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16 July 2020

Dear Parents and Carers

I am writing to you to set out the arrangements we have made to welcome all pupils back from Thursday 3rdSeptember 2020.  All pupils must arrive in full school uniform at the times indicated below. You must also note the entrance by which they will enter and exit each day. From Friday 4thSeptember they will continue to use these same entrances and exits but can gain access to the building from 8am.   All pupils must be in the building by 8:30am. 

The only change to the school day is for Year 11 pupils who will be required to stay in school until 4pm each day; this will start from week commencing 7thSeptember and is to ensure that any gaps in learning identified are filled and that all pupils have the opportunity to exceed their potential in their summer exams in 2021.  

Pupils must not use an entrance that is not for their year group, even if they travel to and from school with siblings.

Thursday 3 September 2020

Year 7                        Arrive at 8:40am via the gates on Sutton Way

Year 8                        Arrive at 9:10am via the gates on Sutton Way

Year 9                        Arrive at 9:40am via the gates on Sutton Way

Year 10                      Arrive at 10:10am via the gates on Whitby Road          

Year 11                      Arrive at 11:00am via the gates on Whitby Road

Year 12                      Arrive at 11:00 via the main entrance at the front of school

Year 13                      Arrive at 11:30 am via the main entrance at the front of school

First and foremost, it goes without saying that the safety of your child and of our staff is our top priority. We have worked hard, following the government guidance, to develop and implement new ways of operating.  This has allowed us to open up as safely as possible, focusing on measures that limit the risk of the coronavirus transmitting within our school.

Some of the steps we are taking in readiness for September include:

  • • Asking anyone who is displaying coronavirus symptoms, or who lives with someone who does, that they do not attend school.
  • • Keeping children and staff in groups referred to as “bubbles”.  Movement around school will be via a strict one way system and through strict entrance and exit routines.
  • • Classrooms have been reconfigured to ensure that staff are 2m from pupils. The guidance states pupils to not need to socially distance whilst in their bubbles.
  • • Each day a deep clean of the spaces used will take place and this is in addition to our daily cleaning rota.
  • • Routines will be established to ensure our children understand when, and how, to wash their hands. We will have hand washing stations at each entrance and exit and will have hand sanitiser, wipes and tissues available in all classrooms.
  • • Ensuring our pupils understand good respiratory hygiene by promoting the “catch it, bin it, kill it” approach.
  • • Asking parents and carers to physically distance from each other and from staff when dropping off and collecting their children. Please limit drop off and collection to one parent or carer per household. 
  • • If your child travels using public transport then they must wear a mask. If you are sharing a car and bring in another child, all people in the car must also wear a mask.
  • • Parents and carers will not be able to arrive at school without an appointment being made in advance, and even then, our aim is for meetings to be held virtually via zoom.
  • • Ensuring that if social distancing rules, or the rules regarding minimising risk are deliberately broken by a pupil, they will be sent home immediately and you will be contacted to let you know that they are being sent home. Parents or carers will then have to meet with the Principal.

What can Parents and carers do to help?

  • • If your child displays any symptoms, they should not attend school and self-isolate for 7 days. You should also arrange for your child to be tested and inform the school of the outcome.
  • • If your child develops symptoms whilst at school, then you will be contacted and your child will be sent home immediately. You must then ensure that your child is tested and you must inform the school of the outcome. If the test is positive, we have to inform Public Health England, who will advise us on which bubbles we need to close down and who needs to self-isolate.
  • • All families will have to ensure that their details are up to date.  This is to ensure you can be contacted immediately.
  • • All biometric devices will be disabled therefore every parent has to sign up to parent pay if they wish their child to purchase food from the school.
  • • As per Public Health guidance all water fountains will be disabled so please ensure your child brings water into school.

We are looking forward to welcoming your child back and will spend time with them on the first day going through the new routines and expectations which, if followed, will ensure that everyone in the building will remain safe. 

On a more positive note, all children will be able to have a free breakfast from the week commencing 7thSeptember, which will be available in their designated area when they arrive. 

I hope you have confidence that we have taken all of the steps necessary to ensure your child’s safety but if you do have any questions then please do not hesitate to contact us either by telephone, email or social media.

Yours sincerely

Mrs C. M Green

Principal