Dear Parents / Carers,

I hope that you have had a restful break and made the most of the sunshine that we have had. All the teaching staff have been in school working hard to make sure that your children can enjoy a smooth start to the new school year.

As we start the new academic year, we will continue to adhere to the DFE operational COVID-19 guidance. This means that we will no longer be operating ‘bubbles’ for groups of pupils. This will allow greater flexibility for curriculum grouping and whole school Acts of Worship to resume.

Staggered starts and finishes to the school day will also no longer be required. With this in mind, the process for the start of the school day will be as follows: The school gate will be open at 8:35am and teachers will be on the school playground ready to welcome your children. At 8:40am a bell will ring signally the start of the school day. At this point, the children should accompany the teachers into their classrooms (via their classroom doors) and parents on the playground should make their way out of school. Any arrivals after 8:40am should head directly to the classroom doors via the playground. The school gate on to the playground will close at 8:50am. Any arrivals after this time should head through the main school office. Please note pupils in Owls class (Year R) do not need to come onto the playground - they can head straight to their classroom.

At the end of the school day at 3pm, teachers will bring classes out on to the playground and dismiss the children to parents and carers from there. Please note that any changes to your child’s collection routine should be communicated through the school office.

Although we will no longer be operating in bubbles, it would be much appreciated if all adults on the playground could be mindful of adhering to social distancing to mitigate risk. Please also note that this way of working may have to change should the school need to manage a community COVID-19 outbreak. Your support and flexibility in dealing with such changes, should they be required, will be much appreciated.

I am very much looking forward to welcoming you back on Thursday 2^nd September 2021 and having the opportunity to meet and work with you and your children. Enjoy the remainder of the holidays.

Kind Regards

Jon James