September 2020: Upton open for all children…

Following on from Mrs Lewis’ email last week I am writing to inform you of our plans for September. It is so pleasing to know that we are able to welcome back all of our ‘Uptonians’ as of Term 1 and cannot wait to start the next academic year.

As I am sure you can imagine, all schools will need to interpret the guidelines slightly differently depending upon their school and their circumstances. My promise to you is, as a school, we have made informed judgements about how to balance a broad and balanced curriculum for our children, whilst also ensuring that we are following the correct measures to manage the risks. We will ensure we comply with health and safety laws at all times.

In order to meet government expectations, we will be:

• Grouping children together

• Avoiding contact between groups

• Arranging classrooms with forward-facing desks

• Staff maintaining distance from pupils and other staff as much as possible.

• Have a rigorous cleaning schedule in place

• Reinforce with children & staff, the need for robust hygiene practices with regular handwashing breaks timetabled across the day

As a school, we are going to be grouping our children in half-year group bubbles. The B and G children together, and the R and Y children together. This will enable us to have enough staff to work with the children and also ensure that all risks of cross-contamination are minimised as much as possible. 

To help alleviate the possibility of groups mixing we will be having a drop off window in the mornings.

• All children need to be dropped off at school between 8:30 am and 9:00 am

• Enter through the outside classroom door

• Registration will then take place.

Throughout the school day, we will have a staggered break and lunchtimes.

Likewise, to avoid too many people leaving the school at the same time, we will have a window to collect the children between 2:45 pm and 3:15 pm. We would like to request that only 1 parent per family carries out the drop off and pick up’s to reduce congestion.

When on the school site (outside) we ask that you all follow a strict one-way system. 

All children will be collected from their classroom doors. 

• Please enter the school via the first pedestrian gate on Edge End Road and then walk to your child’s classroom via the side of the school near the pool. 

• After you have collected your child, please continue walking in the same direction and walk through the playground.

• Please exit via the playground gate.

Mr White’s class (5R).

• Please enter the school via the first pedestrian gate on Edge End Road and then walk to the school hall via the path at the side of the school near the pool. 

• Ring the doorbell that is placed on the hall door and ask for your child.

• Your child will be sent to meet you.

• After you have collected your child, please continue walking in the same direction and walk around the back of the school and then through the playground.

• Please exit via the playground gate.

Parents/carers will not be allowed into the school building at any time. Any contact with staff will need to be made via email or telephone in the first instance.  

Children will be expected to wear their school uniform.  On PE days children will be required to wear their PE kit to school (for the whole day).  Information from Heads of Year will follow with specific days for each class.

Unfortunately, we will not be in a position to offer ‘wrap-around’ childcare (Breakfast & After-school Club) from the start of Term 1. We first need to ensure that the systems and processes that we are putting in place to allow for a full reopening, allowing all children to attend school are correct, before extending the day. We will look to review this provision as soon as it is feasible and safe to do so. 

I do realise that this may cause a challenge to some parents with the pressures you are facing returning to work. However, we need to ensure we can meet the needs and safeguard all the children at all times.

Once again, I have shared the guidance the government has prepared for Parent & Carers. Click here to read the document. This details the expectations upon schools and education leaders.

We are all very much looking forward to welcoming all of our children back in September and will be working hard to ensure the ‘recovery curriculum’ we have in place for the new academic year will be designed with our children’s wellbeing at the centre – their emotional, social, physical and academic needs, wants and desires. 

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or require any support. 

Take care and stay safe,

Miss Arthur