Information for parents and carers regarding the reopening of HCPS to all children on Monday 6th September 2021.
Dear parents and carers,
Thank you for your help and support maintaining “Covid-19 preventative measures” throughout last academic year.
School life will certainly feel more “pre-pandemic” when we return on Monday 6th September. The necessity to keep children in consistent groups, bubbles, has been removed. This enables us, for example, to return to regular lunches and to have easier drop off and pick up arrangements. However, some control measures will remain in place such as hand washing and sanitising, ventilation and pathways around the school to avoid unnecessary mixing. We will also be maintaining some measures introduced during the pandemic which, with hindsight, have improved the smooth running of the school, such as children coming to school in their PE kit on their main PE day.
Please be aware that if there is a significant local outbreak, further preventative measures may have to be reintroduced.
Unfortunately, we will not be holding the “meet the teacher” session at the end of school on Monday 6th September – but as you will read below, you will have the opportunity to meet the teacher at the end of every school day.
Please read the information below carefully:
Reception to Year 6 Dropping off – face coverings not required
| MONDAY 6TH SEPTEMBER | TUESDAY 7TH SEPTEMBER ONWARDS |
|---|---|
| On the first morning of this academic year the school gates will open at 8:30 am. At 8:40 am your child’s class teacher will meet you at the following location: Reception – Patio playground Year 1 and Year 2 – Top playground Year 3 and Year 4 – Oval playground Year 5 and Year 6 – School field At approximately 8:50 am your child’s class teacher will escort the class into school to start the day. Please leave the school site promptly following the “traffic cone” pathways familiar to you from last year. At all times, no parents/carers are allowed in the school building. | For the remainder of the school year we will operate a free flow system of entry into school every morning. The school gates will open at 8:40 am. Following the “traffic cone” pathways familiar to you from last year, walk around the school site dropping your child off at their entrance door where you will be met by a member of staff from your child’s year group. Once dropped off, please leave the school site promptly. Your child is expected to be in class by 8:55 am. Registers will close at 9:00 am and any children arriving after the close of registers will receive a late mark. The school gates will be closed at 9:00 am. At all times, no parents/carers are allowed in the school building. |
Reception to Year 6 Picking up – face coverings not required
The school gates will open at 3:00 pm.
Children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 will finish the school day at 3:15 pm.
Children in Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6 will finish the school day at 3:20 pm.
Please wait for your children at the following location:
Reception – Patio playground
Year 1 and Year 3 – Oval playground
Year 2, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6 – Top playground
This is the opportunity to talk to your child’s teacher if you need to discuss something – alternatively use Seesaw/Tapestry, remembering your child’s teacher will only read/reply between 8 – 5 pm, Monday to Friday. If you have an urgent message, please contact the school office.
If you have children to collect from two or more different year groups at the same time the class teacher will supervise your child until you come to collect.
At all times, no parents/carers are allowed in the school building.
Once you have collected your child, please leave the school site promptly following the “traffic cone” pathways familiar to you from last year.
For those planning on and booked to use the school’s wrap around care provision there will be a separate letter sent out explaining the dropping off and pick up times and procedures.
Nursery drop off/pick up arrangements
Nursery will be offering a morning drop off window and afternoon pick up window. Please drop off your nursery child between 8:30 – 8:40 am every morning in the nursery garden and collect between 3:20 – 3.30 pm. If your child goes home after the morning nursery session, please collect at the main school gates at 11:30 am.
What to bring to school:
- Water bottle (named)
- Packed lunch (if you are not having a school lunch)
- One small backpack
- Change of footwear for short PE sessions and field use -trainers
- One small “child’s hand sized toy” of zero value – if you choose to
- Sun hats/sun cream (applied before school)/coats if cold or raining
- Classrooms will continue to be well ventilated so please ensure your child has sufficient clothing to remain warm during lessons.
- For children in Year 3, 4, 5 and 6 a small healthy snack of fruit or vegetables – we are a nut free school. (children in Reception, Year 1 and 2 receive a piece of fruit as a snack)
- Medication – if you took it home for the summer holidays
PE Kit
From Monday 6th September, on the days listed below, children can attend school in FULL PE KIT. (Tracksuits may be worn over PE kits – shorts must be worn underneath).
| Reception | Tuesday |
| Year 1 | Monday (INCLUDING THE FIRST DAY BACK!) |
| Year 2 | Thursday |
| Year 3 | Tuesday |
| Year 4 | Wednesday |
| Year 5 | Monday (INCLUDING THE FIRST DAY BACK!) |
| Year 6 | Wednesday |
Children will be expected to attend school in school uniform on all other days.
Attendance
The Department for Education has made it clear that school attendance is mandatory from the start of the autumn term. This means that normal school rules will apply, including:
- Parents’ duty to ensure children attend school unless medically unfit to do so.
- Schools record attendance and absence.
- The availability of sanctions, including penalty notices, for non-attendance.
Continue to follow public health advice on testing, self-isolation and confirmed cases of COVID-19.
When an individual develops COVID-19 symptoms or has a positive test they should follow public health advice on when to self-isolate and what to do. Children should not come into school if they have symptoms, have had a positive test result or other reasons requiring them to stay at home due to the risk of them passing on COVID-19 (for example, they are required to quarantine).
If any child in school develops COVID-19 symptoms, however mild, we will send them home and the family should follow public health advice.
Children are not required to self-isolate if they live in the same household as someone with COVID-19, or are a close contact of someone with COVID-19.
To conclude
I hope you have found all the above information useful.
Please contact the school office via email at askus@hadcps.uk if you require further clarification.
I look forward to welcoming you all back to HCPS on Monday 6th September 2021.
Yours sincerely,
Mr Gary Pilkington