Reminders

Reminders Dropping off and collecting students

We would like to remind parents/carers that students should be dropped off and collected outside of the school site in the mornings and at the end of the school day. Parents/carers should not enter or park in the school car park allocated for staff and visitors or bus bays allocated for school transport.

We are always keen to be good neighbours and to protect the safety of all pedestrians and road users. With this in mind please exercise care and consideration during busy times and take care not to block driveways or to use private car parks of local businesses when dropping off and collecting your child from school. It has been raised by the Rees Partnership at Lumsdale that parents/carers are using their private car park for upper school site students. They have asked that parents/carers find an alternative safe space to drop off and collect each day.

Road safety

We are well aware of family concerns regarding road safety. We deploy our staff fully on site to ensure students’ comfort and safety before school, during break/ lunch and after school. We have staff on duty to oversee both sites as students get off and board buses.

We are unable to assume the roles traditionally undertaken by the school crossing patrol and police officers. We constantly remind students through assemblies and form times of the need for careful behaviour around roads.

We remain very concerned at reports of unsafe behaviour on the two mile stretch of road between Starkholmes and Lumsdale. We have relayed these reports to DCC school crossing patrol who have ‘noted’ our concerns and passed them on to the school crossing project officer dealing with the Starkholmes crossing site. Whilst we will continue to raise this issue with our partners in road safety, we would ask that you speak to your children to remind them of the need for care whilst on foot in our area.

Suitable outdoor wear for students during the autumn/winter terms

As part of the Covid-19 guidance school is following there is a need for ventilation in corridors and classrooms, as well as students following a one way system around school. This means that children are more exposed than usual to cold temperatures and wet weather. Please could you remind them to attend in warm clothing suitable for the change in weather and, where rain is forecast, a waterproof coat or umbrella.

Covid-19 measures

We ask that students are reminded to attend school with masks (more than one if using disposable masks) to reduce the spread of coronavirus. Students will be allowed to wear a mask in the classroom if they feel it is necessary.

Due to the ventilation in classrooms and students moving outside regularly through the one way system, please ensure that students are wearing layers and warm/waterproof coats when leaving the house now the weather is changing.

Masks in school

Masks are mandatory for all secondary age students when moving around the premises, outside of classrooms (ie in corridors and communal areas) and where social distancing cannot be easily maintained. Students are permitted to wear a mask in the classroom if they feel it is necessary.

Please ensure your child has a mask with them each morning (more than one if using disposable masks) to reduce the spread of coronavirus.

Reminder: Severe peanut allergy (Starkholmes site)

We would like to remind parents/carers that a student attending Highfields lower school site (Starkholmes) has a severe peanut allergy. Strict avoidance of peanut products is the only way to prevent a life-threatening allergic reaction. We are asking your assistance in providing the student with a safe learning environment.

To reduce the risk of exposure for the student, the Starkholmes site will be peanut free. Please do

not send any peanut or products containing peanuts or nuts for your child to eat at any

time in any area of the school. Any exposure to peanuts through contact or ingestion can cause a severe reaction. If your child has eaten peanuts or peanut/nut products prior to coming to school, please be sure your child's hands have been thoroughly washed before coming to school. As a guide to ‘peanut products’, the main ones are:  Bags of peanuts  Snickers bars  Cereal bars with peanuts in  Reece’s chocolate products  Chocolate coated peanuts  Peanut butter sandwiches  Products which state they may contain peanuts or nuts (there is presently no law to confirm whether or not the nuts are peanuts)