Woodland View Primary School

Dear Parents and Carers,

We will be open to all children from Wednesday 2nd September. From September 2nd school, once again, becomes
compulsory.

Please also check our safety agreement for parents and children as an addition to this letter- it is very important you read
both of these documents. We understand that these are long documents but we want to keep everyone safe.

As instructed by government, our re-opening plan is careful and considered and is based on putting safety at the forefront
of our thinking. We hugely appreciate the support and patience from all parents to respect our rationale for this measured
and steady approach.

Welcoming children back
From September 2nd, we are welcoming all children back into school.

Timings of day

The timings for each year group are detailed below. Please stick to the times below. If you have siblings with
different start and finish times, please come at the earlier time in the morning and later time in the afternoon. The
other sibling will be able to wait in the hall.
Nursery and Butterflies parents please note: Transition times for the week beginning 2nd to 4th September remain
the same as the previous letter from Miss Haywood.

Year Group                                                Start time Mon- Fri           Collection time Mon-Fri
Nursery morning (Caterpillars)                  8.30am                             11.30am
Nursery afternoon (Caterpillars)               12.15 pm                           3.15pm
Reception (Butterflies)                               8.50 am                            3.00pm
Year 1 (Daisies and Buttercups)                8.50am                             3.00pm
Year 2 (Bluebells)                                       8.40am                             2.50pm
Year 3 (Foxes and Badgers)                       8.30am                            2.40pm
Year 4 (Dragonflies and Kingfishers)          8.40am                            2.50pm
Year 5 (Owls, Peacocks and Flamingos)    8.30 am                          2.40pm
Year 6 (Maple and Oak)                             8.50am                            3.00pm

Arrival and Pick Up
We will have a one-way system in use for dropping children off in the morning and for collecting children at the end of the
school day. We are asking that only one adult brings a child.
Please enter school through the main entrance gate. DO NOT ENTER THROUGH THE SIDE ENTRANCE.
Please wait with your child at the next available cone. DO NOT LET YOUR CHILD RUN AROUND.
Cones start in front of the gate used to access the school field. There will be members of staff out there to direct you.
A member of staff will call your child forward and direct them to the correct entrance. Children will remain in their class
“bubble” with the same group of children and the same staff members.
Please exit school past the science garden and through the school grounds to the side exit.
Please follow the same procedures for pick up. Your child will be sent to you when you get to the front cone. Please exit
immediately past the science garden and through the school grounds to the side exit.

Snacks
There will no snacks available at play time to begin with. If you wish your child to have a snack at that time, please send
one in. Please send a small, healthy snack only.

Lunch
Please consider ordering a school dinner for your child. This can be done through Parent Pay and is free for children if
they are in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2. A menu is available on the app and website. If you must send a packed lunch,
please send it in disposable bags. Please also send your child in with a named bottle of water as we are currently unable
to give cups to children. All lunches will be eaten in classrooms and the children will not mix with children in other groups.

Uniform
Pupils will be required to wear school uniform. Uniform should be freshly laundered every day, where possible.
Children should wear appropriate footwear for outside play. Children will need to bring a PE kit in a small named bag and
leave it in school. Please ensure they have kit that is warm enough to wear outside. There will be no PE in the school
building as we do not have the space.

What to bring to school
Please bring a coat and a named clean water bottle. Children can refill their bottles with drinking water from the
tap but cups will not be available due to the risks this presents. Please ensure your child brings a school jumper or
cardigan in case it is cold - as classroom windows will be open.
Do not bring bags including reading bags; reading books will be sent home in a plastic wallet. Please do not allow
your child to bring mobile phones or toys.

Sun cream: To be applied before school. Staff cannot apply sun cream during the day due to the risks this presents.

Toileting: If your child has accidents during the day please bring a change of clothes (double bagged) to keep in school
for the week or until needed. Parents/Carers of children who have unexpected accidents will be contacted to come and
collect their child.

Handwashing: We will be ensuring that children wash their
hands regularly following the current advice from Public
Health England. Please practice this at home with your
children – encouraging with songs/counting as appropriate
for a period of 20 seconds or more using soap.
We will ensure children wash their hands on entry to school, before leaving, prior to
and after lunch time and play times and before any food preparation as well as
when appropriate throughout the day. Your child’s hands may become red or
sore, but they will still have to continue washing their hands. If you would like
your child to use baby lotion, please email your normal class teacher to give
written permission. We cannot have any other moisturiser in school.

School cleaning: We will be ensuring that our schools are as clean as
possible and extra cleaning during the day will occur. Common touch points
such as door handles, toilets, desks and chairs are regularly disinfected. We have extensive guidance that has been
shared with all cleaning and site staff as well as to all staff to maintain a clean environment and checks in place to ensure
this is monitored. Our staff will also be regularly wiping surfaces and equipment down throughout the day.

Movement around school: We will work with all staff and children on safe movement around
school – utilising a one-way system (where this is possible), stop and wait and social
distancing practices as suitable. On the rare occasions that children need to leave their
allocated room (e.g. toilet visits, break times) this will be carefully managed. We are also
staggering school start and end times, play times and lunches to minimise movement of
children around school and to ensure that this movement is staggered by group.

Class sizes and groupings: Children will be in their class bubbles inside the school buildings.We will use the ‘bubble’ approach where the same members of staff will stay with the same group of children all week.
This will also include teaching assistants and midday supervisors.
PPA cover will still need to happen so that teachers can plan high quality work as normal. Staff covering during PPA
will keep 2 metres away from the children to keep everyone safe.
Classrooms have been set up to support social distancing; children will have their own resources where possible with
regular cleaning of surfaces during the day and washing of hands. Rooms will also be well-ventilated in line with best
practice.
With our younger children, the government accepts that maintaining social distancing at all times in a play-based
environment is not possible. We will be minimising the risks and reducing any possible spread of the virus by ensuring
children are regularly washing their hands throughout the day as well as staff regularly wiping surfaces down throughout
the day. We are lucky to have outdoor space, so we will also encourage our children to be outdoor in their ‘bubble’
groups and not mixing with any other ‘bubble’ groups during the day.
If anyone in school becomes unwell with a new, continuous cough, a high temperature or a loss of, or change in,
their normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia) they will be sent home and advised to follow the ‘staying at home’
guidance. All the other children in their bubble will also be sent home for 14 days if a positive test is returned.

Coronavirus: Support and Guidance for families
We encourage all parents and carers to read the guidance below – and to support your child in understanding what this
will mean for their safe return to school.

Symptoms: For the latest live guidance please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-homeguidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection
The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of any of the following:
• a new continuous cough
• a high temperature
• a loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)
For most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness. However, if you have any of the symptoms above you
should self-isolate at home.

How are schools supporting safe return to school? How can families can support this?
All of the guidance below will be practised across our school. We are, and will continue to, work to the latest guidance and
requirements for schools and, as a school and local authority, will review this on a daily basis in line with guidance and our
school specific Risk Assessments. Parents can support children in preparing to return by talking through the
measures you have been taking at home and how these can continue in school. Please practise safety measures,
such as frequent handwashing for 20 seconds or more, at home.

Continuous coughs: We will monitor children throughout the school day. If a child
is coughing, then we will contact the parent/carer and ask them to collect their child
from school. If your child has a persistent cough please do not send them to
school. This is because we want our children and staff to feel safe and reassured
while coming to school. We are aware that not all coughs will be Covid-19 related
but we want to be able to offer as much reassurance as possible to all coming into
our school.

Safe practices for all: Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. Wash hands immediately after doing
so.
Catch it, Bin it, Kill it: Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue,
throwing tissue in the bin and washing hands.
High temperatures: We have thermometers on site and any child
presenting as unwell may have their temperature checked. We
encourage you to take your child’s temperature regularly. If your child
presents a high temperature, please do not send them to school.
Children are entitled to coronavirus tests and we urge you to take this
up.

Wellbeing and mental health: We are also passionate about our children’s mental health and wellbeing and the
children will be supported in school by staff and by external
support where appropriate as part of the return to school
approach. We appreciate that returning to school will lead to
mixed emotions for children, parents and staff and we will be here
to support to the absolute best of our ability. If any children have
significant worries or concerns about returning to school, or if
they begin to find the return to school difficult, we would
encourage parents to communicate this to us. We will continue
to use Class Dojo and/or email for communication with parents.

Social distancing: We will be helping and teaching children
to socially distance
This will be challenging, particularly with younger children who may not fully understand how important this is. Parents
and carers can help by reinforcing the social distancing message at home so that children know what to expect when they
come to school.
Each child should be encouraged to keep apart from other children and staff by at least 2 metres.
Social distancing is very important in limiting the spread of the virus. Please be aware that if any child’s
behaviour compromises social distancing, we may have to ask for them to be taken home.
Meetings with parents and families: Where a meeting is required, every effort will be made to complete this remotely
via phone, email or video call. Please be aware that you will not be able to speak to anyone face-to-face at the school
reception. You will need to contact us by phone/email to arrange a meeting (see contact details below).

How can parents and carers help?
• Please consider how your child will get to school.
• Try to reduce any unnecessary travel on public transport where you can.
• Reinforce the social distancing message at home so that children know what to expect when they come to school
along with other practices around hand washing etc.
• Avoid gathering in groups at the school gates, leaving straight away once you have dropped your child off and
always follow the social distancing guidelines. Please remember that we are requesting one parent only to drop
off each child.

What is the advice if my child is sent home from school?
The current advice from Public Health England is that anyone with a fever or a new continuous cough should isolate,
along with their family who live at the same address, for 14 days. If any child or adult in the class ‘bubble’ has these
symptoms, all members of that ‘bubble’ will be asked to self-isolate for 14 days or until a negative test is received. You
will be able to access testing facilities. If you have a positive test result you MUST inform school as soon as possible.
Please note that if the bubble leader is away, then that bubble may not be able to attend school as we may not have
enough adults to provide cover. This may be at short notice and we apologise for any inconvenience.

Remember, if you have questions, please ask us as we are here to help.

Yours sincerely
Mrs Grey