Covid - 19 News Update

Update 22.05.2020   Drop Off and Pick Up Week One

Dear Parents/Carers,

Below are the drop off and pick up times for the relevant ‘classroom bubbles’.  Please make sure you stick to the timetable below so that we can ensure smooth transition between classes.  I look forward to seeing you on Monday June 1^st as we begin to bring our school community together.  Many thanks.

Mr Spooner

PLEASE ALSO SEE MAP BELOW FOR THE LOCATIONS OF GATES 1, 2, 3 AND 4

Phased reopening at St Nicolas 

Dear Parents/Carers, 

I hope you are all well and continuing to support one another during this time of separation and uncertainty within our school community.  Before I begin to explain our plan to reopen school, it’s crucial to say that both your child’s as well as my staff’s well-being and safety continue to be at the heart of any decision we make.

You will have seen over the last 10 days that the Government believe we are in a position to reopen primary schools for certain year groups, following strict health and safety/hygiene guidelines and administering restrictions to class sizes and adult contact.  I have been working hard to consider the logistics of implementing the recent Government guidelines based on both staff availability and overall capacity of our school building.  Both the Governors and I believe that the safest and most cautious approach to reopening school is by staggering the introduction of Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 during the first three weeks of Term 6.  Prior to half-term, I will contact all Reception parents to inform you which class your child has been placed and what time you will need to drop-off and pick-up including the relevant entrance gate to use.  This will also include some more details about the week.

Please also note that school will close for all children every Friday at 12:35pm. 

Please see the table below that summarises this phased return approach:-

Week 1 – Monday June 1^st

We will evaluate the first week of return taking into consideration the need to plan for the maximum number of Reception pupils and key worker/targeted family pupils returning to school.  If we feel that we can safely reintegrate a new year group on a full-time basis then the following plan will be implemented for week 2.

Week 2 – Monday June 8^th 

As in Week 1, we will evaluate the provision of Week 2 and, if feasible, we will move to the following phase of opening.

Week 3 – Monday June 15^th 

Please note:

• We will prepare ‘learn packs’ to be distributed to all pupils from Year 1 to Year 6 for the first two weeks of Term 6.  Each pack will also have your child’s school e-mail and password that they will be able to activate so that we can begin rolling out our digital platform where learning communication can begin to take place remotely in each class.  The distribution of ‘learn packs’ will take place on Friday May 29^th (please see the distribution timetable below)

• Key worker classes will continue to run in the current format so that children should only attend school on days where a place is required.  School must be informed of days required on a weekly basis.  Key worker classes will also be run by their year group teaching staff and their flexible timetable will allow staff to begin developing remote learning to children not attending school in their relevant classes.
• If we have planned for the reintegration of a year group, then there is an expectation that every child in that year group will return to school on a full-time basis.  If you are considering to keep your child at home and provision is in place at school, then we will not continue detailed remote learning from home.  We will only continue personalised learning for individual children who are unable to return to school based on an underlying severe health need following Government guidance.  School may request a copy of this.  We can signpost relevant links that you can use to home school but staff workload will have to be considered, therefore in-school teaching must become the priority.  For these year groups, you are required to e-mail the school each Monday morning on the dedicated absence e-mail (absence.3247@st-nicolas.oxon.sch.uk)to inform us that your child will not be attending school for that week.  You must continue to e-mail school every Monday morning until you make the parental choice when you feel it’s safe for your child to return to school.
• To prevent cross-contamination within allocated groups of 15 children, we will not be able to provide either Breakfast Club or After-School Club. 
• We are unable to supply hot cooked school meals during Term 6.  However, we have arranged with our school caterer to provide brunch bags for all pupils entitled to Universal Free School Meals and free school meals.  All other pupils will need to bring their own packed lunch or alternatively you can order a school provided brunch through Scopay.
• School uniform must be worn by every pupil attending school in Term 6.
• The risk assessment that supports the phased reopening of school on Monday June 1^st can be located on the school website under the ‘Covid 19 News Update’ tab located in the ‘Parents’ section.

We understand that national decisions and Government guidance could change over the forthcoming days and weeks.  We will endeavour to stay in close contact with you all should the plan change and act accordingly with the school community continuing to be at the heart of any decision made.  Any future provision for reintegrating further year groups will be discussed nearer the time but, based on the current guidance and health and safety requirements, we would not have the capacity to increase our number of children in school.

Please do not hesitate to contact the school office should you require any assistance or need to seek further clarity.  We will ensure that someone is available to answer all of your questions.

Can I take this opportunity to thank my amazing staff team who have stepped up and adapted during the school closure, embracing and supporting myself with the changes ahead.  Can I also continue to thank each and every one of you for your incredible love and support.  We must remain unified as a school community and make the appropriate effort to safely reintegrate our pupils, but at a rate that works for our unique setting.  It’s going to take time but we will eventually look forward to the day that we finally come together as a whole school community.

Kind regards,

Mr Spooner

Headteacher