HARWOOD MEADOWS PRIMARY SCHOOL Orchard Gardens Harwood Bolton BL2 3PS Headteacher Siobain Barnes B.Ed. NPQH Tel: (01204) 333702 Out of School Club Tel: (01204) 333703 Website: www.harwood-meadows.bolton.sch.uk Email: [email protected]Harwood Meadows Community Primary School (A Company Limited by Guarantee), Registered in England & Wales, Registered address: Orchard Gardens, Harwood, Bolton, BL2 3PS. Company Number: - 07986090 19 th June 2020 Arrangements for Wider Opening of School Dear Parent/Carer As promised, we said that we would review the Covid situation every Friday and make a decision on opening to more children from the information given at the briefing. Given the news today that the UK Covid threat level has been reduced from L4 to L3 and that local figures appear not to have increased, we are absolutely delighted to inform you that the school will be opened on June 22 nd to children in Y5, on June 24 th to children in Y4 and on June 29 th to children in Y6. The rationale behind this decision is based on the best information available to us at this time: o According to the UK’s chief medical officers, the UK's coronavirus alert level has been downgraded from four to three. Under level three, the virus is considered to be ‘in general circulation’ and there could be a ‘gradual relaxation of restrictions’. Previously transmission was considered to be ‘high or rising exponentially’; o Local figures appear now to be falling. The governors, leadership team and staff have agreed and implemented a rigorous set of control measures that we felt must be in place before opening school to welcome back larger numbers of children. These controls will help mitigate any risk of spreading the coronavirus and we have been working hard developing this new way of working for all of our children, staff and school community. Once again, thank you so much for your continued patience and co-operation whilst in this very difficult and unparalleled situation. The purpose of this document is to outline for parents how we will be keeping children, families and staff as safe as possible and what the school day and environment will look like as we open more widely. We understand that some of the measures within the government guidance may seem a little strict, however, we do all need to work together to ensure these measures are consistently applied so that all families who wish to send their children back to school feel safe to do so. As a school, we cannot guarantee your child will always be 2m from any other child, as the government has repeatedly conceded, but we will put measures in place to try to ensure this to the best of our ability. In order to reduce potential transmission, your child will be placed in a ‘bubble’ of no more than 15 children, in which they will remain until and unless the government changes its guidance.
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HARWOOD MEADOWS PRIMARY SCHOOL Orchard Gardens Harwood Bolton BL2 3PS
Headteacher Siobain Barnes B.Ed. NPQH
Tel: (01204) 333702 Out of School Club Tel: (01204) 333703
Harwood Meadows Community Primary School (A Company Limited by Guarantee), Registered in England & Wales, Registered address: Orchard Gardens, Harwood, Bolton, BL2 3PS. Company Number: - 07986090
19th June 2020
Arrangements for Wider Opening of School
Dear Parent/Carer
As promised, we said that we would review the Covid situation every Friday and make a decision on
opening to more children from the information given at the briefing. Given the news today that the UK
Covid threat level has been reduced from L4 to L3 and that local figures appear not to have increased,
we are absolutely delighted to inform you that the school will be opened on June 22nd to children in Y5,
on June 24th to children in Y4 and on June 29th to children in Y6.
The rationale behind this decision is based on the best information available to us at this time:
o According to the UK’s chief medical officers, the UK's coronavirus alert level has been
downgraded from four to three. Under level three, the virus is considered to be ‘in general
circulation’ and there could be a ‘gradual relaxation of restrictions’. Previously transmission was
considered to be ‘high or rising exponentially’;
o Local figures appear now to be falling.
The governors, leadership team and staff have agreed and implemented a rigorous set of control
measures that we felt must be in place before opening school to welcome back larger numbers of
children. These controls will help mitigate any risk of spreading the coronavirus and we have been
working hard developing this new way of working for all of our children, staff and school community.
Once again, thank you so much for your continued patience and co-operation whilst in this very difficult
and unparalleled situation. The purpose of this document is to outline for parents how we will be keeping
children, families and staff as safe as possible and what the school day and environment will look like as
we open more widely.
We understand that some of the measures within the government guidance may seem a little strict,
however, we do all need to work together to ensure these measures are consistently applied so that all
families who wish to send their children back to school feel safe to do so.
As a school, we cannot guarantee your child will always be 2m from any other child, as the government
has repeatedly conceded, but we will put measures in place to try to ensure this to the best of our ability.
In order to reduce potential transmission, your child will be placed in a ‘bubble’ of no more than 15
children, in which they will remain until and unless the government changes its guidance.
Harwood Meadows Community Primary School (A Company Limited by Guarantee), Registered in England & Wales, Registered address: Orchard Gardens, Harwood, Bolton, BL2 3PS. Company Number: - 07986090
In line with the government’s decision that it is safe to open schools more widely, here is the overview for
our school:
Harwood Meadows will open to specific classes from the 22nd June;
As previously communicated, the year groups returning will be Years 4, 5 and 6;
School will be open from Monday – Thursday allowing for extensive cleaning and a 72 hour ‘fallow’ period to ensure complete disinfection;
There will be staggered drop off and pick up times and entrances (see Appendix A);
Children can wear own clothes but will need to be suitable for outdoor activities;
Staff have been preparing and ensuring all health and safety precautions are in place;
Key worker children will continue to be catered for in school as needed ;
Key worker children MUST be booked in, in advance, as we cannot accept them on the day due to numbers (please contact [email protected] to book a key worker place);
Returning year groups will start on staggered days as below: o Year 5 Monday 22nd June
o Year 4 Wednesday 24th June
o Year 6 Monday 29th June
School meals will be up and running as normal;
In line with government guidance, children will be taught in small groups which the government
has called ‘bubbles’. These bubbles will contain the same children until the end of the year. The
intent is to prevent the spread of the virus by minimising contact with different children. As a
consequence of this, parents who are key workers will need to decide whether they want
their children to be in the key worker group (five days per week) or their year group (four
days per week);
On Fridays, key worker children only will be accommodated;
As children from different bubbles are not allowed to mix, lunch and play times will need to be
staggered so children are unlikely to mix with their wider classmates;
Start and end of the day
Firstly, we would really encourage all parents and children to walk or cycle to school where possible. All
children should be brought to and collected from school by an adult or elder sibling to ensure
groups do not mix prior to and after school. Adults or elder siblings must drop-off and collect children
from their designated door. Please help to keep our children and staff safe by keeping 2m away from
others. Only one adult/elder sibling must bring and collect your child(ren) at the allotted time. It is very
important that the allotted time for drop-off and collection is adhered to in order to keep groups
Harwood Meadows Community Primary School (A Company Limited by Guarantee), Registered in England & Wales, Registered address: Orchard Gardens, Harwood, Bolton, BL2 3PS. Company Number: - 07986090
Whilst on school property, we would ask that family groups:
● stay together;
● use the markings (stars on the playground) to keep 2 metres apart from others;
● keep to the left on footpaths and walk in single file.
(Please see further details in Appendix A.)
What your child can bring to school
Children can wear their own clothes to school. They need to wear clothes and footwear that they can
comfortably move around in at school as all children will be having many outdoor lessons. Children must
not bring any resources from home e.g. pencil cases and reading books. We will allocate your child the
resources they need to carry out their learning safely and effectively in school. They will not share this
equipment with other children. Your child may bring their coat, sun hat (if necessary), a water bottle and
a packed lunch if they have one. Children should not bring their normal school bag. Should you feel that
sun cream be required on any particular day, this should be applied at home before the start of school.
Water bottles will be brought home and must be washed daily.
Classrooms
Classrooms will be set up to maximise social distancing (see photographs at Appendix B) and ensure
children have space for their coat, packed lunch and water bottle at their own desk. It will feel a bit strange
and alien to some children. They will be allocated equipment that they will keep in their own tray on their
desk and not share resources. Children’s movement around the classroom will be limited in order to fulfil
our aim of trying to ensure children within groups are socially distanced. Parents and carers should be
aware that, although staff will establish routines that ensure children socially distance, we cannot
100% guarantee that children in groups will not ever come within 2 metres of each other. This is
acknowledged and accepted in government guidance.
Lunch and Break Times
School meals will be available. Children will have playtimes every day as well as outdoor lessons. These
will be in their groups and will be staggered so that they do not mix with other groups. They will be
encouraged to socially distance within their groups. Children will eat with their group in the classroom to
ensure 2 metre’s distance. Staff will remind and encourage children in groups to socially distance
at these times but parents and carers should be aware that we cannot guarantee this at all times.
Harwood Meadows Community Primary School (A Company Limited by Guarantee), Registered in England & Wales, Registered address: Orchard Gardens, Harwood, Bolton, BL2 3PS. Company Number: - 07986090
Learning
Children will have lessons each day, both inside and outdoor, weather permitting. These will consist of
English, maths and wellbeing topics. Keyworker and vulnerable children groups will have similar learning
provision. This work will be provided for children in school and at home. Should you need to pick up a
pack from school, please let us know in advance via email [email protected] so
that we have time to get it ready. Packs may be collected from waterproof boxes at the front gates
between 8:30am and 4:00pm, Monday - Friday so that you don’t need to break any distancing rules that
may be necessary for your situation.
Cleaning
School will be closed on Fridays for an in-depth clean, followed by allowing it to lie fallow for 72 hours
to ensure conditions which prevent the virus from surviving on surfaces are met. School has been
thoroughly deep cleaned and will continue to be cleaned on a daily basis by our cleaning contractor with
a focus on surfaces, switches, rails, sinks, toilets and handles. Additional cleaning materials have been
purchased for each classroom and these will be available to be used by staff to ensure classrooms and
resources are clean each day. Classrooms have been adapted so that minimal resources are available
to children in order to maintain high levels of hygiene.
Hygiene
As we are not a clinical setting, our priority for hygiene is for all staff and children to wash their
hands thoroughly and frequently during the day. Each group of children will have regular ‘hygiene
stops’ where they can do this in class. Children will access the toilet one at a time. All hand dryers will be
switched off and paper towels provided. All classrooms and staff will have sufficient disinfectant to ensure
surfaces and any equipment that may need to be shared is thoroughly cleaned before reuse. We will
provide tissues for each child and will encourage them to follow good respiratory hygiene practices e.g.
‘Catch it, Bin it, Kill it’. We will ensure school is well-ventilated at all times in line with government
guidance.
Communication with School
Please email the school office in the first instance with any queries. Only one person at a time will be able
to access the school reception area - please respect this by standing 2 m back from the main entrance
door if you are waiting. All payments to school must be cashless (online) for the foreseeable future.
Please help our office staff to do their job safely by adhering to these guidelines and being patient. The
Office Angels are working like the clappers to keep everybody happy, not an easy job but they are nailing
Harwood Meadows Community Primary School (A Company Limited by Guarantee), Registered in England & Wales, Registered address: Orchard Gardens, Harwood, Bolton, BL2 3PS. Company Number: - 07986090
Movement Around School
Children will move around school in single file, keeping to the left and 2 metres apart with their group
staff. Although timetabled movement of groups has been minimised, staggered and arranged so that they
do not come into contact with each other, parents and carers need to be aware that we cannot 100%
guarantee that for instance, groups may not pass by each other in a corridor due to an unexpected
circumstance.
Health
If your child becomes symptomatic in school, we will administer first aid if we deem it necessary and then
isolate your child until you can collect them from school. Any children who are sent home with symptoms
must self-isolate for 7 days and school will provide advice to parents/carers on how to get their child
tested. Fellow household members must also isolate for 14 days if they are symptomatic. If a test for a
symptomatic child or member of staff returns positive for Covid-19, the rest of their group in school will
be sent home and advised to self-isolate for 14 days. If the test returns negative, the child or member of
staff can return to school and other household members can end their self-isolation.
If your child is clinically extremely vulnerable, or living with someone who is in this group, they should not
come back to school and should continue home learning. If your child is clinically vulnerable (but not
clinically extremely vulnerable), you should follow medical advice to decide if they should come back to
school. Please refer to government guidance for further details for these children.
According to government guidance, staff and children do not need to wear face coverings, but they may
choose to do so, dependent on their own personal situations. Staff will support your child’s emotional and
health needs as safely as possible. All children will have a variety of pastoral lessons where they will
have the opportunity to think and talk about anything that may be worrying them.
In line with government guidance, staff will wear appropriate PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) in
managing the first aid needs of your child if they are symptomatic and staff cannot remain 2 metres apart
to administer the first aid required.
For all other first aid incidents, we will contact you if required as per our usual protocols.
Attendance
Again, I’d like to reassure you that there will not be any challenge from school for non-attendance by your
child for any period. If your child falls into a clinically extremely vulnerable group, they should not attend
school. If your child falls into a clinically vulnerable group, you should follow your doctor’s medical advice
Harwood Meadows Community Primary School (A Company Limited by Guarantee), Registered in England & Wales, Registered address: Orchard Gardens, Harwood, Bolton, BL2 3PS. Company Number: - 07986090
I know this has been, and still is, a very unsettling time for us all, but rest assured that we’re going to be
doing everything in our power to make sure your children are happy, well looked-after and emotionally
supported whilst they are with us. We have missed them enormously and can’t wait to see them again.
Looking to the future, Gavin Williamson today said that he is aiming for all children to be back in school
in September. Let’s keep everything crossed that really happens!
In the meantime, we can absolutely reassure you that we will continue to:
offer childcare for critical workers;
post online learning for every year group;
provide online support from your child’s class teacher;
look after the children in school to the very highest standard.
Harwood Meadows Community Primary School (A Company Limited by Guarantee), Registered in England & Wales, Registered address: Orchard Gardens, Harwood, Bolton, BL2 3PS. Company Number: - 07986090
Appendix A – Details for Start and End of Day
Year 5
Start date: Monday 22nd June 2020
Drop off: 8:45am Collect: 3:00pm
Year 4
Start date: Wednesday 24th June 2020
Drop off: 9:00am Collect: 3:15pm
Year 6
Start date: Monday 29th June 2020
Drop off: 9:15am Collect: 3:30pm
If you have children in more than one returning year group, please use the earliest sibling’s drop off and
Harwood Meadows Community Primary School (A Company Limited by Guarantee), Registered in England & Wales, Registered address: Orchard Gardens, Harwood, Bolton, BL2 3PS. Company Number: - 07986090
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