17/07/2020

Return to school information as of 17 July 2020

Dear Parents / Carers

As promised, we are writing to inform you of the plans and procedures for the full return to school of all students in September. These plans have been fully risk assessed and approved by the AFA Trust. Please be assured that ensuring the quality of your child’s teaching and learning and the well-being has been at the heart of our planning whilst adhering to the current government guidance. These procedures may be subject to change following any subsequent new government guidance and will, in any case be reviewed by the Principal and SLT on a weekly basis.

In order to make this as clear as possible, we have subdivided into the following headings:

Changes to the school day

In order to minimize contact between year groups, we have made the following changes to arrivals, breaks and departures. These changes will allow us to maintain bubbled year groups as an infection control measure.

It is imperative that students arrive at the specified times.

Please note that Monday timings will temporarily revert to be in line with the rest of the week and enrichment and extracurricular activities are suspended until further notice. This means that school on Mondays will start at 8.35am and finish at 3.25pm.

Travelling to and from school

As detailed in previous correspondence, as we cannot maintain appropriate social distancing, there are no school-run minibuses for the foreseeable future. This will be reviewed in September, and again on a regular basis. Students travelling to school via public transport should contact the relevant bus/ train companies to check routes and times. Please remind your child/ren that face coverings must be worn on public transport.

For those of you that will be dropping off/ collecting your children by vehicle, we ask that you do not stop immediately outside of school entrances on Andover Road, Monks Lane or Warren Road. We appreciate this will be inconvenient; however, this is necessary to keep everyone safe and to protect the local community.

Please talk to your child/ren about the need for them to maintain social distancing on their journeys to and from school and that they should avoid congregating in groups.

Local shops are following government guidance and limiting numbers which may cause considerable delays. Please be aware of this when planning your journey.

For those cycling to school, there will be bike storage areas available close to each entrance point for the relevant year groups. Please be reminded that it is the responsibility of students to secure their bicycle appropriately.

Catering arrangements

Students will remain in year group bubbles at break and lunch as indicated above. There will be a catering stall in each break area which will provide a mix of hot and cold food. Please be aware that these outlets are situated outside to avoid large congregations of students. Students will therefore need to bring appropriate outdoor clothing for the weather when queuing up. Arrangements for free school meals will continue as normal.

Uniform and PE kit

Full school uniform should be worn every day with the exception of the days when students have PE lessons. As in line with government guidance, changing rooms will not be in use; therefore, on days when students have PE lessons they should arrive at school in their Park House PE Kit. On PE days, they may also wear blue, black or grey tracksuit bottoms without large logos. Students may wear their Park House PE hoodie or a plain blue, black or grey sweatshirt or jumper without large logos. It is recommended that students bring a spare pair of shoes and socks.

Equipment

It will not be possible to lend students pens, pencils and other equipment due to maintaining infection control and so it is imperative that all students bring in the following equipment each day:

• blue or black pens
• green pen
• pencil
• ruler
• rubber
• protractor
• coloured pencils
• glue stick
• scientific calculator

Hand cleaning

Government guidance states: “Coronavirus (COVID-19) is an easy virus to kill when it is on skin. This can be done with soap and running water or hand sanitiser. Schools must ensure that pupils clean their hands regularly, including when they arrive at school, when they return from breaks, when they change rooms and before and after eating.”

Students will be required to use hand sanitisers when entering and exiting each classroom. This will be provided in all classrooms. Students may bring their own sanitiser if they wish to, but they must be seen to use it in front of the class teacher when entering and exiting the classroom. Students will also be expected to wash their hands at regular intervals throughout the day.

Please discuss the importance of hand cleaning with your child/ren.

Face masks

Current government guidance for schools recommends that face masks should not be worn by students in school. Students traveling to school by public transport will be required to wear a face mask and then store it in a plastic bag during the school day.

Toilets

Students will be expected to use year group specific toilets. We will advise students of the details in September. It is imperative that students follow strict hand cleaning protocols.

Health

Students must socially distance from adults in school.

Most importantly, students should not come to school if they, or anyone in their household, have any of the following symptoms:

• a high temperature
• a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot, for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours
• a loss or change to sense of smell or taste – this means they cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal

Parents must inform us immediately if any member of their household is showing symptoms, so that we can seek advice from Public Health England.

Visitors to the school

Should you wish to speak to a member of staff, please email office@parkhouseschool.org and the relevant member of staff will arrange either a phone call or a Teams call with you as, at present, the site will remain shut to all except students and staff.

First week arrangements

The start of term will be Thursday 3 September for Year 7 and 12. Year 7 are to arrive at the main gate at 8.35am where they will be directed to the Ainge Field. Year 12 are to arrive at Warren Road at 9.30am. All other year groups will begin on Friday 4 September.

We look forward to welcoming all students back to school in September. May we take this opportunity to wish you a pleasant and healthy Summer.

Yours faithfully

Derek Peaple, Tom Goodenough and Laura Bromberg