Posted on: 18/10/2024Latest News
Welcome Back!
Dear Parents and Carers,
We hope you’ve enjoyed a restful summer and that your children are ready for the new school year - we can’t wait to see them again!
The government has now officially removed all the previous restrictions on social distancing, consistent groupings and isolation of close contacts (‘bubbles’) for schools. This allows us more freedom in how we operate, however we are mindful of the uncertain nature of the pandemic as we move through the autumn term into the winter. Infection rates in Somerset are currently high and it is likely that there will be further spread in the months ahead. Children (and staff) who test positive for Covid-19 will still be required to self-isolate for 10 days and so to ensure the smooth running of the school, it is still very much our intention to do all we can to reduce transmission of the virus, whilst prioritising education for all our children.
Arrival at and departure from school
We continue to recommend face coverings on site during busy periods, but as with the national guidance, this is now a matter of personal responsibility.
As the one-way system has worked so effectively this year, we will be continuing with this from September 2021. The school day will start at 08:45 for all children and end at 15:15 (nursery will continue to be 9am-3pm). Parents/carers will be able to drop off and collect their child/children as per normal arrangements. Just as a reminder, the school register is taken at 0855 and children must be punctual in keeping with our school policy.
These arrangements have worked well to ensure a calmer start and end to the school day, whilst fostering greater independence in the children.
If you give permission for your KS2 child to walk home by themselves or to be collected by someone other than main parents and carers, please make sure you have updated this information with the main office during the first week of the term..
Other arrangements
We will of course continue to ensure that frequent hand washing and education on the importance of good hand and respiratory hygiene remains in place. Classrooms will be well-ventilated throughout the school day as part of our normal practice. We are looking forward to returning to some shared assemblies with the children. We will also be resuming our range of extra-curricular after-school activities - more information on this to follow next week. The first day of term is Wednesday 8th September for all year groups excluding Reception (please see Year R-specific letter for your details).
Wrap-around care is available from 7:45am until 5.30pm every day. This can be booked, along with school meals, through your Parentmail account.
Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to working with you for our children in 2021-22. We will write to you again next week detailing our Covid-19 outbreak management plans and what this might mean if cases in school rise. If you have any questions or you need to speak to us about your personal situation, we are here for you - please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Yours faithfully
Steve Morton
Head of School
