CRITICAL WORKERS

Critical Workers & Vulnerable children

Dear parents and carers,

School is now closed for all pupils apart from vulnerable children and children of critical workers. The governments' eligibility criteria can be found here. Please carefully read this before registering a place.

Due to the increase in numbers of children attending school during this lock down, the government has updated it's guidance to say that 'Children with at least one parent or carer who is a critical worker can go to school or college if required, but parents and carers should keep their children at home if they can.' This will help to reduce the spread of Covid-19 in the community.

Further information is set out below and I will need all eligible parents to complete the survey by clicking on the link at the bottom of the page.

Please rest assured that we have carefully followed all of the relevant guidance with our planning and that this has been overseen and monitored by the Governing Body. Every measure possible is being taken to reduce the risk of transmission of Covid-19.

Thank you for everything that you are doing as critical workers and please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any questions about the recent changes by emailing us on:

parentsupport@ilfracombe-jun.devon.sch.uk

Kind regards,

Mr Le Bredonchel

Head Teacher

Critical Worker Survey

Vulnerable children and Critical workers - Information for parents

Coronavirus symptoms?

Do not send your child into school if they, or a member of your household, has any of the following symptoms:

high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you've noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal

Most people with coronavirus have at least one of these symptoms. Information about Coronavirus in children can be found here:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-in-children/

Protective measures

We have based our plans to reopen the school further on the government guidance which can be found here:

Primary planning document

We have based our school risk assessment on the government guidance for implementing protective measures in schools. It can be found here:

Protective measures in school

Pupil groups

Children of key workers from each year will be kept in consistent groups as much as possible with a teacher and a teaching assistant. The teachers of the groups may change on a rota basis and further details will be confirmed as soon as we possible.

Access and exit from school

Children of key worker groups will enter and exit the school site via the bottom gate and top gate only and at their designated time. It is important that children arrive no earlier or later than their designated time slot. Parents should not congregate and wait on the pavements outside of school - the markings on the pavement will help with social distancing. Please wear a face covering on school grounds.

Year 3 (Bottom Playground)

Start of day: 8.50am - 9am

End of day: 3.20pm

Year 4 (Bottom Playground)

Start of day: 8.40am - 8.50am

End of day: 3.10pm

Year 5 (Top Gate)

Start of day 8.50am - 9am

End of day 3.20pm

Year 6 (Top Gate)

Start of day: 8.40am - 8.50am

End of day: 3.10pm

Breakfast Club can be offered to all pupils before school.

Further measures to support good hygiene and social distancing

We have put in place significant changes to our school routine and practice to help support social distancing and effective hygiene control. Despite these best efforts, it should be noted that we are unable to guarantee that children will observe 2m for social distancing. The government has also stated that schools cannot be expected to do this.

When arriving and exiting the school site, children and adults will remain at a minimum distance of 2 metres apart wherever possible.
Times for break and lunch times have been staggered to minimise contact between different groups.
Each group has been assigned their own designated zone for play and this will be rotated on a weekly basis.
A system to control movement around the school site throughout the day will help to minimise contact between groups and individuals.
Furniture in every classroom has been rearranged to provide each child and adult with their own designated work space. Each child will be provided with a tray of their own resources. These areas will be wiped down and sanitised on a regular basis throughout the day.
Children and adults will follow a strict routine of handwashing: upon arrival to school; before and after break; before and after lunch; after any Daily Physical Activity (DPA) or PE sessions; and before the end of the day.

Curriculum

When in school, the children will be receiving a structured curriculum for their year group. Lessons will be following our normal school timetable and will match the remote learning that is being undertaken by pupils at home as closely as possible.

Uniform

Pupils will need to come into school everyday in clean, warm and appropriate clothes. We appreciate that it might be difficult to wash and dry a school uniform every day and therefore they will not be required to wear it if this proves to be inconvenient. PE kits and trainers need to be brought into school for PE and your child’s group teacher will let you know what day this will be.