gnoll primary school

Together We Nurture, Inspire and Achieve

Gyda'n Gilydd rydym yn Meithrin, Ysbradoli a Chyflawni

Gnoll Primary School Wellfield Avenue

Neath SA11 1AQ

Tel: 01639 - 642938 E-mail address: [email protected]

Web Address: https://gnoll-primary-school.j2bloggy.com Headteacher: Mr. Rhys Harris

25th July, 2020. Dear Parents / Carers, My apologies for a long but very important letter. Firstly, thank you to all the families who completed the form about returning. The aim of this letter/plan is to answer many of your questions regarding returning to school next week. Since the announcement by Kirsty Williams, Minister of Education, we have been working on a rigorous plan for the re-opening of Gnoll Primary School to pupils in Years 1 – 6. I would like to thank you for your patience during this time. There have been a number of factors that we have had to take into consideration whilst working on this plan. At the forefront of the planning was the necessity to create a safe environment to allow the pupils and staff to return. All risk assessments are now in place and have been signed off by our Governing Body and have been received by the Local Authority. We know that returning to school after the Covid-19 lockdown is going to be hard for some families, staff and pupils. For many, the return to school will be greeted with a huge sigh of relief. For others, they may experience a deep trepidation or anxiety. A clear focus of the check in, catch up and preparation stage of re-opening will be upon the emotional health and wellbeing needs of our pupils. Having regular contact with school staff is likely to result in a smoother, less problematic transition back into formal education for our pupils. All staff have been extremely supportive throughout this challenging time and we have all appreciated your support, cooperation and fabulous effort. It has been an extremely difficult time for all of us and I am very proud of how we, the Gnoll family have risen to the challenges. There are a number of key things we have considered and included in our plans for the return of pupils and staff. Once restrictions are lifted, it will take time for us to adjust to the ‘new’ normal.

Our plan for reopening from Monday 29th June – Friday 17th July is as follows: • Pupils are in classes of no more than 8 – this allows for social distancing. • They will spend their school day in their classroom and an allocated space outside but

within the school grounds. • Pupils will receive their “Check In, Catch Up and Preparation” for summer & September

from their usual class teacher and teaching assistant in most instances. • Pupils to bring only a water bottle (No glass bottles) and a summer hat/coat/jacket

(weather permitting). • If sunscreen is needed please place in a bag and label as this will stay with your child within



their class/Bubble. • School uniform is non-essential. Suitable and appropriate clothing and footwear should be

worn, to allow for work in a classroom or in the grounds (trainers – no flip flops or sandals) • Our canteen will be open and all children will be able to have a hot meal. This will be at a

cost of £2.35 a day. Children in receipt of Free School Meals will also be expected to pay. All payment must be made via ParentPay as we will not be able to accept cash. If you wish your child to bring in a packed lunch again this will stay in the classroom and all waste will be brought home with your child at the end of the day. All food will be eaten in the designated stations within the classrooms.

What is the Plan? You will be given a day (either a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or a Thursday) for your child to attend school every week until we finish for the summer. Further information regarding the plans for the Summer holidays and September will hopefully be shared with yourselves before the end of summer holidays. We have ensured that siblings are in school on the same day. You will receive a text with the child’s name and day for attending in the very near future. Days and times cannot be changed as we are trying to accommodate many different scenarios. You will be given drop off and collection time and which entrance and exit door. You must drop and collect at your allocated time. You will also be told where you waiting points are and you will be asked to wait until there is a safe space to allow your child to enter the building. If your child is not attending due to illness etc, you must let the office know by 9am. You will not be allowed to enter the school premises as all school gates will be closed after 9:20am. If you wish your older child to walk home unaccompanied then please let school know. School office number is 01639 642938. If you have to drive to school then please respect our neighbours and park at suitable distance from one another. When children are in school, the time will be used as a “Check in, catch up and prepare”. Children will undertake some learning and work may also be given to complete at home. Children will be with their teacher, teaching assistants and wellbeing officers where possible. The children will be in their “Bubble” for the whole day. They will not be allowed to interact with other Bubbles. The Bubbles have been created to ensure every child is with at least some friends. Well-being, family groups and friends are the criteria used when we created the Bubbles. Being in a Bubble means children and adults will stay together to work, play and eat. Toileting will see a bubble allocated a designated toilet for the day. Children will see other Bubbles and friends from a distance, however, there will not be any physical contact with one another. Home learning will continue via our Flexible Learning area on our school website. Teachers will continue to set and plan work for all children and will be available within the day but especially Fridays. We will be encouraging pupils to continue to share their learning. Photographs can also be shared via Hub. No items or paper articles will be allowed into school. The school will have a one way system for drop off and collections. You will enter the school via the side gate from Wellfield Avenue entrance. You will walk around the side of the building (please respect the 2m distancing rule) and will be expected to wait at the allocated waiting area



for your child. Please wait until it is safe to handover your child to the class teacher who will be at the door. Every child will be escorted into the class and will have to wash their hands. You will need to be on time. Please do not engage in conversation with the class teacher and leave the school premises immediately via the back entrance heading to Cimla Road. You will not be allowed to return back down to the Wellfield Avenue entrance. If you are late then please contact the school so alternative plans can be made. If your child is currently allocated a place in the HUB provision, we will have the provision available at school in our Nursery Class and PALS areas. The Hub will be available from 8am until 4pm. Hub children from Year 1 – year 6 will access their class Bubbles on Monday. Please ensure that on their return that day, they shower/bathe and clean clothing must be worn on the next day. The Hub provision will run from Monday to Friday. Nursery and Reception children at the Hub will spend five days with the staff. Children will not be allowed to go into the Hub from the class Bubbles. They will have to be picked up and go home at the allocated time. School transport has been organised for the children that were in receipt before March 20th. Procedures and Routines in Place Attendance and symptoms of COVID19 Under no circumstances should children attend school if they:

• Feel unwell and/or have any of the three identified COVID-19 symptoms. o A new cough o A high temperature o Loss of taste or smell

Or, if they have tested positive to COVID-19 or live in a household with someone who has symptons of COVID-19 or tested positive to COVID-19 in the past 14 days. Children and staff will regularly wash their hands. Hands will be washed with soap and running water for at least 20 seconds. Staff will remind children of effective handwashing techniques. Regular handwashing will take place. Children and adults will be working in their Bubbles all day. Each bubble will be given allocated times (See table below). Staggered lunches have been scheduld and pupils will collect their food and eat it at their designated stations within their Bubbles. A range of social distancing games to play outside will be used and each Bubble will be allocated an area and time to use the outside spaces. All staff are Basic First Aid trained with some holding a more advanced certificate. First Aid will be administered by Bubble staff. Staff will wear appropriate PPE e.g. gloves, apron and possible mask. If more serious first aid is required then staff will wear further protection, e.g. gloves, apron, mask and eye guards. School will follow guidelines regarding the disposal of the used equipment.



First Aid and PPE will be in every room and will be restocked daily. Regarding temperature checks. Guidelines suggest that it is not necessary to take temperatures of all pupils and staff. If a child is feeling unwell, temperature screening using non-contact thermometers will take place and parents will be contacted. A child presenting with COVID-19 symptoms will remain in the class and all other pupils will be removed. Local Authority will be informed whereby designated Local Authority staff will come to the school to complete a high intensity clean of the area. Pupils and staff will not be allowed back into the area until cleaned. We have a simple model with three clear messages that our children can apply.

1. Stay Safe. We wash our hands regularly and use the hand sanitisers provided. 2. Be Hygienic i) put tissues in bin ii) keep hands off each other and your face iii) cough into

sleeve or tissue. 3. Keep a Safe Distance. Viruses travel. We can stop them spreading by keeping a safe

distance. Summary of Times for each Class (Bubble) Organisation on Re-opening Proposed Group Timetable for the week Class Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Y6 NB “Yr Wyddfa’ Bubble 1 Bubble 2 Bubble 3 Bubble 4

Cleaning to maintain general hygiene and Preparation and Check in day for staff

Y5/6 EF “Yr Hafren’ Bubble 1 Bubble 2 Bubble 3 Bubble 4 Y4/5 LE “Tryfan” Bubble 1 Bubble 2 Bubble 3 Bubble 4 Y4 JT “Tywi” Bubble 1 Bubble 2 Bubble 3 Bubble 4 Y 3/4 EP “Cadair Idris” Bubble 1 Bubble 2 Bubble 3 Bubble 4 Y 3 JJ “Taff” Bubble 1 Bubble 2 Bubble 3 Bubble 4 Y 2 VG “Pen-Y-Fan” Bubble 1 Bubble 2 Bubble 3 Bubble 4 Y 1/2 DH “Tawe” Bubble 1 Bubble 2 Bubble 3 Bubble 4 Y 1 NJ “Bryn” Bubble 1 Bubble 2 Bubble 3 Bubble 4 Rainbow Jnr “Yr Enfys’ Bubble 1 Bubble 2 Bubble 3 Bubble 4 Rainbow Inf “Yr Enfys’ Bubble 1 Bubble 2 Bubble 3 Bubble 4

Hub

Keyworker Pupils and Vulnerable Pupils







Proposed Timetable

Class Start Time

Break time Dinner collection from Hall

Dinner Time on Yard

Home Time

Y6 NB “Yr Wyddfa’ 8:45 9:45 Football Pitch 12:25 11:50 – 12.15

Football Pitch 13:45 KS2 YARD Door A

Y5/6 EF “Yr Hafren’ 9:00 10:00 Football Pitch 12:55 12.20 – 12.45

Football Pitch 14:00 KS2 YARD Door A

Y4/5 LE “Tryfan” 9:15 10.15 Football Pitch 13:25 12.50 – 13.15

Football Pitch 14:15 KS2 YARD Door B

Y4 JT “Tywi” 8:45 9.45 KS2 Yard 12:15 11:45 – 12.10 KS2 Yard 13:45 KS2 YARD Door B

Y 3/4 EP “Cadair Idris” 9.00 10.00 KS2 Yard 12:45 12.15 – 12.40 KS2 Yard 14:00 KS2 YARD Door C

Y 3 JJ “Taff” 9.15 10.15 KS2 Yard 13:15 12. 45 – 13.10 KS2 Yard 14.15 KS2 YARD Door C

Y 2 VG “Pen-Y-Fan” 8:45 9:45 FPH Yard 12:05 11:35 – 12:00 FPH Yard 13:45 FP YARD Door D

Y 1/2 DH “Tawe” 9:00 10:00 FPH Yard 12:35 12:05 – 12:30 FPH Yard 14:00 FP YARD Door D

Y 1 NJ/AD “Bryn” 9:15 10:15 FPH Yard 13:05 12:35 – 13:00 FPH Yard 14:15 FP YARD Door E

Rainbow Jnr “Yr Enfys’ 9.00 10.00 RR Yard 11:55 12:30 -13:00 RR Yard 14.00 RR YARD RR Door

Rainbow Inf “Yr Enfys’ 9:15 10:15 RR Yard 11:55 12:00 – 12:30 RR Yard 14:15 RR YARD RR Door

Hub 8:00 9:30 Nurs Yard 11:45 12:00 – 12:30 Nurs Yard

Before 17:00 (Pending end of shift)

Drop Off and Pick up Points for each class:

A. Year 6 and Year 4/5 Class to go to Door near Miss Blackman’s Classroom

B. Year 5/6 and 4 Classes to go through the Support Room under the canopy

C. Year 3 & 3/4 to go through the Door near the iZone.

D. Year 2 & Year 1/2 to go through the school hall door from Infant Yard

E. Year 1 to go through the old Nursery Yard Door

D

E

F

RR

A

BC

D

E

F



F. Gnoll Hub will go through the Infant Yard to the gate into the new Nursery Yard. G. Rainbow Room Pupils will enter and leave as normal by the gate to their yard.

• Parents and Pupils to respect the 2m self-distancing rule and follow the instructions

on the yard. • The gates will not be open until the designated time for drop off and Pick ups

Hopefully I have answered any questions you may have in this letter and the more detailed one posted on our website and Twitter last week. Should you have any further queries, please contact the school office. You should now know the allocated day for your child(ren). If you have not received a school text message (sent on Thursday 25th June,) please email or ring the office.

Please be advised that there will be crossing patrol for Gnoll Primary when the children return to school at the end of this term.

Once again thank you for your co-operation and support. I am looking forward to seeing you all very soon!

Yours Faithfully,

Rhys Harris Headteacher

A

B

C

gnoll primary school

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