We have put thoroughly thought-out systems in place that take every step of a student’s school day into consideration. These are in accordance with government guidelines and are designed to keep our community safe, whilst ensuring our staff and students feel welcome and supported. These measures include, but are not limited to:

Transportation

Students who travel with a chaperone or driver observe social distancing in their vehicles, and are encouraged to wear a mask if they are able and not exempt. Students will be provided with a mask if they do not have one.

Arrival at the school

Each student is greeted by a member of staff who will guide them through the hygiene process. This includes:

● Hand sanitisation upon arrival with hand sanitiser provided by the school

● Careful removal and safe disposal or storage of their personal mask, and replacement with a clean mask for use in the school building for non-exempt students

● Handwashing followed by further sanitisation

Each student’s specific needs are taken into account, and staff adopt a responsive, communicative approach to ensure the individual feels secure, looked after and reassured.

Breakfast

We have introduced ‘grab bags’ to avoid queuing.

Lesson time

Staff are proactive in supporting and guiding socially responsible behaviour, using positive reinforcement and communicating calmly and clearly. We aim to lead by example, demonstrating best practice through our actions and encouraging replication of responsible behaviours. We have also put the following measures in place to ensure safe learning stations:

Ensuring social distancing

● Different student groups have been allocated different days to attend the school grounds, external activities, or learn from home to help implement social distancing

● As well as minimising the number of students within the physical building each day, we have sectioned the school into ‘Learning Zones’. Each group is allocated an area where they will be based and taught throughout the day

● Furniture has been arranged to ensure safe distances are observed when seated

● Sports activities will continue to take place either outdoors or in the gym, ensuring there is good ventilation

Frequent and thorough sanitisation

● Hand sanitisers are readily available and use is encouraged throughout the day, particularly when moving between learning stations. We have also installed more sinks throughout, facilitating more handwashing

● Staff are stringent in their sanitization of work areas and equipment after each class

● The school is deep cleaned at the end of each day, with a particular focus on sanitising communal areas

● Students are allocated their own equipment in each lesson and will not share any materials, such as stationary or tools

● Games which require multiple people to touch the apparatus are, for the time being, no longer allowed

Lunchtime

We have allocated two areas for dining to ensure social distancing is easily observed. Staff will be on hand to help students maintain a safe distance whilst also being able to socially interact.

Going home

Students are called downstairs once their method of getting home arrives; this avoids congregating. Masks worn in school are safely disposed of at the end of each day, and any personal masks will be returned for the journey home.

Help us to lead by example

We are committed to keeping our community well informed of any changes to protocol and advice relating to Covid, and will continue to model best practice for our students verbally and by example. We ask that you continue to help support our staff and students by having open conversations with your children about their responsibility: towards themselves and towards others. This can include:

●Encouraging regular handwashing
Reminding your child to wash their hands before leaving for school in the morning and as they return will help to reinforce the importance of good hygiene practices. Likewise encourage them to carry and use hand sanitiser outside of the house

●Sharing spaces with consideration
At home and in public, please help your children maintain an awareness of the advised 2 metre rule by respecting the personal space of others

●Clearing up after themselves
Encourage your children to clear up after themselves after meal times and activities. This helps to model and instil a sense of personal responsibility that will help keep them and their community safe

Play it safe if your child feels unwell

If your child feels unwell and has symptoms that might be Covid related, please follow the steps detailed below rather than sending them to school

Please avoid coming to the school

We have limited the number of visitors to the school to help keep our community safe. We are always on hand to discuss any concerns over the phone, and encourage parents and carers to contact us rather than coming into school. If necessary, we will arrange for an in person meeting on site following an initial call.

Check if their symptoms could be those of Covid

If your child has a continuous cough, a high temperature, or has recently lost their sense of taste or smell, please do not send them to school. Please also be aware of some of the less common symptoms, which you can see in detail here. To check if your child’s symptoms could indicate the virus, please consult the NHS website.

If you are not sure whether your child’s symptoms are Covid related contact NHS 111, either online or by dialling 111. You can also contact our Welfare Team who are happy to advise. If in doubt, always stay at home and do not come into school.

If you think your child may have Covid your household should stay at home and you should contact the NHS straight away to order a free test. You should also contact our Welfare Team who are happy to support you through this process, and will do everything we can to help.

You and your household will have to isolate until you have received the test results. For more information about the testing process, visit the NHS website.

Check your child’s symptoms using the NHS 111 symptom checker, either online or by calling 111. If you think that your child’s symptoms indicate Covid, order a free test immediately. Your whole household needs to isolate (remain indoors) until the results of the test have been received. For more information about the testing process, visit the NHS website.

If a child presents with symptoms in school they will be sent home immediately or isolated in the one-on-one learning room (adjacent to the Welfare Office) until they can be picked up. The individual needs of the child will be taken into careful account should this situation arise, and every precaution will be taken to ensure their safety whilst maintaining the safety of our school community.

For those who suffer with a medical condition that would previously have categorised them in the critically vulnerable or critically extremely vulnerable group you will have been advised that it is now safe to return to school. We understand, though, that this can be a worry for some of you.

For advice on keeping your child safe now that they have returned back to school, you can learn more on the NHS website’s page for those at higher risk. Or contact our Welfare Team to arrange for a detailed discussion about how we can continue to support you.

We understand that the pandemic has had a significant impact on the emotional wellbeing of many of our students, and we consider supporting their mental welfare in this difficult time a vital part of our response measures. We are:

● Providing space for students to express and reflect on the challenging circumstances they have been facing

● Creating opportunities for engagement, discussion and understanding as a part of our learning programme

● Respecting and responding to each child’s unique set of needs whilst being mindful of the safety of others We ensure this through initiatives such as our lanyard system that allows children and staff alike to indicate without explanation that they are exempt from wearing a mask. This encourages individual responsibility whilst modelling the need for empathy in the context of wider society

● Providing one-on-one access to our school Mental Health & Wellbeing practitioner, Jason Levine, who will be increasing his availability over the terms ahead

If you feel that your child would benefit from one-on-one support with Jason, please speak to the Welfare Team or our deputy head, Lisa, who will be happy to discuss and facilitate this for your child.