Dear Parents and Guardians,

I hope that this letter finds you all safe and well. We appreciate that many of you are looking for information on our return to school and I acknowledge that unlike some schools, we have not posted information to date. The reason for this is to work out our strategy and try and ensure clear messages that do not change unlike some of the guidance we are given. Our over-riding consideration is the safety and wellbeing of the children.

Following receipt of guidance on the gradual reopening of schools from the Welsh Government and the Local Authority we are planning and preparing for this period of check in, catch up and to prepare for summer and September.  The Minister noted that her intention was for schools to work towards operating at a third of their usual capacity. In Gwyrosydd this would mean roughly 150 pupils maximum. 

Our aim is to provide the opportunity for groups (bubbles) of children (with a maximum of 8 in each) to spend four full days at school during the period from June 29^th to July 24^th. 

Unfortunately, our Nursery pupils will not return until September as the Local Authority has made a county wide decision that they should not return at this time.

The staff at our school will do their utmost to ensure that the social distancing protocol of 2m is adhered to at all times. There will also be a rigorous health and safety programme in place to ensure that everybody is as safe as possible whilst on school premises. We are currently in the process of completing risk assessments and physically spacing furniture and learning resources, as well as sourcing hygiene products and safety signage. Whilst moving around the school, staff and pupils will need to abide by ‘travel rules’ system that will be put in place to allow safe movement around the school as well as keeping to the ‘2m rule’.  There will be markers on the floor to serve as a visual reminder.  Where pupils’ needs mean that social distancing cannot be maintained, school staff will be provided with personal protective equipment (PPE) that they will need to ensure that they and the pupils remain safe. However, in line with Welsh Government and LA guidance we are not encouraging the wearing of Wearing them at other times, this is a matter of personal discretion for each individual member of staff.

We will send you further information as soon as possible and you will get a lot more information at the start of next week so that you can prepare your children for their potential return to school. Initial information we can share is as follows. Gwyrosydd will be operating as below:

• From June 29^th to July 24^th there will be four opportunities for your child to attend school, one day each week. 
• We will be open to children on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday – your child will be allocated a day of the week they can attend. (Where possible, pupils from the same family will attend on the same day)
• Classrooms will look very different to normal - desks will be placed separately and much of the furniture will have been removed.
• When in class each child will be at a desk 2m apart from other pupils, please be aware that if children do not keep to social distancing rules they will need to be collected and taken home.
• The children will partake in a mixture of well-being, literacy and numeracy lessons as well as being prepared for the ‘new normal’ approach to learning and remote learning that will continue in September.
• Pupils will be placed in a bubble of up to 8 children. Whilst ‘bubbles’ are not a requirement in the guidance sent top schools, we feel that it is the best way we can manage and minimise risk to the children and adults including yourselves. As a general rule Bubbles will not be permitted to mix with other bubbles. Children will remain with their bubble at all times - during lessons, break times and lunch time.
• In order to ensure social distancing, each bubble will be allocated a specific time of arrival to and collection from school (e.g. 8:45-8:55am, 9:00-9:10am). Pupils from the same family may arrive together. We ask that only one adult bring their children to school and collect them at the end of the day.
• There will be no breakfast club.
• Staff will meet and register the pupils at their allocated door to enter the school and guide them to their classroom.
• Parents and guardians will not be permitted inside the main reception or any other part of the school. We kindly ask that you communicate with us via telephone or email.
• An emphasis will be placed on the importance of hygiene throughout the day with regular handwashing throughout the day.
• Teachers will continue to provide learning opportunities for all pupils via Teams, Class Dojo and Active Learn.
• It is likely that remote learning will continue into the autumn term. If you need assistance with this, please contact us.
• Parents may choose to keep their children home I assure you that those who choose to do so will not be fined.

Emergency Childcare (Hub)

The availability of this provision continues only for those who are eligible.  Numbers will be strictly limited and we acknowledge that we will not be able to meet the potential demand. Children who attend the hub will not be taught by teachers. When Gwyrosydd opens again on June 29^th, we will continue to offer this provision to children of key workers, prioritising those who have needed to make regular use of the facility to work. Should too many children attend this facility, it may impact on the number of children who can attend school to Check in, Catch Up and Prepare for summer and September.  Should this happen, we may need to prioritise eligibility to childcare in line with many other councils across Wales (priority to families where both parents, or one single parent, are key workers as well as those have already made use of the hub provision).  If space is available, we will do our utmost to support all key worker families.  I would like to emphasise that this provision is key worker emergency childcare where no alternative arrangements can be made. If alternative arrangements can be made, one parent is at home or can work from home, then children should not be attending the hub.

I am aware that this is a lot of information to process.  

Children will be place into a bubble and you as parents will be informed of their slot.  After which it will not be possible to reorganise or amend these bubbles.

Please remember that the safety of our pupils and staff will be our main priority during this period.