Headlines By James Saunders 26th February 2021
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A softer approach to the ‘Big Bang’ Back when Boris made his ‘Big Bang’ announcement I had already decided that this would not be a workable option for us. I think it jarred with me because it felt too rushed; too forced. It felt mechanical and in no way a natural opening. Nowhere in nature do we really find such sudden binary jarrings - if we do they tend to be quite uncomfortable. Things tend to unfold slowly to take their time to reveal themselves. Or do they? Take the chameleon - not known as a fast mover; it will slowly position itself and wait for the optimum time to strike - to unleash everything in one big bang. Full opening will be a bit like this. Whilst it may still feel full on, it is about ensuring all the settings and conditions are right and that everything is in place. We will stagger the first week so that we can get things right. So that we can ensure that we have transitioned ourselves safely back and prepared for a reset to the operational changes and challenges that are still required of us. On Tuesday 16th we will reach that big bang - everyone will be back in. However, it won’t feel so abrupt because, like the chameleon, we have slowly and carefully moved everything into place over the previous week to strike with precision and effectiveness. I hope you have had a chance to read the letter I sent yesterday outlining the details regarding the phased return from 8th March. We have been here before - back in September. We handled it very well. Whilst our senses and anxieties may have been stirred up further by the media, creating a feeling of high stakes, it is worth remembering that we are in the same position as we were back then and we got through it well. These last three weeks of term will be a transition to Easter and hopefully a slow easing of measures back towards normality. Some things are further on than in September. We have Lateral Flow Tests; masks at all times; ventilation and improving weather; social distancing, and vaccines coming on board.
We are again more informed than we were previously and we did a great job. I will leave you with the words of Maya Angelou: “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” Have a nice weekend James Saunders Operational update School Transport: We have been communicating with the transport providers and have informed them of our opening schedule so they will begin running on Tuesday 9th March following the same timetable as last term.
School day: This will revert back to the same as it was last term. Same start and finish times. Risk Measures: The measures in place at the end of the term will continue. The key change is that of masks - building on top of last term’s guidance we request that all staff and learners wear them at all times now, including in class, where social distancing is impossible. Consent form: Thank you to those who have already completed the consent form. The consent form was provided by NHS and as such we were directed not to change the wording. However the advice in point 11 has changed and any contacts of a positive case would follow the same guidelines in place before Christmas self isolation. Please note we shall be communications next week.
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Copies of the letters sent out can be found on our website:
Letter re Return to school: http://bit.ly/LetterReturn Lateral Flow Test letter: http://bit.ly/LateralFlow Contd...