What will ‘learning’ look like?

In line with health guidance, children and young people are in the same small groups at all times each day, and different groups will not be encouraged to mix during the day.

Children will have designated days to attend and school will start either at 9:00 or 9:20 for each class and finish at 2:20 or 2:40 so that all pupils can enter and leave safely. They will enter via the identified doors (See timetable)

There will be a teacher and a Learning Support assistant in each class and as far as can be possibly maintained, the same staff will be with the children through the day and on each day that they attend. Whilst inside the building, the children will use only their classroom as a base.

For the next few weeks, uniform is optional. Children are not expected to wear it as they will probably have outgrown it! However, if it still fits them and they want to wear it as it makes them feel more comfortable, that is perfectly acceptable. (Uniform will be mandatory again from September. You can order uniform through the main office if you would like to do so.) 

On entry all children will have hand sanitiser put on their hands, please encourage them to rub it in and then go to the classroom and wash their hands. On entry to the class, staff and children will wash their hands for at least 20 seconds (Sing happy birthday song to yourself twice). 

Frequent handwashing will take place throughout the day. E.g. play, lunch, after being outside. Staff will teach and reinforce with the children how to wash their hands thoroughly. Disposable paper towels will be in the classroom along with bins specifically for the disposal of used towels tissues etc.  Children are encouraged not to touch their faces. If they need to cough or sneeze, they will be taught to use an elbow or a tissue and to use bins for tissue waste.

As we all know, we have to ensure 2m spacing wherever possible so the children will sit at the desks as they appear in the pictures that are attached. However, we will be making use of as much outdoor learning as we possibly can, so we don’t anticipate or expect the children to sit at their desk all day. However, when we are in we will expect them to stay at their learning stations and follow the teacher’s instructions to stay safe. If children refuse to do this, sadly, for the safety of other they may need to go home.

The Education Minister has reinforced the importance of being outside if possible… “schools should maximise the time outdoors”. We will therefore go outside as much as possible and read stories, draw, colour, play games, explore, exercise, do mindfulness activities, do yoga etc.

When inside there will still be a focus on wellbeing but we will most definitely include a focus on ‘digital learning’ and how we access Hwb accounts, learning activities, resources like ‘Active Learn’ and how we share our work so that we all know what to do and where to get help. More information will be sent out about digital learning and the school’s strategy for this shortly.

Classes will have no more than 8 pupils and each class will have an allocated Teacher and Learning Support Assistant. Who will stay with them through the day. 

Every child will have their own pens, pencils, rubber, ruler etc, provided by the school, and these will be kept in individual wallets and then trays. Any written work will be complete in a single book during this initial return to school. There will be no ‘shared’ resources and where children use resources like playdough they will be in individual bags for use by one child only. Other resources available have been organised into a use, clean and store rotation basis for each group. Sadly, reading books cannot come home at present but online reading books are available through ‘Active Learn’. We are looking at how we can lend children books to take home over the summer break.

In terms of social distancing, staff do understand that some children, especially the younger ones, will have difficulty in maintaining social distance. Where this happens please be assured that staff will encourage them to learn and respect ‘social distance’ rather than take an authoritarian approach. However, where children are seen to deliberately break the rule and disregard requests to follow the rules, then a more disciplinary approach will need to be employed in order to keep everyone safe. If we believe it is necessary, you will be called and asked to take them home. You must collect them.

At play times, the children will go out onto the yard in year groups but each class will be allocated one of the yards to ‘play’ on. We are still exploring what resources can be given to them to play with. E.g. hula hoops can be used by individuals as long as they are wiped between each individual using the hoop!

Children must take any coats or bags to class with them and they will be stored at their table for the day. Any belongings must go home at the end of the day.

ALL Children will need to bring sandwiches and water for lunch. Lunch will need to be eaten in the classroom. Staff will clean tables before and after the children have eaten. Children will also need to bring their own snack or playtime as the Tuck Shop cannot be run at this time.

Tables will be cleaned regularly by staff in the room through the day. E.g. play, lunch, after being outside.

All Children will require their own water bottle that they bring to school each day. Water fountains are out of use but the bottle can be refilled from taps in school, with staff wiping the taps regularly for cleanliness.

Guidance and risk assessments inform us that we need to control access to the toilets. This does not mean that they can’t go to the toilet, but it means that there will be rules that must be followed and that children may have to wait briefly outside then toilet at busy times. We have to place a limit of 4 pupils in each toilet block at one time and this does mean that toilets will need to be monitored by staff who will need to control access, dispense hand sanitiser where necessary and ensure safety. If children need to go to the toilet during lesson times, please understand that they will need to be escorted to ensure that children stay safe. Staff will wait outside in the corridors. 

Children will enter and leave the building at specified times through doors for each class. Please see the attached timetable /list. There can be no exceptions. Please be prompt in collecting your child. Where you have more than one child in school, staff will help by holding on to your child but you must make every effort to collect them as quickly as possible. Thank you for your anticipated support. 

The school is providing timetabled opportunities for all pupils from Reception to Y6 to attend for at least 3 days over the next three. This may become four based on Local Authority decisions.

Masks and protective equipment. Other than where social distancing can’t be maintained and there is an increased risk to health, the staff will not be wearing masks, visors and PPE in class. Times when we would wear PPE would include

Administering First Aid where body fluid is involved 

Helping those with health plans that might have medical needs or personal hygiene care. 

Supporting pupils with additional needs where the wearing off PPE reduces risk to the pupils and the staff with whom they work.