Dear Parent / Carer,
I hope this letter finds you all safe and well and having had an enjoyable summer break during what continues to be very different times. As outlined at the end of term, I want to give you more detailed information on how the reopening of school will look so that we can do our very best to keep the children safe and happy. Information and advice has continued to change throughout the school holidays however I am hoping that by waiting until now I am able to give you the most up to date information. More detailed information on the safety measures put in place can be found within the updated risk assessment which is available on the school website.
Autumn term starts on Tuesday September 1st. Tuesday 1st and Wednesday 2nd will be preparation days for the staff. Children will begin to return on Thursday 4th September. All other dates will be available in Schoop and on the school website.
The school day
In line with government advice, pupils will remain in their class bubbles throughout the day. All parts of the day will be timetabled so that children can enjoy their breaks, lunch and activities safely in their class bubbles. We will be using staggered drop-off and pick-up times when we return to school, in order to ensure adults can socially distance and so that class bubbles can enter the school together. All individual return times and days have been sent out several times through Schoop. These times will be used from the start of term until further notice. I must ask that these times are strictly adhered to in order to help us receive and dismiss the children safely.
Children will be met at the gates by a member of staff in the morning and dismissed in the afternoon. Children will not need to wait or queue in the yard if they arrive at their allocated time. Nursery, Class 1 and Class 2 enter and leave through the main door. Junior classes 3 and 4 enter and leave through the gate in the junior yard. Junior children who have been given permission to leave the yard alone will be dismissed from the yard at their allocated time. Reminders of who has provided permission will be sent out next week.
School dinners.
Dinners will be available as usual. At the moment, dinners can be paid for in advance by sending money with your child in an envelope marked with their name. Dinners cost £2:35 and the menu can be found on the school website. Pupils will be having dinners at staggered times both in classrooms and in the hall. Infants will begin lunch at 11:45 and all children will have eaten by 12:30. Alternatively children can bring their own packed lunch to school. If possible please do not place the lunch bag in an additional rucksack as this will take up extra space in the classrooms.
We will shortly be moving to a cashless system “Parent Pay” and you will receive your password and information to set up your account over the next few weeks.
Pupils in receipt of free school meals will need to pay for any meals taken up to Friday September 11th as NPT will be continuing to make payments directly to your bank accounts until then.
Snacks
We will not be providing fruit for the pupils at break time however your child can bring their own healthy snack to school. Please place any fruit in a small disposable bag marked with the child’s name for infant children.
Please remember that we are a nut free school and that all lunch bags and snacks should be nut free.
What to bring to school.
Please only send essential items to school with your child. Junior children will be keeping coats and bags with them in their classrooms. Individual stationery bags with tissues have been prepared for every child so please do not send in pencil cases. Bags will only be needed on P.E days which we will notify you about later. Please provide your child with a water bottle marked clearly with their name, which they will bring home every day to wash.
Clothing
All children need to wear school uniform. Previous advice was that clothing worn to school is changed and washed as often as possible. Please remember to mark all children’s clothing clearly with their name. It is very important during these times that there are not any mix-ups with clothing. The PTA recently set up an account with a label website. This information was sent out through Schoop during the break.
Medication
Please remember to return any medication such as epi pens and asthma pumps to school. If your child requires any new medication in school which has been prescribed by a doctor, please contact the school for the correct forms to be completed.
Breakfast club.
The return date for breakfast club is currently under review and we will notify you as soon as plans are in place for restarting it.
Face Masks
NPT Council has informed us that face masks in primary schools are not recommended at this time; but there is nothing to prevent the wearing of masks should the individual so wish.
Overall, it is the Council’s intention to keep the position under close review, particularly during the initial two week period at the start of term. Should there be material change to either or both of the regulations and guidance that will trigger a further review – and Welsh Government has indicated that further guidance will issue next week.
Contacting school.
For everyone’s safety, you will be able to contact us by telephone throughout this period; it will not be possible to come in to the school during this time in order to limit the number of people who mix with staff and pupils. By exception, parents will be asked to collect their children in the event that they are ill. Please ensure that we have the most up to date contact number for yourselves.
Symptoms of coronavirus.
Under no circumstance should any pupil or member of staff attend school if they:
- feel unwell, have any of the four identified Covid-19 symptoms (a new continuous cough, a high temperature or loss of taste or smell) or they have tested positive for Covid-19 in the past 7 days.
- live in a household with someone who has symptoms of Covid-19 or has tested positive to Covid-19 in the past 14 days.
Please do not hesitate to contact the school from September 1st if you have any further questions or concerns. Without a doubt this is going to be a very different term for children, parents and staff. By working together and with your support, we will do our very best to make sure that all children settle back into school confidently and that they leave with a smile on their face.
Thank you for your continued support,
Kind regards,
Mrs. M. Teague
