Hello and welcome back from a very warm / wet half term break!
Covid
As you are aware the country has moved into another stage of combating the Covid-19 pandemic. The Government has asked the nation to stay at home from Thursday until the start of December.
However, schooling is one of the exceptions to this. Pupils are still required to attend school if they are well and do not have an extended shielding letter.
Other exceptions are:
- For work, say if you cannot work from home;
- For exercise and recreation outdoors, with your household or on your own with one person from another household;
- For medical reasons, appointments and to escape injury or harm;
- To shop for food and essentials;
- And to provide care for vulnerable people, or as a volunteer.
Whilst I know that many of you may be anxious about your child, yourself and your family, please be reassured that we have strong systems in place with the altered timetable to allow us to deliver both the full curriculum and minimise risk. At all times the physical and mental well being of pupils and staff has been our number one priority.
- Pathway 1 pupils remain fully class based and will take their breaks at different times to the rest of the school.
- All other pupils are predominantly class based in their tutor base.
- Pupils are only moving about the school for subjects which require a specialist room or for options.
- The one way system remains in place and MUST be followed to reduce casual contact about the site.
- Staff should remind pupils who are able to, to safely don a mask prior to leaving a classroom (washing or sanitising hands prior to doing so).
- Staff should don a mask to move about communal areas and when working with a group outside their tutor bubble where they CANNOT maintain 2 metres distancing.
- Rooms should have doors kept open to minimise contact with frequently touched surfaces except where the lesson is noisy and may disturb others.
- Windows should remain open to allow ventilation but staff should be pragmatic about adjusting this to ensure a comfortable room temperature for everyone (blankets are available for those who feel the cold).
- All staff should continue to model, encourage and assist pupils to frequently clean their hands, maintain social distance, to cover their face when moving about communal areas.
- Pupils continue to eat lunch in their tutor bases.
- Staff using communal rooms should wear face coverings unless eating or drinking
One member of our community has now been tested positive for Covid-19. This was reported to the DfE and Public Health Team and thankfully, due to the person and their family following the guidance, there was NO EXPOSURE to any pupils or staff and we have not had to ask anyone to isolate.
This confirms for me the importance of following the guidance on isolation.
Face coverings
Thank you to everyone who is able to wear a face covering for doing so.
I have noticed that several pupils who have a face covering and put it on to come into school are not wearing the covering on transport. I have raised this with the transport team and asked for them to support pupils to remember to put their masks on.
Please can the family member who supports their child prior to them entering transport, help them to put their covering on before entering transport.
Many thanks for your help.
Assembly
This week's assembly was virtual with no pupils in attendance. We looked at: fireworks and firework safety; the fact that many different cultures and religions use fireworks to celebrate; the origins and history of bonfire night and then discussed tolerance for different beliefs, faiths, cultures, traditions and anything that makes us different from each other.
We also talked about the fact that not everybody actually enjoys loud noises, and this might include pets and wildlife.
As fires blaze, we hear loud bangs and rockets streak up high.
Fireworks of every kind light up the darkening sky.
Keep us safe this Bonfire Night, help us enjoy the fun.
But remember it’s alarming and frightening to some.
Help us to consider, the things that we can do
To shelter others from their fears, so they enjoy it, too.
Prayer for Tolerance
Dear Lord, please help us, we pray today
To find patience and tolerance in every way
That we may be gracious in all things
A calm and pleasant person in our living
Grant us the virtue of tolerance
So we can help the World achieve balance
With kindness and tolerance we will see
Everything better for humanity.
Build
Wednesday 4th November saw 34 lorry loads of cement being poured into the foundations for the new school building! We are delighted to see the work moving on a pace.
We are currently looking at when we will move into the new building and the impact this may have on our ability to remain open whilst we do so. We are currently discussing a possible school closure of three additional days at the start of September 2021 to allow staff to unpack and set up classrooms ready for pupils. I will confirm these dates with you as soon as possible.
Colder weather and clothing
As we are encouraging all pupils to have some movement during the day as we are still predominantly class based, pupils are going outside when its cold and even if there is a little bit of drizzle (of course, we make adjustments for pupils who are unable to do this for health or other reasons). To aid us, please can you ensure your child has a warm, showerproof outer coat to wear.
Please also ensure they have good footwear as we are using all available spaces, some of which are on grass.
As we are keeping rooms well ventilated we are allowing pupils to bring an additional jumper to wear in classes. Staff are monitoring temperatures and closing windows if it is too cold and then opening them at lesson change over to bring fresh air into the room. Class doors are all propped open at all times for air flow and decreased risk of cross infection unless the lesson is particularly boisterous and noisy!
PE
Please be aware that on days your child has PE they should come to school already in their PE clothing and footwear.
My thoughts are with you all and I hope that everyone is coping with the new restrictions. We are a community and are here to support you and each other.
Strong today
Stronger tomorrow
Strongest together
Very best wishes,
Mrs Rigby
Head Teacher
