Wednesday, 26 August 2020

Dear Parents,

I hope that you and your families are keeping well. I am writing to confirm the final arrangements for the start of the academic year on the 2^nd September. We can’t wait to welcome the children back to school next week, and we are planning lots of transition and relationship building activities to ease children back in to school life.

As stated previously, the school now has a comprehensive risk assessment and operating procedures to prevent the spread of Covid-19. This includes increased cleaning, social distancing where appropriate, good respiratory and hand hygiene, in maintaining class bubbles and restricting visitors on site.

Some of this information is a repeat of what we sent out on the 14^th July and here to serve as a reminder.

Class Groups:

From September, children will be taught in their new classes in their own zone. This will include their own classroom, unisex toilets and outdoor space. There will be staggered drop off and pick up times, and staggered break and lunchtimes to minimise interaction between different classes. Your support in sticking to these times is appreciated. These details are listed below:

During the morning drop off time, a member of staff will be on the relevant gate to welcome your child into school. At pick up time, we will open the gates to allow parents on to the playground to avoid over-crowding at the gates. Please note, at this time, that parents will not be allowed in the main building. If you wish to arrange to speak to a member of staff please contact the school office and we will arrange a phone call/zoom meeting.

Reception and Nursery – First Day Back:

We know that your child’s first day is a big deal, and we still want to enable parents to mark that special moment. For children starting Reception or Nursery, on their first day back, we are requesting that parents arrive from 9.15am to 9.30am, when all the other children have arrived in school. We will set up some activities outside, so parents can bring their child into school (albeit outside) and help them settle for their first day, meet the teacher and also take any photos.

Breakfast and After-School Club:

From the 2^nd September, we are offering breakfast (from 7.45am) and after school club (until 6.15pm), this will mean some children mixing bubbles at the beginning and at the end of the day. Unfortunately, we can’t avoid this but will be handwashing at the start and end of these sessions. These sessions must be booked in advance (including Breakfast Club) on Scopay. Breakfast and Afterschool club will be based in the current Year 2 classroom, which is next to the office. Children can be dropped off and collected via the main entrance. We do ask that parents do not use the staff car park.  

PE Days:

Children will need to bring their school PE kit to school on PE days and take it home afterwards for washing. Unless the weather is absolutely horrific, PE will be taught outside. A little rain won’t stop us! PE days are as follows:

Uniform:

From September, we will be returning to our normal uniform policy. Please remember that we are phasing out the light blue polo shirts over time. So if you are buying new uniform this summer, please buy a white polo shirt. Uniform can now be ordered online here: https://holmeps.imagescotland.com/

What to bring to school:

Children should bring as little as possible to school. They will be provided with their own pencil case and resources and therefore should only bring: a water bottle, packed lunch (if needed), a coat and their reading book to and from school.

School Dinners:

In September we are reintroducing hot school meals, which will be delivered to the classrooms. School meals should be ordered on lunch shop before 9am on the day. A copy of the 2-week menu is available on our website.  

Curriculum:

Our first few weeks will focus heavily on PHSE and in helping children reintegrate back in to school life. I will write again at the start of term to advise you of our virtual ‘meet the teacher’ meetings, where we will go through out curriculum with you in detail including our plans in the event of a local lockdown.  

Preparing children for a return to school:

Many children will be anxious about returning to school after such a long break. We are prepared for that and have plans in place to support them. However, we’d advise that you start talking to your child/children about what school will be like, and recommend this resource to aid that conversation:

https://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/report/going-back-to-school-guide/

In Summary:

• Please note and adhere to the staggered start times and new entrances
• Order School Dinners
• Book sessions at Breakfast/After School Club
• Start talking to your children about returning to school
• Year 1,2,3& 4 need their PE kit on the first day back

If you have any questions then please contract the school office this week, leaving a voicemail if necessary and I will get back to you. Finally, as we enter a new school year, I want to thank you for your support in the last. I have no doubt that the next year will be challenging, but we are ready for that challenge and will do our very best for every single child to make sure that they are happy and thriving.

With best wishes,
 

Craig Dewar-Willox
Headteacher