Coronavirus information

We are currently open for children in year R, 1 and 6 and to children whose parents are key workers. 

 

Our online learning is available on Google Classroom. Each child has their own log in information to access this site and their learning. If you are unable to access the classroom, you can use the government approved site National Oak Academy which has additional video lessons for children to access at home. 

 

We are staying up to date with government announcements as they are released. 

 

The latest guidance says that all children will be able to return to school in September. 

September Arrangements

As explained in our letter earlier this week, September is still going to be very strange in school. Although we will be welcoming all children back, it will still be a long way from normal with school looking and running very differently. The children will be in their class bubbles, which means that all classes will remain separate throughout the day. They will arrive at school and leave separately, as well as having different break and lunch times. The majority of our children have not been in school since March, and they will naturally be concerned about returning. In order to limit the anxieties and also enable to test the new systems in place for stress points, we will be having a phased approach to the return. Our first day is for teacher training. Day two is when all staff will be setting the school ready with all the additional measures that have to be in place. On day three we will be welcoming back our first two classes. Two more classes will join them on day 4 followed by the remaining two classes on day 5. Our new reception children will be visiting us for short sessions over the first few weeks.

 

School attendance has returned to being compulsory for all children and families may be fined if their child’s attendance falls below 95%. Please speak to us if you have any questions or concerns about attendance.

 

First day back

The date below is the first day back for that class. Once they start back we will add more classes to the school over a few days to allow us to gradually increase numbers and carefully consider our risk assessment and ways to keep everyone safe. It will also mean that the return to school is not too chaotic for the children, the majority of whom have not been in since March.

 

Thursday 3rd September - year 2 and year 6 return

Friday 4th September - year 1 and year 3 return

Monday 7th September - year 4 and year 5 return

Timings

We also have to stagger the entry and exit times for all pupils to avoid classes mixing in the corridors and cloakrooms, plus also limit the amount of families waiting at the gates. We realise this is not ideal for families who have more than one child in school, but this is the government guidance that we have to follow. This is not a permanent change to school timings, but is just to follow government guidance to reduce the risks. We will review the timings at the end of the first full week and weekly thereafter, and will return to normal times as soon as possible. We will be using both gates in the morning and afternoon. The green gate is the one by Reception class that we used to use for morning entry for everyone. The big brown gate is the newly extended one, further along the path.

 

 

What do the children need?

As we will not be using the cloakrooms, we need to limit the amount of things that children bring in with them. Therefore, the children must NOT bring in backpacks or rucksacks of any kind. They should have a school book bag, water bottle and possibly a lunchbox only. Book bags and water bottles can be purchased from the school office. PE kits should be brought in on the day, and taken home. We will let you know in September which day/s your child has PE. All children must also bring a named water bottle to school every day as we cannot provide cups. Children in years R, 1 and 2 will be given fruit as normal, but years 3, 4, 5 and 6 need to bring their own snack for morning break. Please remember this must be fruit or vegetables only, and not snack bars or sweets.

 

Other important information

Due to the covid-19 guidance, the following measures will be in place. Please do help us to keep everyone safe by adhering to these additional changes.

○ We will be unable to take messages on the gate. Please phone the office or email office@eastpeckhamprimary.org.uk

○ No bikes or scooters please!

○ Government guidance states that in order to reduce numbers waiting outside the school, it should only be one parent dropping off or collecting.

○ Please remain standing back and avoid coming near the gate or wall. Staff will not be able to bring their class out unless they have a safe place to stand.

○ We are unable to have visitors in school which means that meetings will continue to be held over the phone or virtually.

○ Late arrivals cannot come through the gate with a different class as they cannot mix. Therefore it is more important than ever that your child arrives on time. If you have not arrived on time, please phone the office to discuss when and how your child can come into school.

○ Asthma pumps must be brought into school on the first day in a sealed sandwich bag, clearly named.

○ If your child or a member of your family shows symptoms of Covid-19, please notify us and keep your child at home. We will then take advice from PHE on any necessary precautions needed in school.

○ If a child or member of staff shows symptoms of Covid-19 during the school day, we will close that class until a negative test result is received. Should a test be positive, then that class will remain closed for the required 14 days. Again we will take advice from PHE.

 

Message from Mrs B’s

Don’t forget that Mrs Bs will be up and running again in September. Breakfast club will start at 7.15 a.m. and after school club will run until 6.30 p.m. Please contact them directly if you wish to book a place for your child. Meanwhile here is a short note from them:-

 

Dear Parents,

We hope this letter finds you all well and looking forward hopefully to some sort of rest and relaxation during the summer holidays.

We wanted to reassure you all that before we return in September we at Mrs B’s will be making sure that our setting is completely following all current government guidelines, ready to welcome the children back into a safe environment. We will be letting you all know nearer the time what format this will take, however at the moment the government keeps adapting the guidelines. Once these are finalised, we can communicate this to you all.

Please be reassured that our priority is the safety of your children, families and our staff and we will illustrate this in our final plans.

Looking forward to seeing you soon, Chris and Lucy Fox

 

Dinners

We are really pleased to let you know that Emma Barnes is taking over our catering contract for school dinners. We know she will make a huge success of this and we hope to see an increasing number of children having a hot meal at lunchtimes. We will be setting up an online payment system for dinners through Arbor [our new management information system which you should already have received logins for], but please bear with us whilst we get the payment element sorted. Hopefully it will all be working for our return in September. Meanwhile during the holidays, the Local Authority are finally replacing our fire shutter in the kitchen which means we will once again have a working serving hatch. As this involves the removal of asbestos, the work is going to take quite some time and we will not be allowed access to the kitchen until 1st September. Emma will clearly need time to ensure it is fully cleaned and set up, so unfortunately she will not be able to start serving meals until Monday 7th September. For those children who are back in on the Thursday and/or Friday, please could you send them in with a packed lunch. Many apologies, but obviously the clean is essential.

 

A reminder for year 3 parents as your child is no longer in Key Stage 1, they are no longer entitled to Universal Free School Meals. If you think your child is entitled to Free School Meals, then please speak to the school office or take a look at this website https://www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/schools/free-school-meals#tab-1