Arrangements ffrom 19th July and from September
17th July 2021
Dear Parents/ Carers,
We are coming to the end of what has been another very challenging school year for everyone, and we’d like to thank you for your patience and support, particularly during these last few weeks of term. We appreciate your patience and understanding, particularly when messages are sent late at night regarding next day arrangements. Unfortunately, we are at the mercy of track and trace notifications and our Arbor system, which developed a glitch and wasn’t sending information to all year groups despite it appearing as if it was. Having worked with Arbor we are hopeful that this glitch has now been resolved.
It would appear that with the return of a member of senior staff we will be able to open next week to some classes for the final three days of term. At this time we will have staffing levels that will allow us to reopen safely for Years 3, 4 and 5 on Monday. Year 6 will also be able to return from Tuesday. Should this change we will communicate immediately with you. I realise this will be disappointing for children in other year groups but we have to have safe staffing ratios throughout the school day. The safety of children has to be paramount.
Given our present circumstances we are keeping our current restrictions in place until the end of term. Children will remain in class bubbles and staggered start/ arrival times will continue .
Whilst I am disappointed not to be able to be open for all classes, I am pleased that we are in a position to remain open for many classes and are able to say a proper goodbye to the children on site, particularly our wonderful Year 6 who will be leaving us on Wednesday to move onto their secondary school education. From those of us who will still be in isolation at the end of term we wish them every success in the future and thank them for the contribution they have made to Mount Street. For those not able to return I wish you a safe, happy holiday and look forward to seeing you again in September.
Looking forward to next term, the children are due to return to school on Tuesday 7th September and, as a result of the lifting of restrictions, we will be able to return to our pre-Covid timings and start of day/ end of the school day arrangements. These are as follows:
For years 1,2,3,4,5 and 6
- The top gate will be opened at 8:45
- Parents are asked to bring their children onto the lower playground to wait for the teachers to open the classroom doors.
- All children need to be in class by 8:55.
- Gates will reopen at 3pm and parents will be able to collect their children from the lower playground at 3:10.
- Children will be dismissed from the classroom doorways , one at a time, as and when the teacher identifies the person who has come to collect each child
For ME2, Nursery and Reception
- The Early Years gates will open at 8:45 and close at 9:00.
- Parents should bring their child into the Early Years playground where they will be greeted by the class teacher or a member of the Early Years staff
- At 3:00 the gates will re-open and parents are asked to wait in the small playground next to the Early Years gate to collect their child.
- The children will be dismissed one at a time by the class teacher, as and when they identify the person who has come to collect each child.
Children will no longer be in ‘class bubbles’ although, having found that the playgrounds space is more beneficial to children in smaller groups, we have decided to continue with staggered breaks and lunch times for the time being. Children will also be encouraged to wash their hands thoroughly at regular intervals.
In the event that restrictions do have to return we will revert back to the staggered start/ collection times and class bubbles currently in place. Other measures will include:
- using different entrances and exits for different year groups
- increasing the cleaning taking place at school
- windows and door will be propped open to maintain airflow / ventilation
In the event that such restrictions are necessary, we will notify you of any changes required.
We look forward to seeing you all again. In the meantime, have a lovely summer.
Yours faithfully,
B. Shillaber