RIS Back to School Plan

BACK TO SCHOOL ACADEMIC YEAR 2020/21

Operational plans for the Academic Year 2020/2021 (COVID-19) Introduction We hope that the contingency and operational plans set out below will reassure our community that we have planned for a return to school in the safest possible way. We have had the opportunity of learning from fellow global educators who have already returned to onsite learning and benefitted from their experiences and best practice.

The following plans and solutions have been prepared and agreed by senior leaders within the Taaleem Group of Schools and the Taaleem Senior Executive Board.

This guidance is based on the available information to date and is a roadmap for the return to school on August 30th 2020. These plans meet and exceed the guidelines mandated to date by the regulatory bodies within Abu Dhabi.

Comprehensive support will be provided to all students with an additional focus on Early Year students who are new to the school. These young students may require specific interactive support on returning to or commencing their school career. We are also mindful that many students have been socially isolated for a protracted period of time and may well be challenged by the school environment and separation from their families.

An unrelenting focus has been given to effective health and safety practices and procedures. Clear guidelines have been developed that will be strictly but sympathetically implemented for the opening of the school. Generically these points consider the day to day operations and have been kept in bullet point format for ease of reading. These guidelines have been specifically tailored by each school as their circumstances differ depending on curriculum, staffing, student numbers, building layout and other individual dynamics. Each school plan has been approved and signed off by the Taaleem Senior Executive Board.

A ‘Back to School’ campaign will be conducted in preparation for the return to onsite education. This campaign will help to raise awareness, educate, and share best practices for social distancing and appropriate hygiene measures.

Operational Considerations Health and Safety Committee and COVID-19 Task Force • A Covid-19 Task Force has been designated at all schools; this is made up of the school Principal, Head of Operations, Heads of School, Facilities Manager, and the school nurse.

• The Task Force will ensure that potential cases of COVID-19 or anyone falling ill in school are dealt with in line with the ADEK guidelines.

• The Task Force will ensure that all staff and subcontracted staff who come to the school on a permanent basis e.g. the cleaning team, have a clean bill of health prior to entering the school.

• The Task Force will be responsible for developing contingency isolation plans for students and staff with any underlying illnesses that may have impacted their immune system.

• The Health and Safety Committee will work alongside the Task Force.

• The primary focus of the Task Force will be to ensure all health and safety initiatives prescribed in this document and/or assigned by regulators, are in place prior to school opening. Also, to ensure effective communications, risk assessments and training are in place to handle all possible scenarios.

• For compliance with government regulations, a mandated pro forma will be issued to record travel history, self-declarations and any quarantine history. These standard forms have to be filled in and returned to the schools by students and staff. Individuals will not be allowed to enter the campus without these travel declaration forms filled in and entry approval granted.

• Health bulletin boards across the school will prominently display information relating to respiratory etiquette, COVID-19 common symptoms and facts, handwashing/hand rub posters, etc. The Health and Safety Committee will be responsible for disseminating and displaying key information.

• A common purchasing plan has been implemented across all campuses to ensure all operational guidance is met and PPE is in place.

• All parents are asked to ensure that students maintain a strict stay at home policy if unwell.

The Task Force will monitor this • No external events, trips, festivals and celebrations will take place until further release of information provided by the government • ECPs and PE classes are suspended.

School Pastoral • As indicated in the introduction to this document, we recognise students will have had limited social interaction for a sustained period. This may have had an impact on some student’s mental health and wellbeing. An awareness campaign will be carried out through social media to prepare parents and students for a return to school.

Photos of teachers will be shared in advance to break down barriers and prepare for social distancing. Videos of a live school walk through will help to reduce anxiety and ease the return to school.

• A full inclusion team will be available to provide comprehensive support during the first week.

• Prior to the school start and as much in advance as possible, The Pastoral Team will reach out through Microsoft Teams to those students and staff who may be more at risk to provide an appropriate level of counselling and support.

• The role of school counsellors is to support students and families and help alleviate stress and anxiety.

School Access • Thermal scanners are installed at the point of access to the school. All authorised people who enter the campus will have to have their temperature checked. Access will be denied otherwise.

• The number of entrances may be reduced to control access and movement flow.

This will be communicated through each school direct to the parent community.

• School start times may be staggered to manage the flow of students onto the campus; this may result in longer opening hours to manage this process. Schools will communicate this in advance of a return to school.

• Drop off timings should be arranged by each school to ensure congestion is reduced to a minimum whilst retaining consideration for those families who have siblings in other grades.

• Members of the school Senior Leadership Team and COVID-19 Task Force (including Head of Operations and Head of Security) will be present at entrances to manage any congestion at peak times.

• Individuals who are found to have a high temperature will be taken aside and moved to the designated segregation zone for a second test by a handheld scanner. If needed, they will be moved to a pre-approved isolation area to be processed as per the infection protocol.

• Parents should adhere to a maximum of 10 minutes time for waiting in the pickup and drop off zone.

Limited access for adults on site • A drop off and campus entry locations will be designated for all students with clear boundaries and social distancing for parents. For Early Years students and ‘students of determination’ there will be special considerations for timings and designated entrances; these will be communicated by each school. If it is necessary for a parent to enter the campus only one parent/guardian should be entering the building if required.

People with compromised medical conditions as outlined by the government guidelines, or people over 60 should not come to the school for pickup and drop off.

• Contractors will only be allowed on site for critical works and will be restricted to working outside of school hours. All workers will have their temperature checked before coming on site and a register will be taken. Pre-booking will need to be done with at least 24 hours’ notice of an intended site visit.

Emergency Procedures

• Evacuation points will be split in some schools by grades to ensure safe distancing is practised. This will apply during fire drill and emergency situations. These new procedures will be developed on a case by case basis for each school and rehearsed as seen appropriate by the COVID-19 taskforce and school management

Movement Management

• Entrances to be used from playgrounds to each class where possible.

• Clear signage, banners and posters are displayed around the campus for raising awareness.

• Markings on floors and walls will be visible throughout the campus for practicing social distancing.

• Corridor monitoring staff will be in place during increased volumes of necessary student movement. Students will remain in their classroom and staff will be mobile.

• A one-way system will be implemented and clearly marked wherever possible.

• Staff will not leave the school during the day unless for emergency cases.

• Social distancing throughout the building shall be maintained at 1.5 metres.

Possible restrictions on class capacity • Classroom layouts will comply strictly with Government social distancing regulations.

The maximum capacity allowed in the class will be based on the space available. Each classroom, learning space and work area is signed off by the COVID-19 Task Force. 1.5m social distancing and separated cohorts of 10 students in Early Years will be maintained.

• The above may result in utilising alternative spaces in the building to allow the school to run at optimum capacity. Space utilisation considerations may include libraries, gyms, music rooms, breakout spaces etc.

• Class materials and furniture within the classrooms has been reviewed by the Task Force and a minimalistic approach is taken.

• Teaching rosters and timetables to provide supervision may be modified; schools will communicate any specific changes through timetables for each student.

• Break times will be spread out between cohorts and movement within the building will be kept to a safe minimum.

Face masks

• All adult visitors, including parents coming onto the school premises must wear masks at all times. With exception of children under the age of 6.

• All students will always wear masks, unless eating or participating in physical activity Students must bring 2 masks from home in a sealed plastic bag/Ziplock bag to store their masks. This is exempt for students under the age of 6.

• Each school will have a backup supply of bags and masks in case masks are soiled, lost, or forgotten.

Hygiene • Washing with antiseptic soap is the best method for managing hand hygiene. Instructions on proper hand washing techniques is placed in all bathrooms and communicated to all daily.

• Hand sanitizer dispensers are installed in every class and throughout corridors in every building. Staff and children will sanitise at the start of the day before classes commence. For the younger students, staff will wait at the class entrance and apply sanitizer to children’s hands as they enter and at interim periods during the day as required.

• Students will bring their own stationery to limit multiple touching. This will be in a sealed plastic wallet.

• A paperless strategy approach has been implemented where practically possible.

• During the cooler months, the schools will be naturally ventilated.

• All bins will be emptied on a regular basis.

• Common rooms throughout the building indicate the maximum capacity per room, such as toilets, conference rooms etc.

• Prayer rooms will remain closed until further guidance is released from the government.

• Outdoor play equipment will be off-limits until further notice..

• Changing rooms are not allowed to be open until further guidance is provided by the government.

• PE lessons will not take place until further notice • Musical instruments will not be used that need the mouth to play them.

• Food should not be shared between students prepared during food technology.

• Library sessions will not take place until further notice • Swimming pools will remain closed until further guidance is released from the government allowing them to reopen.

Cleaning • • • • • • • •

Full sanitisation has been carried out prior to students returning.

Schools will ensure ADEK cleaning guidelines are strictly followed at all times Increased cleaning intensity across the school has been implemented.

Regular touch points will be cleaned more often, such as door handles etc.

Doors to corridors, canteens etc. will be propped open when not leading to outside areas.

Deeper cleans performed on a regular basis.

Increased consumables are ordered and available for the schools to call off.

Robust cleaning schedules and plans are in place and signed off by the COVID-19 Task Force.

• iPads and other shared electronic devices will be cleaned after each use.

• Gloves and masks will be worn by all security, canteen, and cleaning teams.

Accounts, Admissions and Office Support • Parents may not enter school for any appointments. Phone lines for admissions, finance and other educational support services/appointments will be well manned.

• Payments are to be made online as parents will not be allowed on campus for this.

• Payments should be made prior to students starting school to avoid overloading the accounts department once school reopens.

• Comprehensive office support will be available throughout the school day to support queries over the phone.

School Clinic • Clinic staff will strictly follow HAAD guidance • Designated rooms are assigned for the following: »» Isolation room with adequate ventilation and a toilet that is not accessible by others for patients with respiratory symptoms and/or fever, infectious illnesses, and suspected Covid-19 case »» Treatment room/Observation room for treating minor illnesses, accidents, and injuries »» Reception/Waiting area for triaging • Provision of care to students and staff with chronic health condition requiring daily nursing intervention to manage chronic disease (e.g. diabetes) will be limited to 2x daily or as necessary basis only to prevent exposure to possible COVID-19 cases once it is decided they are safe to enter school.

• Provision of ample supply of PPEs is available as outlined here but not limited to, disposable 3-ply surgical face masks/N95 masks, face shield/goggles, disposable gloves, head and shoe covers, surgical gown. Essential items are in stock.

• Provision of no touch thermometers, surface disinfectants, disposable pillow covers, water repellent/resistant mattress covers, disposable bedsheets and disposable blankets available.

• Implementation of strict sanitation protocols which includes daily change of linens, daily disinfection of screen dividers, weekly washing of screen dividers, daily deep cleaning of the clinic, regular disinfection of highly touched surfaces, clinic toilets to be cleaned at least 3x/day.

• Installation of signage at the school clinic entrance stating, ‘maximum occupancy’. The nurse/s has the discretion to send a student back to class or a designated area (if not an emergency case) if the clinic has reached the maximum capacity. This number may need to be reduced depending on the size of the clinic.

• Nurse Training to be implemented specific to COVID-19; our nurses have already been supporting the government during the closure period and are already well qualified in this area.

• Full PPE available, same as hospitals.

• All parents to ensure that the schools have the most up to date contact details for at least two guardians and all underlying health concerns have been reported to the school prior to term start.

Transport

• Buses will be sterilized twice daily.

• Reduced capacity on buses in line with the government guidance has been implemented, currently set at half capacity. Seven Star have had their bus layout approved by all governing bodies already.

• All passengers and drivers must wear a mask at all times, entry to the bus will not be permitted otherwise. This is with exception to children younger than 6 years old.

• Temperature will be taken prior to students entering the bus.

• Hands will be sanitised at the start of each journey.

• Student will not be allowed to enter the bus if fever is apparent. Parents will have to wait with students until the bus departs.

• Student and parent protocols detailing the exact procedure will be provided prior to term start.

• Posters will be displayed showing best hygiene practice and social distancing.

• Records will be kept of all people travelling and temperatures.

Canteen • The canteens will be closed until further notice and there will be no food available for purchase from school (with the exception of a classroom delivery service on Khalifa City campus, which was set up prior to COVID measures being in place). Parents must provide food for their children every day on Gardens Campus

Confirmed or suspected infections • Teachers to self-quarantine, review who they have been in contact with, track and trace: use of Government sponsored application for all Taaleem staff.

• Continue with distance learning.

• If in school they must be sent to an isolation area, then follow authority guidelines.

• Students with suspected cases within school will follow the School Access Protocol.

• Students with suspected cases not in the school will remain at home until cleared by the government health authority.

• Students with family members with suspected cases will be asked to remain at home until cleared for a safe return by the health authorities.

• For students who have been in school and have a confirmed case; a track and trace protocol will be followed in consultation with the relevant authorities.

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Support staff (cleaners, security)

• Contractors must advise the school of suspected cases and sign a declaration of understanding prior to entering site that this information will be shared immediately.

• Any suspected cases will not be able to enter the campus. Any confirmed cases will have to go through the track and trace protocol before other team members, who have been working with this person, are allowed back on-site.

• Sign in and sign out process, waiver forms to be signed before return to school, staff who have travelled will have to go through isolation.

• Pre-approval of subcontract staff signed off by the facility manager prior to coming the campus, minimum 24 hours’ notice.

• No deliveries from outside sources, food, parcels etc.

Roles and Responsibilities tables are developed at school level and circulated appropriately to the staffing community. Full briefings and training are being carried out prior to return of students ***