FAQs

1.  Which year groups are returning to school?

We have planned to welcome back children in Fox Cubs (in two groups on a rota 3 days one week then 2 days the following week or 2 days one week then 3 days the following week), Year 1 and Year 6 alongside children from Key Workers.  The government's ambition is to bring all primary school year groups back before the Summer Holidays if conditions nationally make it feasible.  This will be kept under review.

2.  Why aren't all the children coming back?

The government have based this on the need to reduce the rate of transmission of the virus. So have taken account of the need to reduce numbers in school and smaller groupings in classes can be maintained.  

3. Why aren’t the Fox Cubs in for a full week?

We are following the guidance around keeping the same adults working with them.  As there is a job share in the class we have decided to split the class into two groups.  Additionally, the younger children are less likely to keep a social distance from the adults working with them.  If children are from Key Worker families, then they can go into the children from Key Workers groups and be in school every day.

4.  If one of my children is eligible to return can their sibling come back too?

Sadly, the answer to this is ‘no’.  Siblings cannot attend unless they are in another of the selected year groups or are children of Key Workers.

5. Does my child have to attend?

It is for parents to decide if their child/children attend.  No children with symptoms or in a household with symptoms should attend.  All children in the selected groups are encouraged to attend unless self-isolating or shielding.  Parents will not be fined for non-attendance at this time.

6.  I am worried that my child is vulnerable or that a family member is, should I send them back to school?

Children who are considered vulnerable and shielding should continue to shield and should not be expected to attend.

Children who live in a household with someone who is vulnerable and shielding are not expected to attend.

7. How big will the classes be?

The government is recommending class group size should not exceed 15 pupils per small group and one teacher plus a TA where required.  Where there are not enough teachers, Teaching Assistants will lead a group.  Desks should be as far apart as the room allows.

The year groups are all less than 15 so we believe that they can be accommodated.

8. How will you guarantee that social distancing takes place e.g. keeping children 2m apart?

We will, of course, do our best to support social distancing, but you must understand that in returning to school there is a very real likelihood that children will come into contact with one another.  The age of some the children means that this is unavoidable.

9. What hygiene measures will be in place to keep my child safe?

We will follow the COVID-19: cleaning of non-healthcare settings guidance.

There are sufficient handwashing facilities and hand sanitiser is provided in each classroom.

Surfaces that the children are touching, such as toys, desks, chairs, doors, sinks, toilets, light switches will be cleaned more regularly than normal.

We will ensure that all adults and children: frequently wash their hands with soap and water for 20 seconds and dry thoroughly.  With them cleaning their hands on arrival at school, before and after eating and after sneezing or coughing.

Everyone is encouraged not to touch their mouth, eyes and nose.

Everyone is reminded to use a tissue or elbow to cough or sneeze and use bins for tissue waste (‘catch it, bin it, kill it’).

Toilets will be cleaned three times a day.

Bins will be emptied twice a day.

Where possible, all spaces will be well ventilated using natural ventilation (opening windows).

Props will be used to keep doors open, where safe to do so, to limit use of door handles and aid ventilation.

10. Will children be confined to the same classroom environment most of the day?

The children will only be able to in the rooms allocated to them.  The scientific evidence shows that the outdoor environment is much more manageable in terms of virus transmission.  Therefore, the children could be outside more than usual.

11. How will lunch time work to ensure children are safe?

Lunches will be eaten in the classroom.  Jenny will cook a hot meal for those children who want a meal.  Children in Fox Cubs and Year 1 will receive their meal free of charge.  The menu has been adapted to cater for a smaller number of children.  Free School Meal children will continue to receive vouchers if they are not attending school.

12. What will the menu be?

13. How will you make school safe for my child?

In addition to social distancing and hygiene measures mentioned above, we will:

• Give children a designated classroom and group for lessons and play, to minimise the opportunity for mixing.
• Regularly cleaning the school and resources will take place.
• Regularly clean the children’s personal resources (pencils etc.)
• Not allow children to bring in their own resources such as pencil cases.
• Confine resources to rooms to minimise sharing and when sharing is essential, clean resources before transference.
• Organise lunchtimes and playtimes differently.
• Limit the adults that work with each group.
• Have a one-way system for entry and exit of the school.
• Be vigilant in identifying children with symptoms, isolating them and asking parents to collect them
• Remove of unnecessary items from classrooms
• Remove of soft furnishing, soft toys and toys that are hard to clean.

14. Will my child be expected to share resources, such as pens and pencils?

Where possible, children will be given their own equipment, which they must not share with anyone else. They must not bring any equipment in from home.  Any resources that are shared (e.g. school laptop) will be thoroughly disinfected after use.

15. How will entry and exit of the school work?

The school will open from 8:45am to 9:00am for children to enter.  Year 6 children should be OK to come to school on their own from the roadside.  Entry from the usual gate and exit through to the gate to the car park.  Fox Cubs to use their new classroom door.  Year 1 and Key Worker children to use the Infant Cloakroom.  Year 6 to use the Year 5 & 6 cloakroom.

The school has organised a staggered collection time for children – 3:15pm Fox Cubs and Year 1, 3.20pm Year 6 and Key Worker Children.  One-way system entry from car park gate and exit through the usual gate.  Parents asked to respect 2 metre social distance between each other.

Only one parent or carer should accompany the child to school to minimise risk.  Parents will not be invited to enter classrooms but will drop off as described above, on the playground.

16. Will the school have assembly?

Groups will have an opportunity for reflection within their daily session, but there will be no mass gatherings or assemblies as a school.

17. Can the children arrive and depart on scooters and bikes?

Yes, as long as they are not shared.

18.  What are the fire alarm arrangements?

If the fire alarm sound these are the instructions for the different areas of the school:

Children in Fox Cubs

Exit through the double doors.  Congregate near the shed.

Children in Class One (Year One)

Exit through the Hall door.  Congregate on the field near the Bike Shelter.

Children in Class Two (Key Worker Children)

Exit through Class One Cloakroom.  Congregate near the Ball Wall.

Children in Class Three (Year Six)

Exit through Class Two Cloakroom.  Congregate near green gate.

Office

Exit through the Front Door.  Wait outside green fence, near office door.

Kitchen

Exit through Kitchen Door.  Wait near Front Door.