OAK BITES 22^nd June 2020

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Dear Fair Oak Family,

Happy Monday. A few weeks ago the government announced that they would not be expecting all children to return. However, we have a plan….

Since the announcement, we have been busy looking at options to be able to give children a Keep in touch day or two. Why? By September, the majority of our children would have not entered school for nearly 25 weeks and I am really concerned about how they will feel when it is time to return. Why have we not communicated this to parents sooner? Simply, because our Key worker numbers have risen considerably (some weeks this has been a rise of 46%), and I needed enough data to put the plan into action without getting hopes up.

The plan at the moment is for all children to have at least one day in school in a bubble of up to 15 of their classmates. This day will be with your child’s class teacher, unless they are isolating due to being medically vulnerable.

• Year 3: 1 or 2 days week beginning 29^th June (next week)
• Year 5: 1 or 2 days week beginning 6^th July
• Year 4: 1 or 2 days week beginning 13^th July
• Year 6 parents – We are planning on holding a celebratory day for our year 6 children on Wednesday 22^nd July. To prepare for this, school will be closed to year 6 children on Monday 20^th and Tuesday 21^st July. School will remain open for Key Worker/Vulnerable children.

As you can imagine, there are a number of variables with getting the children back:

1. Key worker numbers may rise significantly, resulting in the plan to change or not happen at all
2. Some classes have 34 children in them, so we can’t simply divide the class in 2
3. Classes will be split into bubbles – which will be organised by the register (this is not going to be based on friendship choices etc.)
4. Teachers may get poorly
5. Timings for the day will look different for you and your child, e.g. staggered starts and end to the school day

In order to finalise the plan, I need you to complete a survey monkey. Unfortunately, exact days for the weeks cannot be given, as these will depend on the data from the survey monkey. For you as parents, I realise that it will be tricky to sign up to 1 or 2 days in a week when you don’t know which days you are signing up for. I completely appreciate this, particularly for the year 3 children next week. However I need the survey monkey data in order to make this decision, as there is a significant amount of planning behind the scenes for this to succeed.

Please also note, that if your child is a Key Worker/Vulnerable child, you will need to decide whether your child comes into school for the week as a Key Worker or for the 1 or 2 days with his/her class bubble. Children will not be crossing bubbles. This can be indicated on the survey monkey.

What do I need from you?

• To complete the survey monkey by 10am on Wednesday 24^th June. If it has not been completed by this time, your child will not be able to attend. I do not require a survey for year 6 children.
• If you select that you do not want your child to attend, we will not be able to change the register – so no means no
• Key Worker parents – you will need to decide whether your child will be joining their class bubble for 1 or 2 days or the key worker bubble. Children will not cross bubbles. The Key Worker/Vulnerable register will come out tomorrow as normal. If your child will be coming to school as part of his/her class bubble, please do not complete the Key Worker register, as s/he cannot be in multiple bubbles.
• Please read the information below about what school will look like.

I will be writing to you all again with further details about the day/days once all the data is in. This will include information on timings/lunch arrangement etc.

What will school look like?

Since ‘lockdown’ we have managed to keep all children and staff safe at school. If you are planning to send your child into school, you may be wondering what school will look like, or how we will keep your child as safe as possible – here is a (not exhaustive) list of things that we are doing in school:

• Children will be in bubbles/groups – there will be a maximum of 15 children in each of these
• Staggering the start and end of the day for Year 6 children – see table below
• All children will have a thermal check as they enter school – If a child’s temperature is 37.8 degrees or above, they will be isolated for a thermometer check
• Children will need to wash their hands when they arrive into the building and at various points throughout the day
• Hand sanitiser stations have been placed throughout the building and hand sanitiser is available in each classroom. Please note that this is 70% alcohol. Please instruct your child not to use it, if they have specific medical conditions
• Fewer children are in each class and classrooms have been set out to provide maximum social distancing – see picture example
• Children’s tables have been marked with a cross (denoting where not to sit)
• All soft furnishings have been removed from the classrooms and book corners have been turned around, so that children cannot access them. On that note, the library is out of action
• The Relationships Policy (behaviour Policy) has been changed to address behaviour management with COVID19. Posters have been created for each classroom.
• The Marking and Feedback Policy has been changed to address potential cross contamination. Posters have been created for each classroom.
• Government-recommended Posters have also been printed for each classroom
• Fire arrangements have been updated. Clear guidance for evacuation routes will be in each classroom
• New bins have been purchased for each classroom – after each use, please wash hands or use hand sanitiser
• Children will have allocated drop off and collection points – see table below
• Children will have allocated playing spaces for lunchtime and playtime
• Whilst new gym equipment has been installed, this will need to be cleaned before and after each use.
• Children will be encouraged to eat their lunches inside their classrooms, or outside in their designated playing space.
• The intention is to clean classrooms when the children are out at lunchtime.
• The Physio room has been designated as the space to use if anyone displays symptoms of COVID19.

Key Worker/Vulnerable Pupils

• As our numbers have grown considerably, we will endeavour to get the children into their zones as quickly as possible. This mean that from Tuesdays the register will be completed in their bubble zones.
• Here are the new arrangements:
• Mondays – register and lunch choices taken at the main green gate
• Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursday and Fridays - register and lunch choices taken by the bubble adult. If your child is unsure where to go, they will simply need to ask the adult responsible at the green gate
• Thermal pictures will still be taken of every child
• Please ensure that you complete the registers – as I cannot guarantee that your child will be granted access if this is not done, due to the level of planning needed.

Thank you for your continued support.

Mr De Silva