Rationale:

Once the Government’s tests have been met to allow for the gradual reopening of the school building to more pupils, our top priority remains keeping everyone safe.  From the feedback received, there are many worried people who are concerned about the personal health impact of more children being on site.  Although the health risks are said to be low, there is still a risk of infection with Covid-19.  This is why we must introduce strict control measures to reduce the risk as far are possible.

Ultimately, until there is a vaccine, the virus will be within the population as a whole for a very long time and we must do all we can to find a way of being that will enable high quality learning to take place in a safe environment for all.

Covid-19 is caused by the specific coronavirus coming into contact with mucus membranes i.e. mouth, eyes and respiratory tract.  This is mainly through small amounts of exhaled virus being breathed in, or by the virus coming into contact with surfaces (fomites) that is then transferred to mouth and eyes.  As a virus is not a living thing, it cannot survive for long outside a living (host) cell.  This virus also cannot infect people through their skin.  As a piece of protein surrounded by a lipid (fatty) layer, it is easily killed using common detergents such as soap.  This is why the two most effective ways of avoiding transmission are through careful cleaning and avoiding the inhalation of the virus from another person’s breath.

The main control measures will therefore include:

• regular handwashing, with soap and warm water
• cleaning of contact surfaces (e.g. door handles) that are touched often
• limiting the number of people each person comes into contact with
• keeping a limited distance from others so as to avoid breathing in the virus if the person is infected

As some people are asymptomatic (they display no symptoms) and also the fact that the virus that causes Covid-19 can be spread even before an infected person displays any symptoms, we must not take it for granted that anyone is virus free, or even immune.

With the vast majority of children being kept apart during the national lockdown, it is unlikely (although not impossible) that any will return to school with the virus.  As lockdown is relaxed, the risk does increase.  Therefore, all must be vigilant and closely follow all of our control measures.  If someone displays Covid-19 symptoms or tests positive for the virus, isolation and tracing procedures will commence immediately.

The main ways we plan on reducing the risks are:

• All staff training will be updated, with 12 new people completing a paediatric first aid course allowing for wider deployment of groups, prioritising our ability to open in line with the Government’s aspirations.
• Children will be in small groups of between 8 and 15 (bubbles) and will not move between these groups.
• Hands will be washed often, and contact surfaces will be cleaned more regularly.
• Temperatures of all will be taken as they arrive on site (using infra-red forehead thermometers.)  This does not involve any physical contact.  Whilst this is not a certain way of identifying Covid-19, it can indicate a fever which must be dealt with outside of school by families.  Therefore, any child showing signs of a fever will not be allowed in school and families will be asked to take their children home until they are well enough to return.
• Equipment, as far as possible, will not be shared.
• No items should move between home and school except clothing, a personalised water bottle and a packed lunch (if appropriate.)
• Staff will not necessarily routinely wear face masks or gloves etc, unless they are following specific guidance for a given situation e.g. administering first aid.  Some PPE (personal protective equipment) is available in school for these times.
• Children will not be expected to wear face coverings unless the Government’s guidance changes.
• Young children cannot follow strict social distancing rules.  Adults can.  Staff will teach away from and above the children’s eye level, often at 2 meters.  Desks will be distanced 2m apart.  This will be a model for the children to follow and they will then be sensitively taught about the new rules.
• Children who are vulnerable for health reasons should not attend.
• Those who are shielding clinically extremely vulnerable family members should not currently attend.

Bubbles:

Each child will be allocated to a small group of their peers, of no more than 15.  This is called a “Bubble.”  They will not mix with any other bubble and will not be allowed to swap between bubbles.  We do not expect the children to mix with other bubble members when they are out of school.  Each bubble will be cared for and taught by one of our own members of staff, but this may not be their usual class teacher.  Each bubble will have its own teaching day, including different starting and ending times to avoid unnecessary contact.  They will only use their allocated classroom space and outdoor area.  Movement will be very limited around the school site, with each bubble staying in their allocated classroom, outdoor space and toilets.  Lunches will be eaten in their bubble space.

From the recent parents’ survey, bubbles have been created to meet the indication of demand for places.  Once a bubble has been created its limit is set and new children will not be included.  Although children may drop out of the bubble if requested, they may not then join another bubble.  Due to limited space and staffing capacity, we have had to impose a limit on the number of bubbles that can be provided whilst aiming to meet the Government’s expectations.  This will not include a Nursery bubble as we cannot provide a suitable environment that matches the children’s needs whilst also meeting the requirements for everyone’s health and safety.

Staggered Teaching Day Times:

Key Worker Provision:

We will continue to provide childcare for Key and Critical Workers, but this will become more formal.  We would encourage the children, if appropriate, to move to a bubble with their peers but we recognise that, as the session timings are different, this may not suit family working patterns.  Whichever bubble is chosen, this cannot change.

Curriculum:

With the new restraints on space and interaction, we cannot offer our usual curriculum.  We will do our best to provide lessons which engage the children, but we believe that the content should initially focus on their wellbeing and any issues that they will be personally dealing with.  Transition activities will then become the focus as we aim to prepare the children for the coming year.  Again, this will be very different for our children, especially the youngest, as this is not what they are used to or how we know they learn best.

Limited Uniform Expectations:

The children must come to school in clean clothing.  All items must not have been worn since being last washed.  All children should wear a navy jumper/cardigan, white polo shirt and grey/black trousers.  Shoes should be suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.  There will be no changing of clothes for activities such as PE as we will be using the outdoor space as much as possible.  A lightweight waterproof should suffice for any rainy conditions and should be brought each day.  A hat and sun cream may also be necessary for particularly hot and sunny days.

Daily plan:

• All children should come dressed in line with our limited uniform expectations (see above.)
• Pupils must be brought promptly to school for their bubble start time, accompanied by a family member.
• All entry will be at the “Pupil Gate” (next to the cycle rack) which will remain locked until a member of staff come to collect the children.
• The car park will not be available to families – please walk to and from school if you can.
• The children and their family member will be asked to keep 2m apart whilst waiting outside the school gate.  There will be a one-way system for drop-off and pick-up.
• Once the pupil gate is opened, the children’s temperatures will be taken.  Any child with a high temperature will be asked to be taken home by the family member.
• The children will wait on the Key Stage 1 playground until all are admitted and the gate is then locked.
• Late arrivals must phone the office from outside school and, if it is safe to do so, will be met, temperature taken, and escorted to their bubble space.  Due to the staggered starting and ending times, late pupils must wait away from queuing families from another bubble.  We cannot guarantee late entry to the school building.
• No visitors will be allowed into school without an appointment, even to the main office.
• All communication must be via telephone or email.
• Pupils wash their hands as they enter the building.  They should not touch the doors, which will be held open for them.
• They take their allocated seats, placing their coats on their chairs, water bottle and packed lunch on the floor.
• Personalised equipment packs will already be on their desks.
• Registration will be taken and then the teaching day will begin.
• Toilet breaks will be allocated.
• Packed lunches will be eaten at desks in the bubble spaces.
• At the end of the teaching day, the children will be escorted to the Pupil Gate.  They will be handed over to the waiting family member and they should then leave for home straight away, following the arrow.
• There will be some limited floor markings and posters displayed but we expect that the school site will not be a place to stay and socialise.

Lunches:

All lunches will be packed lunches.  These will continue to be free to children in Reception, Years 1 and 2 and those entitled to free school meals.  If you would like to pay for a lunch, this can be done online in the usual way.  Packed lunches brought from home must not contain any fizzy drinks and all packaging must be self-contained.  We will not dispose of anything in school – it should be taken home for safe disposal.

Behaviour:

Our expectations for behaviour remain very high but, in light of this current situation, our policy has been amended and must now include some very strict consequences.  Any child who cannot meet these expectations may struggle in school, and we would urge you to speak with senior staff in advance of any decision.

Classes from other Year Groups

There is an aspiration that other children can return to school before the summer break.  We will await further information from the Government before sharing any details about this.

Home Learning Support

The current home learning support will continue, but in a more limited capacity. We hope to provide all we can, but our staff are now stretched even further, and we cannot promise a similar level of input.

Anyone with Covid-19 symptoms or a positive test

If, at any point, a child or adult has any symptom of Covid-19, they will be sent straight home, following the guidance for schools.  It is vital that school has up-to-date contact information and, if you are contacted, you must come straight away.  If a member of a bubble is tested positive for Covid-19, the whole bubble will have to remain at home and self-isolate for 14 days.  Any Covid-19 symptoms that the children are exposed to outside of school should be communicated to senior staff straight away.  At all times we expect all families to know and follow the Government’s expectations for dealing with this health crisis.

All aspects of this plan are open to continual review and modification so that everyone remains safe.