Dear Parents,

As you have heard from the Prime Minister’s announcement recently, there is an aim to partially re-open school from 1st June. Of course, we look forward to welcoming all of our children back as soon as possible, but we need to do so in a manner which ensures the safety of our children and staff in their workplace.

This letter is intended to give you a realistic introduction to what our current phased return involves. Last night I met with the Governors to discuss the re-opening of school. We recognise the children and staff are returning to a very different environment in which the children will be accommodated in small groups or ‘bubbles.’ We looked closely at our own set of circumstances and the constraints we face with limited class sizes, limited staff numbers and new regimes of further cleaning and social distancing.

We have remained open since 23^rd March to support our children with two key worker parents. This number has increased significantly throughout the pandemic. These groups now use two rooms (bubbles) in school, resulting in almost maximum numbers due to class size and social distancing.

What is also very clear is that there is limited space to meet the requirements to open for Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 (i.e. potentially 87 children.) This requires a floor space we simply do not have with the current restrictions. Based on our classroom sizes, we cannot accommodate half classes per room, as suggested by the government, but a maximum of 10 pupils per room with a teacher. This means we would require four extra classrooms. Like you, I wish that there was the possibility for all children to return, but I can only do this when it is safe and physically possible to do so.

Taking into consideration the factors above, we have also discussed the viability and needs of the very different age groups that the government have given priority to and their understanding of social distancing. It is for these reasons that the Governors and I have decided to invite Year 6 only to return on the week beginning the 8^th June along with the key worker / vulnerable children. We know some employers will be encouraging you to return to work, but we’re not in a position right now to extend places to children in Reception and Year 1 until we receive further government guidance.

Children in Year 6 will be split into three separate groups or ‘bubbles’ each attending 2 days so allowing for minimal contact with different classroom bubbles. The key principle is to ensure that there will be no overlap between each bubble at any point during the school day. Specific staff will be allocated to each bubble and they must remain with these children throughout the day. This along with deep cleaning and the classroom remaining empty for 72hrs will help prevent further spread. Specific details regarding groups are being sent separately to these parents via email. Information about procedures and protocols will follow by Monday 1^st June. Your final decision as to whether your child will be returning to school will also be required by this date.

Children currently accessing our key worker provision who are in Reception, KS1 and KS2 will continue to do so under their individual current arrangements. Due to the high numbers, these children will be in placed into two separate key worker bubbles and will not overlap with the current returning year group.

The Governors and I want to reassure you that we will continue to look at whether more children can be welcomed back as the weeks go on and will communicate this to you if that is the case.

Finally, once again thank you for your patience in this matter, we look forward to seeing everyone once the current situation changes.

Kind regards

Jane Hainsworth