The New Term - September 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 WEDNESDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER 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.

• If you or your child have Covid symptoms you should NOT come to school.
• Book a PCR test and wait for the result and those family members  with symptoms should isolate until you receive a negative result.
• If you receive a positive result you should isolate following current Government Guidelines 

Children with symptoms of Covid in school

Children who present symptoms of Covid-19 will be sent home. It is important to collect your child as soon as possible and either book a PCR test OR isolate for 10 days. 

Positive cases in school

If a child or an adult in school tests positive then that child or adult must stay at home and isolate for 10 days following  current Government Guidelines for isolating. 

The rest of the children and staff who have come into contact with that child will remain in school. There is no longer a requirement to 'burst' class bubbles and have children working from home.

Testing

the government have making home testing kits (Lateral Flow Devices) available for the members of households with children at school. Information about this scheme can be found here. These are NOT intended for use for children undet the age of 11. If you suspect that your child has Covid symptoms please book them a test on line 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. Staff will be continue to wear masks in communal areas and when they are not in their 'consistent group' (ie where they would normally be working in school). However this is down to individual choice and is not enforced by law.

Attendance

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

Please be

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 you no longer have to wear a face covering unless you wish to do so.  However to enter the school premises you will be requested to WEAR A FACE COVERING (unless medically exempt).

• 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 BE PERMITTED AT YOUR CHILD'S ALLOCATED TIME. 

• Late access (AFTER 9.10AM) WILL BE VIA THE Haven. Persistent lateness will affect your child's attendance and may result in attendance monitoring by the Local Authority Attendance Officer. If there is no improvement, fines may be issued,

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.

What will school be like?

Children will be in school with a dedicated  and consistent group of Teachers and Support staff and will be self-contained within each phase.

• Staff and children will NOT leave their phase.
• 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 national 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 the planned route for your child's phase, there will be child friendly notices and lines for them to follow.
• Same seating arrangement to be used each day
• Breaks/lunchtimes staggered to stay with the same group of children during breaks
• Lunches, Foundation and KS1 to eat in the school hall, KS2 to be eat 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@Ingramroad.leeds.shc.uk

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