailed information for you to consider and I would urge all families to make the decision that is right for you and you feel most comfortable with, remembering that any decisions are not final for the whole half term and will be reviewed regularly. There are no right and wrong answers in this situation and, again, I will support all families with their decisions.
Thank you for your continued support.
Stay safe and well.
Mr. Matthews