2 September 2021

 

Dear Parents

 

We hope everyone has had a lovely summer holiday with their families. We are very much looking forward to welcoming back all of our children from Monday 6 September.

With the lifting of restrictions we hope for a return to more normality within our school community. However, we are very mindful in the interests of keeping everyone safe that we take small considered steps which will be reviewed regularly.

 

Please find below further details and guidance on how we will operate the beginning of term. It is vital that you read this letter in detail to ensure the safety and well-being of our pupils, parents and staff. We would be extremely grateful if you could share the procedures and guidance with your child (at an appropriate level) so that they know what to expect when they return to school.

 

 

Class Organisation and Safety Procedures

The following organisational and safety procedures have been put in place:

  • Children will no longer be placed in a year group bubble and will be able to mix with other year groups at break times, lunch and assemblies.
  • Children will no longer need to sit in rows but will again sit in groups in their classrooms
  • Assemblies, singing and extra curricular clubs will resume
  • Staff will continue to ensure that regular hand washing and use of hand gel will take place throughout the day.
  • Surfaces in classrooms, equipment and communal areas such as toilets will continue to be cleaned regularly
  • All spaces will be well-ventilated and doors and windows remain open if it is safe to do so.
  • Parents must ensure that they have provided the school office with up to date contact information by returning their data collection sheets by Friday 10 September.

Uniform and Equipment

  • Children are able to wear summer uniform (red polo shirts and shorts for boys, pink or red summer dresses for girls) until October half term but winter uniform is also acceptable.
  • Children will be required to bring in their PE kit on the first day of term making sure that this includes a pair of pumps or trainers that must remain in school.
  • The items that your child will bring in to school must be limited to a coat, tissues, a packed lunch, a school water bottle and reading book/homework diary. A school book bag or as small a bag as possible for these items is preferred. Pencil cases, other books, skipping ropes etc. are not permitted.
  • Children will be encouraged to bring their own pack of tissues with them in order that they can maintain the Catch it, Kill it, Bin it guidance – lidded pedal bins remain available in each classroom.

 

Arrival and Dismissal

In order to maintain safety for everyone the following procedures have been put in place:

  • Arrival and dismissal times have reverted to our usual 8.50 - 9.00am start and 3.30pm collection
  • The pedestrian gate will be opened just before 8.50 am. Children cannot be dropped off before this as the playground will be closed.
  • Please enter through the pedestrian gate only
  • Each child will be greeted in the playground by myself, Mrs Warnett and Mrs Tasker and directed to their classroom via the playground door by Year 6 classroom.
  • Parents will then exit across the playground, through the gate to the staff car park and follow the pedestrian path.
  • As Year 1 children will be coming into school via a new entrance they may feel a little apprehensive. In order to allay any worries Mrs Morgan, Mrs Portman and Mrs Freeman will greet the children in the playground and walk them in together. After a few days we are sure they will be happy to walk in independently.
  • At the end of the school day the playground gate will be opened at 3.25pm. Parents will be able to wait in the playground until their child is dismissed to them. Please respect individuals wish to maintain social distance and/or wear a face mask.
  • The children will be dismissed into the playground by their class teachers as in the past.
  • Please leave the playground in the same way as morning drop off. Please do not linger but leave the school site as soon as you have collected your children.
  • Any communications with staff will continue to be made via telephone or email – for now there will be no opportunity for face to face conversations. Please use your child’s year group email address.

 

We are looking forward to next week when our wonderful school community can be fully together again. As said, all procedures will be reviewed regularly once we are confident that our systems are safe for everyone.

 

If you have any concerns at any time please do not hesitate to contact us via email or telephone.

 

Yours faithfully

 

KE Savage

Principal

Emmaus CMAC
A School Life Website
School Life iOS Mobile Application
School Life Android Mobile Application