Schools Re-Opening 8^th March 2021

This document is intended to help parents to understand what will be required of them and their children as all children are expected to return to school from Monday 8^th March 2021 and beyond.

Please take your time to read through to understand how you can help to keep your child, you and your family and our whole school community safe.

The expectations are very clear that education for all children from the age of 5 years old is compulsory and all children are expected to attend. Failure to provide valid reasons for a child’s absence may lead to fines and prosecution.

Testing

However, you may have seen in the news that the government are making home testing kits available for the members of households with children at school. Information about this scheme can be found here.

Please note the test kits are NOT provided by school and is completely voluntary and NOT a requirement of school.

Face Coverings

Primary school children are NOT required to wear face coverings/masks in school.

Attendance

All children will be expected to attend school as normal, Monday to Friday on the same timetable as before Christmas between 8.45am and 3.15pm. (See table below).

Entry to, and Collection from School

Any child who has Coronavirus symptoms should not come to school, get a test and isolate according to Government Guidelines.

• Only ONE parent/adult (18+) can bring/collect the child at the times (see the table below).

• Drop off and Collection Points are to be the same as last term (see table below)

• Please queue in socially distanced manner 2 METRES APART (like when you go to the supermarket) and observe social distancing at ALL times.

• As per Government Guidance we expect the adult to WEAR A FACE COVERING (unless medically exempt), you will not be permitted to enter the school premises without a face covering.

• Parents/Carers should LEAVE THE SCHOOL AREA as soon as their children have been dropped off/collected, please do not gather in social groups around the school site. You will be asked to leave.

• Breakfast Club -  will be open to some children by prior arrangement only and should enter the school via the Haven at 8.15am.

• Late Children -The gates will open at 8.40am and close at 9.10am.  ENTRY VIA THE PLAYGROUND WILL NOT BE PERMITTED AFTER THIS TIME

• Late access (BEFORE 9.30AM) WILL BE VIA THE Haven. Any time after this, the child would need to go back home with the parent and be brought back for the afternoon session at 1pm (after having eaten lunch at home), Please understand that this is to prevent cross contamination and ‘bubble bursting’.

Absent/Medical Appointments

If your child has a medical appointment during the school day, it is advised that they do not attend school on the morning or afternoon of the appointment. Children can only be brought in to school at start of school day or at 12.55. If the appointment is in the afternoon, then they must be collected at 12.00 from school office.

If your child is not attending school for any reason you must contact school by 9am - on EVERY DAY that they absent to provide a valid reason. (ie they are ill), please appreciate that we have to be extra vigilant to ensure that we can close bubbles in school if your child has contracted Covid-19).

School Work

All children will return to being taught the standard Curriculum.

Behaviour in School

Children are expected to follow the school rules at all times. The School Behaviour Policy clearly outlines our expectations. Your child may lose their school place for the remainder of the lockdown period if they cannot/do not follow school rules.

Behaviour outside of School

As we are still currently under National Lockdown due to the Covid-19 virus, children should be either in school during the school day OR at HOME outside of normal school hours. Adults should be making sure that their child is obeying the Government Guidelines for Social Distancing.

What will school be like?

Children will be in school with a dedicated group of Teachers and Support staff and will be self-contained within a classroom area or ‘Bubbles’ in their own year group (ie Reception Yr1, Yr2 Yr3 Yr4 Yr5 Yr6).

• Staff and children will NOT leave their ‘Bubble’ to prevent cross contamination between other ‘Bubbles’ for other staff and children.
• They will take all of their bags and coats into the classroom with them.
• Each child will have their own desk and chair and a pack with their own stationary and equipment.
• Children will follow aspects of the curriculum to include Phonics, English, Maths and Science and PE.

Pupil Wellbeing

We take your child’s wellbeing and the wellbeing of our whole school community very seriously. We want you to know that we will do everything we can to look after your child’s social, emotional and mental health, as well as their academic and physical needs.

So that we can keep everyone safe and well while they are in school, every child’s behaviour in school is going to be closely monitored. If we have any concerns, we will talk to you about it. If we feel for any reason that their behaviour is unsafe – ie they can’t follow social distancing instructions or they are presenting significant challenges to staff or other children - then you may be asked to come and collect your child. Our School Behaviour Policy [on website] reflects this.

What about Hygiene?

All adults and children entering the site should wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and dried with a paper towel:

• On entering and leaving the building
• After going to the toilet
• After touching their faces
• After coughing and/or sneezing
• Learning outside (and after lunch breaks)
• Before and after eating

If soap and water is not available hand sanitiser can be used (school issue only, children must not bring their own into school).

Children will be supervised at ALL times when handwashing/using hand sanitisers to prevent misuse/wastage of resources.

There will be an additional Cleaner on site all day who will continually wipe down frequent touch points, (sink/toilet areas, door handles, light switches, desks, chairs equipment).

Social Distancing – how will this work?

Children are now on the whole used to this. However, they will be reminded to maintain social distancing and will talk to them in depth about what this means.

• Keeping distance from other children and staff and parents.
• Follow you planned route for your ‘Bubble’ there will be child friendly notices and lines for them to follow.
• Do not leave your classroom/ ‘Bubble’!
• Same seating arrangement to be used each day
• Breaks/lunchtimes staggered to stay with the same group of children during breaks
• Lunches to be eaten in classroom space.
• Toilets – children to be limited in how many can go to the bathroom at any time. Staff will monitor handwashing.

First Aid and Medicines

We are very lucky in school that nearly all of our Teaching Assistants are Paediatric First Aid trained. If your child needs first aid, the member of staff will wear PPE (gloves and apron) to provide first aid.

The normal protocol for medicines will be continued.

Fire Safety

To provide a safe and secure environment, we have altered some of our Fire Exits and Fire Safety practices will be carried out as soon as the children return to school to make sure everybody knows what they have to do in the event of a fire.

School Meals

Children in Reception and Year 1 and Year 2 will eat a hot meal provided by school in the dining hall at staggered times. Children in years 3-6 can either bring a packed lunch or pay for a hot school meal £2.30 per day (unless entitled to means tested Free School Meal). Years 3-6 will eat in their classrooms with their friends.

Please note, if your child has a packed lunch and they need a spoon, fork or knife to eat you must put cutlery in their lunch box. We will not be able to provide any cutlery – you will have to send these with your child from home.

Your child must bring a Healthy Packed Lunch – remember no chocolate or fizzy drinks, we would like to see fruit, cheese/yogurt, sandwiches or wraps. No FAST food bought from takeaways, ie burgers etc and no food that has to be heated or is brought in warm as this can breed germs.

Your child will be drinking water from their own water bottle at lunchtime so please ensure that they bring it with them every day. We will not be able to provide plastic cups.

Reminders –

• Every child is expected to wear uniform please see the school website for uniform details.
• Every child must bring a bottle of water day. The school can provide water bottles (to be bought online via the school ‘shop’.
• Parents are NOT allowed to enter the school premises at any time without an appointment.
• You MUST update us with any changes to contact details by Telephone 0113 2456136 or email info@ingramroad.leeds.sch.uk.
• If you require assistance at any time you will have to telephone the school office and make an appointment.

• If a child forgets something they need in school, the parent must take it to the drop off point at the office after 9.15. They will not be permitted prior to this time when all other children are safely inside.

Should you require any further information please email info@ongramroad.leeds.shc.uk

as you can appreciate the phone lines can get busy during peak times.