The Government expects children from the following year groups to return, Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 6. This aims to ensure that the youngest children, and those preparing for the transition to secondary school, have maximum time with their teachers. The Government’s ambition is for all primary school children to return to school before the summer for a month if feasible, though this will be kept under review.

First and foremost we are looking to ensure that we provide all children and staff with the safest possible environment in which to return. There will be much anxiety around how this will work in practice but please be assured that all our decision making is based on DFE advice and how we comply to this whilst understanding we are working with young children who do not necessarily understand what is happening. Your child remains very much at the heart of all that we do.

To facilitate safe distancing we will be ensuring that we have a staggered start and finish time as well as staggered breaks and lunchtimes. Children will be in classes of no more than 15 and the children will not mix between classes. Classes will be equipped with the necessary resources needed to ensure that they can operate without sharing. This includes all pencils, books stationary and PE equipment. We are also spending the next week ensuring that we have anticipated every eventuality and planned for it before a deep clean in preparation for reopening.

School will be a very different place from the one children left in March but we will endeavour to provide the caring, nurturing environment that they know and you expect.

I will be looking to keep you all regularly updated and we very much welcome your support and understanding in this unprecedented time.

Many thanks

Mrs Hirst