Thursday 11th May 2020

Dear Parents/ Carers,

Following the latest guidance, the government has now advised it is unlikely that we will be welcoming any further year groups back to school prior to the summer holidays.

We welcomed Year 6 back from the 2nd June and have had over 50% of the year group return. The need for children to return within the keyworker/ vulnerable groups across the other year groups has continued to rise and we have therefore been required to open more “protective bubbles” to accommodate the needs for our families. For us as a junior school, the government guidance prioritises children of critical key workers and vulnerable children first followed by Year 6 pupils.

In order to accommodate these children, we are now running out of teaching spaces and teachers to be able to provide the different “protective bubbles”. As a result, we now need to roll out Phase 2 of the wider opening. Phase 2 of the wider opening means we will be opening extra ‘protective bubbles’ for our critical key workers and vulnerable children. This has already started as we now have two protective bubbles for Year 4 up and running.

Due to the limited number of classroom spaces and the teachers available, we are able to offer the following spaces:

Year 3 30 spaces – Critical key workers and vulnerable families eligible

2 protective bubbles

Year 4 30 spaces – Critical key workers and vulnerable families eligible

2 protective bubbles

Year 5 30 spaces – Critical key workers and vulnerable families eligible

2 protective bubbles

Year 6 45 spaces – Any Year 6 children are eligible and remaining spaces will be offered on a first come, first served basis.

3 protective bubbles

We understand this is a difficult decision to make and if you have any questions, we ask you to contact us or speak to your child’s teacher. We have uploaded a social story on our school website and Facebook page. We will also be uploading a short film called “A day in the life of Oliver” shortly showing our Head Boy during a day at school since the reopening. These have been put in place to help you and your child see what the school day looks like and hopefully help you in your decision making.

We have been overwhelmed with the support we have had from our parents during what has been a very challenge time and we thank you for your patience and resilience with all the changes that we have had to implement. As ever, if you have any questions or concerns, please do contact us either by phone, through our school Facebook page or by emailing adminoffice@bidbury-jun.hants.sch.uk.

Yours sincerely, Miss West Mr Mahmud

Bidbury Junior

School

Date of Amendment:

11th June 2020

Action Plan for School

Reopening from

1 June 2020

Parent Guide

As part of national social distancing measures to limit the spread of

coronavirus (COVID-19), we have had to limit the numbers of children

attending our school to ensure that pupils and staff attending could do

so safely. That is why, since 23rd March 2020, Bidbury Junior School

has only been open to priority groups: Children of critical key workers

and vulnerable children.

On Sunday 10th May, the government announced a possible

reopening for primary schools to welcome back children in nursery

(where they have them), reception, year 1 and year 6 from the week

commencing 1st June. The school reopened as the 5 key tests set by

government justified the changes and were met - including that the

rate of infection was decreasing and the enabling programmes set out

in the recovery strategy were operating effectively.

Since the 1st June, school has been open in a way that is safe for

pupils, staff and wider community.

As a school, we fully understand that you know your family

circumstances better than anyone and that this is a challenging and

uncertain time for all. Therefore, we have not and will not be

pressuring any parents to send their child to school unless they are

happy and confident to so.

This guide sets out the next stage of our action plan for Phase 2 –

welcoming back more children into the provision for children of key

workers and vulnerable children in year 3, 4 and 5 whilst still providing

places for Year 6 children.

During Phase 2, home learning tasks will still be provided for all year

groups in the same way as it currently is. Families are encouraged to

complete the tasks added by the teachers, as well as the daily

lessons from Whiterose and either BBC Bitesize or Oak Academy

Trust. This action plan will be reviewed and updated regularly taking

in consideration new guidance set out by the government and

Hampshire County Council.

We have been overwhelmed by the positive support we have had

from parents and members of the wider community and could not

have reached this point without you. We ask you to continue to

support us as we now enter the next phase of uncharted territory.

Phase 2

The School Day

The school day will look significantly different to a normal school day

at Bidbury Junior School.

One of the protective measures we are taking to reduce transmission

is to have smaller groups and class sizes.

The government guidelines states:

“For primary schools, classes should normally be split in half, with no

more than 15 pupils per small group and one teacher (and, if needed,

a teaching assistant).”

Therefore, we will now be opening the school in the following way:

Year 3 30 spaces – Critical key workers and vulnerable families

2 protective bubbles of 15

Year 4 30 spaces – Critical key workers and vulnerable families

2 protective bubbles of 15

Year 5 30 spaces – Critical key workers and vulnerable families

2 protective bubbles of 15

Year 6 45 spaces – Any Year 6 children are eligible and remaining spaces will be offered on a first come, first served basis.

3 protective bubbles of 15

Year 6 Timings:

School gates will be open from 8:30 – 8:45 for the start of the day.

School gates will be open from 3:00 – 3:15 for end of the day.

Key worker and vulnerable groups (Year 3,4 and 5):

School gates will be open from 8:45 – 9:00 for the start of the day

School gates will be open from 3:15 – 3:30 for end of the day.

Behaviour Policy

We are aware that different children will have had very different experiences during lockdown. Some will have been in school throughout, though for them school will have been a very different place as schools were instructed to provide a ‘childcare provision’ and not allowed to teach the National Curriculum. The majority of children will have been at home and each of them will have participated in different amounts of learning during lockdown. It will take time to re-establish and re-learn the expectations of school behaviour and learning. We are very aware that some children may feel anxious about

returning and may struggle with the adaptations to school life when

they return. For example, social distancing will mean it will make it

challenging for us to provide the nurture and level of support that we

usually would for our children and this will be something they will need

to adapt to. Please take time to talk to your children about this before

they attend so that they fully understand why this has to be the case.

It is not that adults do not care; it is that we need to make sure we are

all doing our part to keep one another safe. Many of our children are

very tactile and we will have to encourage them to keep their distance

from staff members and not hug them as a sign of affection. Please

rest assured that our staff will find this really hard too and this will take

some time to train each other and embed. We will have to create new

ways of saying hello, goodbye etc. as a way of showing support,

nurture and affection.

We have been overwhelmed by how fantastic the children who have

returned have been. They have taken the new expectations very

seriously and are doing exactly what is asked to keep our community

safe. The first few days of school reopening were used to settle

children back into the new expectations and boundaries but also gave

them a chance to share their thoughts and feelings around the

pandemic and develop their understanding of why new behaviour

expectations have been put in place. Throughout Phase 2, this

approach will continue to help settle new children back into school

and support their transition with the new expectations. Our ELSA’s will

still be working with children to support their emotional and mental

wellbeing.

In light of the need for children to conduct themselves differently when

they return to school, and any new systems we have put in place to

support that, the Government has advised schools to amend their

behaviour policy temporarily.

We ask you to talk to your children regarding the new behaviour

expectations and explain that these have been put in place to keep

them, their friends and staff safe.

Behaviour Expectations

I will follow the boundaries when entering and leaving the school.

I will clean my hands at the beginning and end of the day and when I

enter and leave the classroom.

I will wash my hands regularly throughout the day and avoid touching

my face.

I will stay in my “protective bubble” in and around school including

break time and lunch time.

I will ask permission from an adult before I get out of my seat.

I will keep 2 metres apart when moving around the school.

I will not enter areas that are out of bounds.

I will practice using “Catch it, Bin it, Kill it” and use this to keep my

school safe.

I will only bring in essential items which are my water bottle, my lunch

and my coat.

I will talk to an adult straight away if I am feeling unwell.

I will only use the resources provided for me and keep them within my

protective bubble.

I will follow all the school values at all times.

I understand that if I do not follow these expectations, I will receive a

consequence.

If I do not follow the expectations, I will receive a warning from my

teacher.

If I continue to not follow the expectations, a member of SLT will be

called to help me get back in my “protective bubble”.

If I still continue to not follow the expectations, I will be removed from

my group and SLT will decide if I need to work in isolation or be sent

home.

Questions

(Latest information added in bold font)

Why have we moved to Phase 2?

Following the latest government update, we now need to

introduce Phase 2 in order to insure we welcome back as many

children as possible to reach our true full capacity. We have been

inundated with requests from parents who are either vulnerable

or classed as a key worker. The government have announced

that it is unlikely that additional year groups will be welcomed

back prior to the end of the academic year. We therefore need to

insure we have 2 “protective bubbles” for each year group as key

worker and vulnerable groups are the priority so are required to

close 1 Year 6 “bubble” in order to accommodate.

Do I have to send my child into school?

No. The latest guidance states that parents do not have to send their

child into school but are strongly encouraged to do so. Parents will

not be fined for non-attendance at this time. We strongly

encourage children in the keyworker provision to send their child

in full time so they can participate in the full learning journey that

teachers are delivering. Year 6 places are on a full time basis

only.

Children who are considered extremely clinically vulnerable and

shielding should continue to shield and should not attend.

As we cannot guarantee stringent social distancing, children

who live in a household with someone who is extremely clinically

vulnerable and shielding should not attend.

Can I choose which group my child attends?

The group that your child attends school in will be selected by the

school. Please speak to a member of Senior Leadership Team if you

have any questions or concerns.

What safety precautions have you put into place?

School Drop off and Pick up

Children will only be able to enter and exit the school via the main

entrance. No other gates around the school will be open to ensure we

can follow our Covid-19 risk assessment. Parents and children will

need to queue in the staff car park to drop their children off - abiding

the 2-metre social distancing measures. (Please note, the staff car

park will not be used by staff). No external parties (including parents/

carers) will be allowed on the school site unless a meeting has been

arranged.

As children enter the school, they will have their temperature taken. If

they have a high temperature, they will not be allowed to come to

school and will need to be taken home. As they enter the school, they

will be given antibacterial gel to clean their hands.

As they exit the school, they will leave via the main entrance and will

be given antibacterial gel to clean their hands upon leaving. The

adults will queue 2 metres apart to collect their child whilst the

senior leadership team call for them. The children will remain in

their classrooms until the adult lets them know that their parent

has arrived. This measure has been put in place to avoid

unnecessary queuing and transitions taking place around the

school.

If your child is in Year 5 or 6, they are able to walk or cycle to and

from school to promote independence and support the

government initiative surrounding walking and cycling wherever

possible. If you would like this to happen, please contact the

school to give permission and confirm you understand our

expectations:

If they have a temperature in the morning, they will be

isolated and need to be collected straight away by an adult.

If your child is not practicing social distancing safely, you

will be expected to bring your child to school and collect

them.

Parents will not be allowed onto the school playground without a

booked appointment.

School Day

Children attending school will be in a maximum group of 15 with 1

teacher and an LSA. These groups will have the same children and

adults for every day and will form a ‘protective bubble’ in order to

support a ‘Track and Trace’ approach. They will not mix with any other

groups or adults during the school day resulting in minimal transition

of virus within groups. We have created a social story and video

which can be found on the school website or Facebook page –

these outline what the school day now looks like.

Classroom will be organised for 1 child to sit on a table on their own 2

metres away from the person next to them. They will have their books

and a pencil on their desk and there will be no sharing of resources.

Anti-bacterial gel will be available in each classroom and children and

staff will regularly be encouraged to wash their hands during their time

in school. When anybody leaves or enters the classroom, they will be

expected to use the anti-bacterial gel. The children and staff will be

trained to follow these protective measures.

Children are expected to stay in their seats for majority of the day with

the exception of going to the toilet or being called out of their seat by a

member of staff.

While we will try and maintain 2-metre social distancing wherever

possible, the government has stated that they are aware that unlike

older children and adults, early years and primary age children cannot

be expected to remain 2 metres apart from each other and staff.

However, it is still important to reduce contact between children and

staff as far as possible. Schools can take steps to achieve this and

reduce transmission risk by ensuring children, and staff where

possible, mix in a small group and keep that small group away from

other people and groups. We will be referring to this as their

‘protective bubble’.

Children will have a break in the morning and lunch time where they

will be outside. The breaks and lunches will be staggered and groups

will be separated over the playground. There will be no mixing with

other groups – children and staff included.

Children can bring in their own packed lunch or will be able to order

as hot dinner as usual and will be charged £2.40.

Is Personal Protective equipment (PPE) required?

The government has stated that wearing a face covering or face mask

in school settings is not recommended.

What happens if a child becomes unwell?

Children who are unwell with the Coronavirus symptoms during the

day will be placed in the disabled toilet to keep them isolated until they

can be collected. A message will be sent to the parents of the child

displaying the symptoms to inform parents what they need to do

regarding isolation and testing. A message will be sent to the parents

of the other children in the group to inform them that a child has been

sent home displaying the symptoms. The usual first aid room will be

used for dealing with other first aid.

What happens if there is confirmed case of coronavirus within

our school?

When a child or staff member develops symptoms compatible with

coronavirus, they should be sent home and advised to self-isolate for

7 days. Their fellow household members should self-isolate for 14

days. Where the child or staff member tests positive, the rest of their

class/group within school will be sent home and advised to self-isolate

for 14 days. The other household members of that wider class/group

do not need to self-isolate unless the child or staff member they live

with in that group subsequently develops symptoms. Anyone is now

eligible for a test if they develop symptoms.

What happens if my child falls ill with non-coronavirus

symptoms?

You should notify the school as normal if your child is unable to attend

so that staff are aware and can discuss with you.

Are children eligible to be test for the virus?

Anyone is now eligible for a test if they develop symptoms.

What will my child be doing in school?

The curriculum will look different to that previous to school closure. There will be a greater focus on Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH), re-socialisation and wellbeing initially. Alongside a PSHE/well-being focused provision, a return to learning will focus on key skills, tracking back to previous learning and then being taught reading, writing and maths. For children in Year 6, the main provision will be to get them secondary ready. Wider curriculum subject may also be taught and subjects such as PE will be planned carefully to ensure there are no shared resources and social distancing is maintained. At present the phrase reasonable endeavours is being used with regard to meeting the needs of a pupils with SEND. Further guidance from the DfE is expected. There are pupils who would usually have one-to-one support in class. This may not be possible with the pupil’s support assistant and with the constraints of social distancing. Staffing resources will guide how much support can be given to pupils in the short-term.

Does my child need to wear school uniform?

While we appreciate that your child may only be in school for a few

weeks before the summer holidays, we are asking you to send your

child into school in their uniform where possible. This is to support us

with getting the children back into some form of routine and structure.

As we do not want parents to be buying new uniform this close to the

summer holiday, if your child has grown out of their school uniform,

we ask you to send them in in clothes that are as close to uniform as

possible eg. White/ Red T-shirt, Black trousers/shorts, black shoes/

trainers.

How do I speak to a member of staff?

There will be a member of staff on the gates at the start and end of

the day should you need to get a message to school. To reduce the

number of visitors we have, we are asking you to call the office on

02392474513 or email us at adminoffice@bidbury-jun.hants.sch.uk.

Visits into school will only be done on an appointment basis.

Teachers will be contacting the children in their class fortnightly

to check in with families and the child.

Will there be breakfast club and afterschool club?

Breakfast club and after school club will be available for all children

eligible to attend school. From 1 June we will resume charging for

breakfast club at £2 per child. Please contact the office if your child

requires afterschool provision.

Who will be teaching my child?

Wherever possible, your child will be taught by their class teacher.

However, this may not always be possible and your child may be

taught by another adult. We have tried to keep the adults consistent

so they are adults who the children are used to working with in school.

What will happen to the food parcels?

We will continue to deliver Free School Meal parcels to those eligible

and not attending school on a weekly basis.

Will home learning resources still be made available?

Yes, we will still ensure that resources are available if your child is

being home educated. They will be added to your child’s year

group school website page every Monday.

How much home learning am I expected to complete each day?

This will very much depend on the individual child and family set

up during this period. We fully understand and support that

families will have different priorities during lockdown. Your

child’s teacher will continue to phone to check in and so can

offer individual, personalised expectations suitable for your

child’s ability and family set up.

If you would like to receive further guidance and support around

how to structure your individual home learning provision and

work expectations, we encourage you to speak with your child’s

class teacher or email adminoffice@bidbury-jun.hants.sch.uk .

This will enable us to offer this tailored advice and appropriate

guidance to support individual families and their child’s

academic and emotional needs.

What should my child bring into school?

We ask you to send you child in with minimal personal equipment as

possible - limited to a water bottle, lunch box and a coat. We are

discouraging school backpacks were possible. We are asking children

to not come in with mobile phones.

It is strongly advised that you send your child in with a water

bottle as communal cups will not be available.