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Arrangements for Returning to School – Monday 8th March 2021
We are delighted to be seeing the full return of all children to the school building from Monday 8th March. It has been such a long time since many of the children were last in school – we broke up for the Christmas holidays on Friday 18th December and are returning almost three months later! We really can’t wait to see you all again!
Whilst restrictions have eased and all children are able to return to school, there are still lots of expectations relating to social distancing, grouping of children into bubbles and the limiting of visitors to site. Most of the systems we had in place throughout the autumn will remain in place for the foreseeable future, until a time when we can ease restrictions further. Our full Covid Action Plan is available for you to view on our website but here is a reminder about the main systems we have in place:
Each year group will work in a bubble, keeping separate as much as possible from other year groups. This means lunchtimes and playtimes will be separate from other year groups and there will be no large gatherings such as assemblies in the hall.
We will continue with the staggered approach to the start and finish to the school day and are asking parents to strictly adhere to these times, with just one adult dropping off and collecting children, as much as possible.
You can drop your child off at their classroom between 8.40am and 9.00am and collect him/her between 2.50pm and 3.10pm. For Nursery AM, these times are 8.30-8.50am for dropping off and 11.10am -11.30pm for collection; for Nursery PM, these times are 12.20-12.40pm for dropping off and 3.00 -3.20pm for collection.
Unless exempt, parents and carers should wear a face covering when on the school premises, including the playground when dropping off and collecting children.
There will be no waiting permitted on the playground so please ensure you arrive within the times above and leave as soon as you have collected your child from school. Although it might be tempting to use this as an opportunity to socialise with others, please remember to maintain social distancing and not to gather in groups.
Schools must continue to limit the amount of equipment coming to and from school each day. Your child should only bring with them their coat, a water bottle and packed lunch box (although we would prefer children to have a school meal). If your child is having a packed lunch, please make sure the container is cleaned thoroughly before being returned to school the next day.
Unfortunately, parents will not be allowed to come into the school building and must remain distanced from the classroom door. We hope to be able to welcome you back into the building at some point before the end of the summer term.
It will not be possible to visit the office unless a pre-arranged appointment has been made. Instead, please ask a member of staff on the playground if you have a query. Communication with the office team will need to take place via email or phone.
On the day that your child has PE, we ask that they wear their PE kit to school rather than having to change in the day. Children can wear jogging bottoms (navy blue) instead of shorts and trainers instead of plimsolls.
Please do not be late to collect your child from school as this puts pressure on the safety systems we have in place for everyone.
To avoid the spread of the virus, children must not play on low ropes before/after school.
Our plan also expects all staff and parents/carers (on behalf of their child) to be ready and willing to book a Covid-19 test if they are displaying symptoms. Staff and pupils must not come into the school if they have symptoms, and must be sent home to self-isolate if they develop them in school.
We have lots of other measures in place to keep our school community as safe as possible, including daily temperature checks for all adults entering the building and twice-weekly lateral flow testing for all staff.
We look forward to seeing you and your child on Monday 8th March. In the meantime, please join us on Wednesday 3rd March at 9.30am for a zoom meeting, where we can go through this letter in more depth with you. Alternatively, if you have an urgent question or concern, please contact support@elmwood-inf.croydon.sch.uk and a member of staff will get back to you as soon as possible.
Yours sincerely,
Zoe Harris
Headteacher
