This page lets you know how our school is organised so that we can continue to bring all children to school safely. We hope you find the information useful, you can also find the information in letter form on our Newsletters page. If you have any other questions, please just ask us.
Return to school from 2nd September 2021
You will see that some things are changing, and some things aren’t – on reflection, we have decided that some of our ‘new’ systems work well and are beneficial to the smooth running of the school and the learning and behaviour of the children.
When we write our first newsletter in September, we will (hopefully) be in a better position to start sharing events with visitors (e.g. Family Fridays etc.) but we will not confirm any of this just yet!
Please let us know if you need any further information in addition to that provided here. We hope you manage to stay safe, take care, and have a good break!
Changes to the time of the school day
DROP OFF
- We have decided staggered timings, although shorter, will remain in place. This will help reduce the number of cars dropping off around the site, and will also minimise the number of children gathering together in the porch areas. This helps with a much calmer start to the day.
- Start times are by surname to make dropping of siblings much easier. Please try to keep to these times.
| Family surname initial / Time | Family surname initial / Time | Family surname initial / Time | |||
| A – C | 8.40-8.45am | D – L | 8.45-8.50am | M – Z | 8.50-8.55am |
- Children in Reception, Year 1 & Year 2 will continue to be directed through the car park and adult supervision will be in place at these times. Nursery children will be greeted at the gate by a member of staff from Class 1.
- Years 3, 4, 5 & 6 will enter school across the yard, and through the pupil entrance.
- All children should be in their classrooms working by 9.00am.
PICK UP
- Shorter staggered timings will remain in place to minimise the number of parents congregating at the gate at the same time. This makes it easier for staff to hand over children more quickly.
| Pick up | Collection point | Time |
| Class 1 | END of Nursery fence | 3.05pm |
| Class 2 | END of Nursery fence | 3.00pm |
| Class 3 | Gate (line up at yard gate) | 3.05pm |
| Class 4 | Gate | 3.00pm |
During the day
- Break times will be staggered to reduce the numbers of children moving around the corridors at the same time. This has kept a calm ethos around school.
- Outdoors during lunchtimes, there will be zones for the children to play in; these will change each week. Identifying areas in which the children can play has reduced incidents of conflict and has given the children opportunities to develop their social and play skills.
- Childcare/Nursery & Reception will use their own outdoor areas.
- Lunchtimes will return to normal. All children will eat in the hall and we will return to two sittings as we did before.
- We will return to assemblies in the hall.
- Handwashing/sanitising will continue to be a regular requirement during the day – and will be a minimum of on entry, before and after each break time and before and after lunch.
- Our cleaning regimes will continue, as will the ventilation of rooms.
School Meals
Children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are entitled to a free school meal under a government initiative.
For children in Key Stage 2 (Y3-6), the cost of a daily meal will be £2.15 (£10.75 per week) and must be paid via ParentPay. For Nursery children and adults, the cost is £2.26.
Taylor Shaw will continue to provide three meal choices per day and we plan to continue the pre-ordering service which has worked well over the past year. Children select their choice at the beginning of each week, meaning those who are last to the kitchen still get what they choose.
We would ask that children who want to swap between school meals and packed lunches only do so at a half-term break. For further information on menus or school meal arrangements, please speak to Mrs Medcalf.
School Uniform / PE Kit
You can find a reminder of our school uniform and PE kit below. All ‘logo’ clothing can be bought relatively cheaply at Little Gems, Peterlee; or from www.myclothing.com
Please ensure that all items of uniform and kit are named to reduce the amount in the lost property pile.
Uniform – whole school
Red polo shirt, preferably (but not essential) with the school logo
Navy blue jumper, sweatshirt or cardigan, again, with or without the school logo
Dark grey/black trousers, skirt or shorts
Red/white or Blue/white checked dresses (Summer term)
Sensible shoes – children climb steps indoors and out, and play on outdoor equipment
PE Kit
PE will continue to take place on a Thursday, and children should come to school in their PE kit.
- Nursery: plimsolls/gym shoes
- Reception: gym shoes/trainers, dark shorts and a ‘House’-coloured t-shirt
- Year 1-Year 6: gym shoes/trainers, dark shorts and a ‘House’-coloured t-shirt plus tracksuit top/bottoms for outdoors
Coloured t-shirts without the logo are also fine. Although children will need House coloured tops for various events, plain white t-shirts may also be worn for PE.
Wellies
All children should bring their wellies back to school when they return. Outdoor education will be an integrated part of our learning, as will playing on the field in wet weather. Children in C1 & C2 have storage in their porches, and C3 & C4 will use the ‘welly sheds’ on the yard.
Equipment / Curriculum
- Every child MUST bring their own filled water bottle – this will be sent home daily for cleaning and returning. Water bottles will be kept in class on children’s desks. Cups will not be provided.
- Small bags may be brought to school to carry reading books and homework – these will be stored in the porch areas for C1 & 2, and in lockers for C3 & C4; coats in KS2 will be kept in classrooms. Nothing else should be brought into school – everything needed for learning will be provided.
- We will be teaching a full curriculum based on plans appropriate to each class.
- KS2 will continue to use Teams as a method of blended homework. Children will be shown/reminded how this works in September.
- DfE guidance expects schools to be prepared to move to remote learning for the next year, particularly for any children in isolation, and this will continue as it has this year, so you will be familiar with the format used during lockdown.
ParentPay
All parents must set up Parentpay accounts for each child they have in school – including parents of new Nursery children. Adding every child means that we can direct our messages to specific groups, rather than the whole school at times when this is necessary.
It is not necessary to add money to the account (e.g. if children are entitled to free school meals, or bring packed lunch) but mobile number and email addresses are essential as this is now the platform we use for our text messaging service and sending any correspondence during closure periods.
Health & Safety / Medication
Reminder – Jewellery of any kind is not allowed and restricts the activities the children are allowed to do. Children should remove all rings, ear-rings etc. before coming to school and only wear inexpensive watches (which will be removed for PE).
All children with hair long enough to be tied back should do so. This helps to prevent the spread of head lice, and is necessary for PE and playing on the outdoor equipment.
Health Care plans will be reviewed, and you will need to complete new medicine administration forms when you return the medication/inhalers on Thursday 2nd September. Mrs Medcalf/Mrs Dunn will be able to help.
Breakfast / After-school club
In September, we will resume the breakfast club and after-school care provision that you are used to. We hope to begin this on Monday 6th September (the first full week back).
As previously, this provision will be managed by Mrs Garside, through Hazel Dene Childcare, and places should be booked where possible. Mrs Garside will check emails during the holidays:
[hazeldenecare@hotmail.com] or you can speak to her in school on the Thursday/Friday of our return.
If there are Coronavirus symptoms in school
- If your child shows symptoms, you will be asked to collect them from school and arrange a PCR test
- Guidance for self-isolation, household isolation and close contact isolation is changing in August so we will provide fuller details of what that means for our school in our September newsletter
