COVID-19 Coronavirus
School Update Information
Dear Parents and Carers,
As you know, the Governors and I decided a few weeks ago to not open school up more widely to the Government’s suggested year groups. A lot has happened since this decision was made and the Governors and I have decided to revise our plans for the last two weeks of term.
Over the last few weeks, more pupils have returned to schools both locally and nationally and, from what I have seen and heard so far, it has not had a dramatic impact on the infection rate. The Government have also relaxed more of the restrictions and life is heading closer to normality although we are still far from being 100% safe.
I am incredibly pleased with the support that I have received from everyone regarding our decision to not re-open to Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 children, however, I have noticed that more of you are raising concerns about the mental well-being of your child/ren. I have heard that children are missing school and their friends and that you feel they will struggle further over the summer holidays. I am also aware that the uncertainty around what will happen in September makes the situation even more difficult for yourselves and your child/ren; I am hoping and praying that things will continue to improve and that we will be able to welcome everyone back into school full time in September.
I am aware that the transition work that we normally do towards the end of the school year, including ‘Swap Mornings’ to new classes, helps the children adapt to the changes especially the big steps from Nursery to Reception Class, Year 2 to Year 3 and Year 6 to High School.
Your child’s safety and well-being is my main priority. I know that physically it is safest for them to be at home, however, I also know that for the majority of children it would be beneficial for their mental well-being to be in school. This is the dilemma that has troubled me throughout. I have a proposal/solution that I hope you will see is an appropriate compromise to help relieve some anxiety whilst keeping the children as safe as possible.
Over the last two weeks of term ie weeks beginning 6th and 13th July, I am offering all of our children, including those joining us in September, some time in school for transition work to be completed.
The basic proposal is:
Week beginning 6th July 2020:
- All children joining us in Reception Class in September will be offered a morning in school in small groups with their new teachers and classmates.
- Current Reception children from Blossom and Willow Class will be offered a session in school with their current class; I know that the current situation has hit these children the hardest.
- Year 6 pupils will be invited in for four transition sessions, ether mornings or afternoons from Monday-Thursday ending on Thursday, 9th July 2020 with a celebration/reflection event.
- The current Care Club will run as normal for children that have been allocated specific days. The Care Club will finish on Friday, 10th July 2020.
Week beginning 13th July 2020:
- Children in Reception Class up to Year 5 will be offered four sessions, either a morning or an afternoon from Monday-Thursday, in their new classes. Later this week you will be informed via Class Dojo which class your child/ren will be in from September.
- Year 6 children will carry on with their remote learning at home.
- There will be no Care Club this week or during the summer holidays. All the identified Key Worker children will be allocated morning sessions in their relevant class; if you are an identified Key Worker and are unable to provide care for your child/ren in the afternoons please contact the school office to make arrangements.
- On Friday, 17th July 2020 I will be meeting with all staff to make plans for September.
For full details please refer to your child’s specific year group letter that has been emailed to you.
Wherever possible, the aim is to allocate morning or afternoon sessions that match children with their brothers and sisters. There will be staggered start and finish times, please adhere to these where possible; if you have children in different classes please attend at the earliest start and end times.
As mentioned, full details, including timings, what to wear etc. are covered in the specific year group letters sent out via email, please inform your child’s class teacher if you are not taking up our offer.
I would like to re-iterate that these arrangements are to support your child as I feel it will be a great benefit to them; it is not compulsory for your child to attend and I fully understand your decision if you choose to keep your child at home. Unfortunately, I am unable to guarantee a totally COVID-19 safe environment as I cannot ensure that children will adhere to the recommended 2 meters social distancing guidelines at all times; we have precautions in place to minimise the risks but I cannot completely remove these.
To minimise contact with other parents and children we will have different timings for the day; each ‘bubble’ will be allocated a different start and finish time (detailed in the specific year group letter) and there will be no break or dinner times.
Parents will not be allowed to enter the school grounds; children must be dropped off at the school gate and I request that only one parent accompany them. Please arrive at school as close as possible to your child's allocated time and leave straight after.
I would also like to take this opportunity to update you on the staff changes from September and below is an overview of the staff who will be covering each class:
Blossom Class: Mrs Thompson with Mr Silwanowicz and Mrs Nisbet
Willow Class: Mrs Cremona (full time) with Mrs Cox (Mon/Tues) and Mrs Badat (Wed-Fri)
Sycamore Class: Ms Benson with Mrs Williamson
Beech Class: Mrs Archibald with Mrs Fletcher (Mon-Thur) and Mrs Lysiak
Y3: Mrs Shorrock (Mon-Tues) and Mrs Bennett (Wed-Fri) with Mrs Kazee and Mrs Walker (Mon-Wed)
Y3/4: Miss Johnrose with Mrs Chohan (Mon-Thur) and Mrs Lysiak
Y4/5: Mrs Dowson with Mrs Smithson-Shaw (Tue-Fri)
Y5/6: Mrs Goulding with Mrs Ingham (Mon-Wed) and Mr Floodgate (Thurs-Fri)
Y6: Mrs Patel with Mrs Patel
You will have noticed that Mr Toquero is not included. Mr T is leaving us at the end of term to pursue new interests. We have appointed Miss Johnrose who was a Teaching Assistant at our school and left at the end of last year to undertake teacher training. After a very successful year gaining her teaching qualification I am pleased to announce that she is re-joining us as a teacher in September.
Also leaving us at the end of term is Miss Richardson, our PE Coach. She has gained a place at university and will be training to be a PE teacher.
Both Mr T and Miss Richardson will be greatly missed and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their dedication to our children and school community.
If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to Dojo your classteacher, email me directly on head@st-augustines-pri.lancs.sch.uk or ring the school office on 01772 253851.
Thank you for your continued support and please stay safe.
Yours sincerely,
John Entwistle
Headteacher
19/5/20
Dear Parents and Carers,
Following the Government’s announcement last week, I know that you will have many questions and concerns about Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 children possibly returning to school in June. We have been working on proposals to minimise the risks to your child, parents and staff. In the documents below you will find an outline of the safety measures that we will implement. I hope that these arrangements will help you to make an informed decision about your child’s return to school.
I also hope you will see that we are trying to keep everyone as safe as possible. We all know the importance of social distancing and the need to stay 2 meters apart; we will aim to enforce this with our children but I am sure you are aware how difficult this will be, especially with our younger children. The number of people your child comes into contact with will be controlled by introducing a ‘bubble’ system ie working groups of 7-15 children and your child will be in the same group at all times including break and lunchtimes.
For children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 their return to school would be expected, however, the decision is yours; you have to do what you feel is right for your child. The Government has announced that there will be no recourse if you decide to keep your child at home and we will continue to provide home learning support. Please let me know as soon as possible if your child will be returning to school or not.
If you have any questions or concerns please Dojo your classteacher, email me directly or ring me via the school office on 01772 253851; I am in school from Wednesday to Friday this week.
Many thanks for your continued support – stay safe.
Yours sincerely,
John Entwistle
Headteacher
General Coronavirus Advice and Support
Below are some documents and links to help children understand what is happening. There are also ideas to help them if they have any worries or concerns.
Special Educational Needs Support During Covid19
Resources for talking to your child about Coronavirus