Return to School Information

Covid-19 Return To School Plan – Version 2 Year 6, Year 1, Foundation Stage On Monday 8th June Meadowbank expects to begin a phased re-opening for some of its wider population – Foundation Stage One, Foundation Stage Two, Year One and Year Six. As governmental advice develops we will continue to risk assess school safety and confirmation of our opening will be sent via ParentMail during the Whit break.

Below is information regarding the phased reintroduction of these pupils.

What are Learning Bubbles?

Each Year Group will be organised into four Learning Bubbles of no more than fifteen children.

Teachers will organise the Bubbles based on their knowledge of their classes and will not be able to swap children between Bubbles.

We ask that parents understand the challenges that this presents and do not contact school regarding the Bubble that their child is in, request specific friends to be with their child or to ask teachers to justify Bubble choices.

When will my FS1 (Nursery) child return to school?

We want to ensure that each child returns to school feeling safe and secure and to test that our planning works in action, making adaptions where necessary. Therefore, we intend a phased return over the week beginning 8th June allowing children into school in Surname order. Children’s initial time in school will focus upon adapting to our ‘new normal’ in their Learning Bubbles and keeping ourselves safe in school.

Please follow the start of day arrangements below when bringing your child to school.

Surname Initial

M 8.6

A-L M-Z

Tu 9.6

W 10.6

AM

Th 11.6

F 12.6

PM AM

PM

It is hoped that FS1 children will return full time on 15.6.20.

What are Learning Spaces?

Each year group’s Learning Bubbles will have assigned Bubble Spaces within school to remain in until the end of the school year. To provide spaces for all Bubbles school will require significant internal restructuring and the use of all available spaces including the school hall, dining hall, library, Lodge and staffroom.

Children will remain within their Learning Bubble in their Bubble Space which will be sanitised at the end of each school day. Some Bubble Spaces will not have an Interactive White Board therefore will swap area with their year group twin Bubble across the week for whole days following the sanitising of each space to enable all to access this learning resource.

When will my FS2 (Reception) child return to school?

We want to ensure that each child returns to school feeling safe and secure and to test that our planning works in action, making adaptions where necessary. Therefore, we intend a phased return over the week beginning 8th June allowing children into school in Surname order. Children’s initial time in school will focus upon adapting to our ‘new normal’ in their Learning Bubbles and keeping ourselves safe in school.

Please follow the start of day arrangements below when bringing your child to school.

Surname Initial

M 8.6

A-L M-Z

Tu 9.6

W 10.6

PM

Th 11.6

F 12.6

AM PM

AM

It is hoped that FS2 children will return full time on 15.6.20.

When will my Year 6 child return to school?

When will my Year 1 child return to school?

We want to ensure that each child returns to school feeling safe and secure and to test that our planning works in action, making adaptions where necessary. Therefore, we intend a phased return over the week beginning 8th June allowing children into school in Surname order. Children’s initial time in school will focus upon adapting to our ‘new normal’ in their Learning Bubbles and keeping ourselves safe in school.

Please follow the start of day arrangements below when bringing your child to school.

Surname Initial A-L M-Z

M 8.6

Tu 9.6

W 10.6

AM

Th 11.6

F 12.6

All day AM

All day

It is hoped that Yr1 children will return full time on 15.6.20.

We want to ensure that each child returns to school feeling safe and secure and to test that our planning works in action, making adaptions where necessary. Therefore, we intend a phased return over the week beginning 8th June allowing children into school in Surname order. Children’s initial time in school will focus upon adapting to our ‘new normal’ in their Learning Bubbles and keeping ourselves safe in school.

Please follow the start of day arrangements below when bringing your child to school.

Surname Initial

M 8.6

A-L

PM

M-Z

Tu 9.6

W 10.6

Th 11.6

All Day PM

F 12.6 All Day

All Day

All Day

It is hoped that Yr6 children will return full time on 15.6.20.

What are the arrangements for the start of the day?  

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Only one parent/family member may come onto school grounds and should not engage staff in conversation.

There will be a strict one way system for entering and exiting school grounds that all families must follow.

Families must enter school grounds via the KS2 entrance (on Councillor Lane) then walk around the back of school along the path, dropping children off or collecting from the appropriate door, exiting by the KS1 entrance (on Demmings Road). No one will be able to walk in through the KS1 entrance or leave by the KS2 exit.

All families must keep at least two meters (6ft) between other families and children.

Children will enter and exit school via a door close to their new Learning Bubble. Doors for classes will be signed and children will be trained on systems upon their return.

There will be a longer, phased start and end of the day to limit the number of people on school grounds and for pupils to move safety into and from their Learning Bubbles.

Timings will be based upon family surname initial. We need families to keep to their assigned time and not to arrive early or late.

We will need families to move quickly to be off site before next group of families arrives.

AM Times for arrival: o 8.40 – Surname Initial - A - E o 8.50 – Surname Initial - F– J o 9.00 – Surname Initial - K-O o 9.10 – Surname Initial - P – T o 9.20 – Surname Initial – U - Z AM Times for collection of children: o 11.50 – Surname Initial - A - E o 12.00 – Surname Initial - F – J o 12.10 – Surname Initial - K-O o 12.20 – Surname Initial - P – T o 12.30 – Surname Initial - U – Z

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PM Times for arrival of children : o 1.00 – Surname Initial - A - E o 1.10 – Surname Initial - F – J o 1.20 – Surname Initial - K-O o 1.30 – Surname Initial - P – T o 1.40 – Surname Initial - U – Z  PM Times for collection of children: o 2.40 – Surname Initial - A - E o 2.50 – Surname Initial - F – J o 3.00 – Surname Initial - K-O o 3.10 – Surname Initial - P – T o 3.20 – Surname Initial - U – Z These times will be reviewed when routines are established.

Will my child be able to go to the toilet?

Of course. We will limit the number of children in the toilets at one time and pathways will be created for routes to them to avoid other Learning Bubbles. Older children will be encouraged to wipe the sink when the have used it.

Where will my Child’s Learning Space Be? FS1 – The FS1 classroom will be divided into 2 discrete Bubble Spaces utilising the outdoor area.

FS2 – Our large FS2 provision will be divided into 4 separate bubbles. Each Bubble will be individually resourced and will timetable the outdoor area.

Yr 1 – The open plan Year One learning area will be sectioned into 4 separate Bubble Spaces individually resourced.

Yr 6 – The school hall will accommodate the 2 Learning Bubbles, each being individually resourced.

What will my child wear to school?

Until the summer break we are taking a flexible approach to school uniform as we are asking families to ensure that their children wear clean clothes to school each day and we understand that home clothes may be needed to supplement uniform.

PE kits will not be allowed into school and we ask that children wear trainers instead of school shoes so that they can take part in PE lessons without needing to change.

It would help if all children could shower or bathe each night.

What about eating arrangements?

All children will eat at their tables in their Learning Bubbles. Children who bring a packed lunch will place their box next to their table during the day.

Children who have a school meal will be provided with a hot or cold packed lunch from the school kitchen which will be brought to them in their Learning Bubble. The menu offer will be limited for a while. We understand the importance of a hot school meal and will review the hot bags as children and families settle into our new way of working and we have a better picture of staff and children numbers.

The Key Stage Two tuck shop will not be available to purchase a snack at break time so we ask that children bring in a snack from home.

Key Stage One children must also bring in fruit from home as governmental guidance states no fruit can be delivered to school.

Will my child bring home a reading book?

Reading books will remain in school at the moment within your child’s Bubble Space. However, we will share e-reading with your child.

Will my child play outside?

Absolutely, possibly more than ever! However, they will remain within their Leaning Bubble and times outside will be staggered to avoid close contact with other Bubbles. We will organise games that can be played but for now there will be no team games such as football (sorry!)

What can my child bring into school from home?

Very little. We ask that children wear clean clothes every day and only bring a packed lunch (if they usually do) a water bottle and a coat. Nothing else. Please do not send a school bag or PE kit into school or any comfort toys.

Each child will have own personal equipment bag in class that will stay in their Bubble Space.

How will children with additional needs be supported?

School needs parents to understand that during this challenging time all school staff will be deployed to Learning Bubbles and therefore we will not be able to offer the support for your child that we would like to. Intervention programmes and individual support will be very limited for now however, teachers will continue to differential learning appropriately.

Will there be extended school provision?

Unfortunately no, we will not be able to offer any before or after school provision until at least September. This is as Learning Bubbles cannot cross and we will need all spaces to accommodate Bubbles.

Can Childminders drop off and collect children?

Yes. Childminders can continue to drop off and collect children. However, they must continue moving along the one way system leaving the school grounds as quickly as possible.

Can FS, Yr1& Yr6 Key Worker children stay in school full time during the phased return to school?

This is not possible unfortunately, and we are aware that this will cause difficulties for some of our key worker families. However, we need children to move into their new Learning Bubbles and then stay within them to reduce the number of children, adults and school spaces that they come into contact with. They cannot be in their year group’s Learning Bubble and then move into a key worker Bubble as this increases the risk of spreading the virus and is against the governmental guidance that we are to follow.

It is not possible to remain in the key worker Bubble as the space this is located in will be reduced to accommodate class Learning Bubbles and the limited places available will be offered to keyworker children not yet able to return to their class bubbles.

We know that this is difficult and will allow children back full time as soon as risk assessments show that school is as safe as we can possibly make it. Please be patient with us & bring your child for their phased induction back to school.

How do I communicate with school?

We must contain the number of people entering the building and so we ask parents not to come into school at the moment and to email the school office to share information asking for a return phone call only if really needed. Please try to avoid phoning school as capacity to answer and return phone calls will be limited.

If coming into the school office is absolutely unavoidable then parents should come to the main office and stand behind clearly marked lines. There will be a strict one in and one out system at the office but we ask parents to please not come into school.

School’s re-opening risk assessment is a detailed and lengthy document which will continue to grow as we learn to live in our ‘new normal’. As risk assessments continue to take place and we either add further restrictions or are able to reduce some over time we will inform parents via ParentMail. So we ask that this becomes your main source of school information.

We ask that all payments are made on Parentmail to prevent the need for parents to come into school and to handling.

What if eliminate a child is illmoney in school?

A group work room is now re-designated as a medical room. Any child who is unwell will wait there to be collected by a parent and may not return until tested and virus free.

Can children use the playground equipment and team games?

Unfortunately, no. At the moment all playground equipment will not be used to reduce the risk of contamination and team games with contact will not be played. However, some resources will be available that can be sanitised and adults will work with children to think of other games to play.

Will Key worker children stay in the Lodge Bubble?

From Monday 8th June Key worker children who are in years two to five can continue to come into school via The Lodge door where they will work as their own Learning Bubble of no more than fifteen until these year groups return to school in the near future.

The Lodge can accommodate one group of fifteen and a smaller group in another area and parents can book through the ParentMail booking form sent out weekly as now. We will struggle to extend provision further due to space and available adults. However, if your child in in years two to five, you are a key worker and would like your child to join this bubble, please contact school.

How else can parents help?

We really need all of your patience and understanding that school is working at full capacity to achieve a mammoth task with numerous complexities. Our partnership with you is extremely important to us but for now we need you to understand that all our focus must be a little more inward facing, ensuring that children and adults in school are safe. Our capacity will be extremely stretched but we believe that we are able to achieve what the government has asked of us in accommodating all children back into school over time.

However, this will depend upon a number of things working successfully, in particular whether I am able to deploy enough adults to teach in the large number of Learning Bubbles needed, keep school sanitised and support the wellbeing of children and adults. I need parents help to enable school to focus on working to achieve this and prevent actions that will pull resources away reducing our capacity and therefore increasing risk. We will, of course, continue to work with our families who need us most, keep contact and provide learning with children not yet returning.

This ‘new normal’ is far from easy but we believe that it is achievable with your continued support. There are four areas that our children’s families can help school to enable us to prioritise our resources in the right areas. 

We know that many of you are anxious about your child returning to school and that some children feel the same. A number of adults in school share these anxieties. Please trust that school is doing its absolute best to keep everyone safe, happy and learning. Please begin to prepare your child for their return, sharing that things will be different but that school adults will help them and making conversations positive.

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Please be on time – do not be early and do not be late – we need your punctuality to ensure our grounds are safe and congestion free.

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Finding space within school to accommodate enough Learning Bubbles is an extraordinary task, think of it as trying to double the size of our school in a few weeks! We are doing our best but I need parents to understand that many children will not be in their usual room and may be in areas that are not usually classroom spaces or be able to play with all of their usual friends. Also, ensuring two meters apart between all children in a few of the Bubbles may be a challenge, almost impossible for younger children, but we are working on it and hygiene will be a key factor in success. We also have two planned Bubble Spaces that will not accommodate fifteen children and we are still problem solving this for the next wave of returns. We know that you will be anxious about this, particularly regarding your child’s friendships.

Teachers know their classes well and I ask that you allow them to use their understanding of their children to organise the Bubbles.

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We know that the part time phased return will be a challenge for some of our key worker families when it is time for their child to return to their class Learning Bubbles. We understand the challenges and will not extend the phased return for longer than we feel necessary. However, we must prioritise the safe wider opening of our school to ensure that all who return, children, parents and staff have a full induction to our ‘new normal and it is important that we spend time with the children to make sure that they feel safe. We also need to ensure that new cleaning and sanitising systems are effective and systems for moving around school work as planned.

Thank you all for your ongoing support. We know that this is not easy but together we will make this work and keep each other safe during this Covid-19 pandemic eases.

Stay Safe