01424 775987
office@battlelangton.e-sussex.sch.uk
Risk Assessment - Update January 2022
You can view our latest risk assessment using the link below:
http://www.battlelangton.e-sussex.sch.uk/resources/Updated%20Risk%20Assessment%20Jan%202022.docx
Latest Covid Testing / Isolation Changes - January 2022
Previous Updates:
Letter From Mr Hughes - 05/01/2022
Dear Parents and Families,
Firstly, a Happy New Year to you all and I hope everyone had an enjoyable Christmas break. We at school are all looking forward to welcoming the children back tomorrow.
Once again, we start the year having to think about how we can both keep our families and staff safe from rising Covid numbers whilst ensuring the school remains fully open, enabling the children to both learn and socialise.
Our risk assessment is currently being finalised and will be published on the school website by the end of the week. Please be assured that the mitigations put in place will not have a significant impact on your or your children’s school experience – there are no changes to timings, returns to bubbles or pauses to clubs etc.
In case you are not already aware, there has been a change to the timings to the isolation rules for primary aged children (as well as other groups). Following a positive PCR test, isolation can end and a child return to school if they have negative a LFT result on days 6 and 7 following the start of the isolation period.
Another change relevant to our children is that they do not need to isolate if they are a close contact (eg live with) someone who has tested Covid positive. In this instance, the child should LFT daily for 7 days, continuing to come to school as long as those results are negative.
In order to prevent spread in school, we will from now on inform parents if there is a PCR positive case within the class. In this instance, we ask that you LFT your child for the 7 days following as this will help minimise any spread. Information on accessing LFTs can be found here:
"https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing/regular-rapid-coronavirus-tests-if-you-do-not-have-symptoms/
Please continue to inform the school office of any positive LFT or PCR results.
Thank you for your ongoing support and let’s all hope that term 3 goes as peacefully as possible!
Letter From Mr Hughes - 26/11/2021
Dear Parents and Carers,
It has been a while since I have needed to communicate with you about COVID19 but unfortunately, with rising infection rates locally we have a number of children and staff that from today need to isolate following positive PCR tests.
We now have to take some additional steps to try to keep everyone safe and well in the run up to Christmas.
The additional measures put in place from today include:
- School staff returning to wearing masks in communal areas and socially distancing from each other when possible
- Further enhanced cleaning of key areas of the school including ‘touch points’ such as door handles.
- Ensuring windows as doors are open to as much as practicable to improve ventilation (there are also Co2 monitors in classes to help with identifying poor air quality)
- Reduction in the pupil numbers attending assemblies
- Staff meetings being held remotely to prevent cross infection of adults in school
- Parent/Carer conversations with year group staff to take place via telephone or Zoom if possible
- Parent/Carer conversations with office staff to be via telephone or email if possible
In addition, it is with a heavy heart that we have made the decision to move both the Key Stage 1 Nativity and the KS2 Carol Concert online. These will be recorded and private links to the recording shared via Google Classroom.
I fully understand how disappointed you will be with this decision but bringing large groups of together at this time presents too big a risk. However, recording and sharing the performances does ensure that more family members will be able to access them.
Finally, I need to ask once again for your support in ensuring that if your child displays symptoms of COVID19 you ensure they go and have a PCR test.
We know from both national data and what we are seeing is school that children and adults are returning positive PCRs with a range of symptoms including:
- Runny nose
- Headache
- Sneezing
- Sore throat
- Persistent cough
- Fever
- Loss of taste and smell
Letter From Mr Hughes - 14/07/2021
Dear Families,
I’m sure you are aware by now that unfortunately and on Government advice, we have had to close Reception, Year 2, Year 4 and Year 6 due to positive Covid-19 tests.
The associated isolation periods mean that the children will not return to school this academic year.
The knock-on effect to staffing means we have approximately 30 members of the team isolating. This means that we can not safely open the school for the remaining year groups.
The decision has been made in conjunction with the Local Authority to move to full remote learning from tomorrow until the end of term.
We are working out provision for keyworker children in the remaining open year groups (Y1, Y3, Y5) and will communicate this in due course. Unfortunately, keyworker children in the other year groups are unable to attend.
If your child has items in school that require collection we ask that they are picked up on Friday (16th) by a member of your household who is symptom free.
We are so sorry and disappointed that the end of the school year in this way, not just for our families but for the staff who are moving on, but sadly it is beyond our control.
Thank you once again for your ongoing support and understanding.
Simon Hughes
Headteacher
Year Group Closures - 14/07/2021
Unfortunately, we have had to close the following year groups:
- Reception
- Year 2
- Year 4
- Year 6
We will provide further information as soon as we get it.
Positive LFT result in the Y4 bubble - 13/07/2021
Unfortunately, a member of the Y4 bubble has received a positive LFT result for COVID-19.
This, coupled with the closure of the the Y6 bubble today means that we will have to close Y4 for tomorrow while we take advice from the Department of Education and Public Health England.
As things stand, school will be open for Reception, Y1, Y2, Y3 and Y5 as normal tomorrow.
We will provide further information as soon as we get it.
Confirmed Case - 13/07/2021
Letter for parents following confirmed PCR positive case in School
Dear Parents/guardians,
We are writing to inform you there has been a confirmed case of COVID-19 within the school.
We know that you may find this concerning, but we are continuing to monitor the situation and are working closely with Public Health England. This letter is to inform you of the current situation and provide advice on how to support your child. Please be reassured that for most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness.
A number of children and adults, who have had contact with the individual testing positive for COVID-19, have been asked to stay home for 10 days.
The school will re-open tomorrow for all year groups except Year 4 and 6 and your child should continue to attend as normal if they remain well. All students and staff, regardless of year group, should remain vigilant regarding COVID-19. All parents are advised to continue with the routine twice weekly asymptomatic LFD COVID-19 testing of those ages 11 and above in the household.
What to do if your child develops symptoms of COVID-19
If your child develops symptoms of COVID-19 they need stay at home and self-isolate immediately and get a test through https://www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test or by calling 119. Your household needs to isolate too. This includes anyone in your ‘Support Bubble’.
If your child tests positive, your child and household need to continue isolating for at least 10 days from the date when their symptoms appeared (or date of their positive test if they do not have symptoms). Add your child’s details to NHS Test and Trace and inform the school/educational setting so that other close contacts can be identified and advised to isolate.
The isolation period includes the day their symptoms started and the next 10 full days. This means that if, for example, symptoms started at any time on the 15th of the month, the isolation period ends at 23:59 hrs on the 25th. In the absence of symptoms, the isolation would start from the date of the test was taken and continue for ten days after this. If the person does not have symptoms when testing positive but goes on to develop symptoms, the isolation is extended for ten days after the onset of symptoms as explained here (in the “if you tested positive” section). If other household members become unwell they need to extend their isolation period as shown in this infographic.
If your child has COVID-19 symptoms and does not get tested they will need to isolate with the household and support bubble for at least 10 days from the onset of symptoms.
Household members should not go to work, school or public areas and exercise should be taken within the home. If you require help with buying groceries, other shopping or picking up medication, or walking a dog, you should ask friends or family or order your shopping online and medication by phone or online. There is also support available for those are self isolating:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-and-treatment/help-and-financial-support-while-youre-self-isolating/
Household members staying at home for 10 days, will greatly reduce the overall amount of infection the household could pass on to others in the community.
Those who are clinically extremely vulnerable should be supported to minimise their contact with other people in the household during this period, regardless of whether others have symptoms or not.
Please see the link to the PHE ‘Stay at Home’ Guidance:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/COVID-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-COVID-19-infection
What to do if your child / family member tests LFD positive
If someone in your household receives a positive LFD test, you should get a PCR COVID-19 test as soon as possible. The person testing positive should isolate with their household following the stay at home guidance. If your child tests positive with an LFD or PCR test you must inform the school so they can start contact tracing.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of:
- A new continuous cough
- A high temperature
- A loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)
For most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness.
If your child does develop symptoms, you can seek advice from the nhs.uk website at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/check-if-you-havecoronavirussymptoms/. If you are concerned about your child’s symptoms, or they are worsening you can seek advice from NHS 111 at https://111.nhs.uk/ or by phoning 111.
How to stop COVID-19 spreading
There are things you can do to help reduce the risk of you and anyone you live with getting ill with COVID-19:
- Wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds.
- Use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available.
- Wash your hands as soon as you get home.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze.
- Put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards.
- Participate in twice weekly LFD testing following national guidelines (recommended for 11 years and over). We encourage you to log your results here: https://www.gov.uk/log-test-site-covid19-results
Further information is available at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
Further information on rapid lateral flow tests are available at: https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests
Guidance in different languages: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/COVID-19-stay-at-home-guidance
Yours sincerely
Simon Hughes
Headteacher
School Closure - 13/07/2021
Dear Parents
Regrettably we are having to close school today due to a Covid related situation. All pupils should stay at home today, any that are already in school need to be collected as soon as possible. Further details will be issued during today.
Return to School - Monday 8th March - 02/03/2021
Dear Families
We look forward to seeing you all back in school on Monday 8th March. We trust that the booklets below will help smooth the transition and give you all the practical information that you require.
If you would like to read our updated risk assessment, it can be found above.
Should you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to contact us in the usual manner.
Kind regards
Mrs Byles
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Reception Booklet
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Year 1 Booklet
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Year 2 Booklet
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Year 3 Booklet
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Year 4 Booklet
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Year 5 Booklet
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Year 6 Booklet
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Pod Booklet
A few notes about the return to school on 8th March - 26/02/2021
Early Bird Club
It will again be possible for children to attend Early Bird Club from the 8th March. If you have not used the service before please contact Early Bird Club directly via email at breakfast@battlelangton.e-sussex.sch.uk in order to receive a booking form each week.
Early Bird Club runs from 7.30am until school starts and costs £8 per child, per morning (children must arrive no later than 8.10am). Filling in the form each week enables us to make sure that there are enough staff in place to keep children in their class bubbles. If you require any further information, please contact Mel Horrod on the above email address.
Hats
Children are required to wear their coloured cap when they return to school. If you need a replacement cap, (£2 each), please let the school office know (by phone or email). An item called 'Replacement School Hat' will be added to your Parentpay account and a new cap will be issued once payment is received. Payment in cash can be accepted if you prefer, please send in an envelope with your child’s name, class and 'Replacement Hat' on the front.
Return of Borrowed laptops
If you have borrowed a school laptop during the lockdown, please can it be returned to the school office by no later than Friday 12th March. Please remember to return the laptop charger too!
Peripatetic Music
The Music Service will resume peripatetic lessons in school from week beginning 15th March 2021.
Inset Days
There are three remaining INSET days this academic year. These will be on the following dates –
- Friday 30th April
- Monday 7th June
- Friday 23rd July
The East Sussex School Health Service will be coming in to school on the first day back to carry out Vision Screening of children in the Reception classes. If parents have any queries/concerns please contact the School Health Service on 0300 123 4062 / email kentchft.esschoolhealthservice@nhs.net
School Full Opening Information For 8th March - 24/02/2021
Dear Parents and Carers,
I am sure that like you, we are delighted to now be preparing for the full return of the children to school on Monday 08th March.
Schools have received additional guidance on how they should operate when back at full capacity. We are still working on reviewing our risk assessments and school systems, but I thought it would be helpful to provide you with an update before reissuing our procedures in full next week.
Essentially, all the mitigations that were put in place in the Autumn term will continue. These include staggered start and end times (at the same timings as before), classes in ‘bubbles’ with coloured hats and enhanced cleaning. I will share the full risk assessment when ready, which is based on the DfE guidance that looks at the following preventative measures:
Schools must always:
1) Minimise contact with individuals who are required to self-isolate by ensuring they do not attend the school.
2) Ensure face coverings are used in recommended circumstances. For Primary Schools this means staff wearing masks in corridors and communal areas where social distancing cannot occur.
3) Ensure everyone is advised to clean their hands thoroughly and more often than usual.
4) Ensure good respiratory hygiene for everyone by promoting the ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ approach.
5) Maintain enhanced cleaning, including cleaning frequently touched surfaces often, using standard products such as detergents.
6) Consider how to minimise contact across the site and maintain social distancing wherever possible.
7) Keep occupied spaces well ventilated.
If all goes well locally and nationally during the period up to the Easter Holiday, on our return in term 5 we hope to move to year group ‘Bubbles’. This will allow us to shorten the staggered day and give us a little more flexibility with staffing. It will also allow us to get after school provision back up and running.
After so many of our children have been away from school for such a long period of time, I’m sure some of you will find that uniforms have become a little ‘snug’. I appreciate the difficulty in sourcing new clothes at the moment, so for at least the rest of this term we will relax our uniform rules. If school uniform still works for you then we would like the children to wear it. If that presents a challenge, just do your best in sending the children in sensible wear for general schooling. Please no heels or sandal/flip-flop type footwear - trainers are fine.
Don’t worry if you’ve forgotten everything about the Autumn term procedures, full guidance will be issued next week.
Take care
Mr. Hughes
School Closure From 4th Jan - 31/12/2020
Dear Parents and Carers,
We are sure that you have all heard Gavin Williamson's announcement this afternoon stating that primary schools in areas which are heavily affected by Covid-19 will be closed from Monday 4th January, 2021. Rother is one of the areas affected, therefore our school will be closed to pupils from Monday 4th January. This will be the case until 18th January, at least. This school closure is one of the measures being put in place to stop the rapid spread of Covid-19 in our area.
This is an extreme measure, and we appreciate the problems this will cause for some of your families. This has come as a surprise to many of us, and we understand that this is not what you expected to happen in January. Please be assured that Google Classroom will be running throughout this time of school closure and that lessons will be provided online for your children each day.
Gavin Williamson also announced that schools would remain open for children where their parents/carers work in critical services. For those parents/carers who consider themselves critical workers, please complete the Google Form below before FRIDAY 1st JANUARY, 5pm.
https://forms.gle/xPAyhQJbTLD1vfoh7
Other children who meet certain criteria will also be invited to come to school during this time. These families will receive a direct email inviting children to attend.
The clear message from the Government is that if children CAN be at home, they SHOULD be at home.
These temporary measures at school have been put in place to reduce transmission in our area. We know that a lot is being asked of you and your children once again. As in the previous lockdown, please use Google Classroom to keep in touch with us, as well as for learning. Someone will always be at the end of an email or telephone should you wish to contact us or reach out in anyway. Know that all of us at school join you in looking forward to the day when we can all be together again.
We will be in touch with updates regarding this situation as and when we have them.
In the meantime, stay calm, stay strong and stay home whenever possible
Kind regards
Rochelle Byles
Acting Deputy Headteacher
Previous Updates
Positive Coronavirus Cases - Advice For Parents - 14/12/2020
Dear parent and carers,
I am very sorry to announce that I have been made aware that we have
confirmed positive cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) in 2SA, 3CD and 3TM.
As our classes are ‘bubbles’, only the children within these classes are effected, and those parents have been informed separately. All other classes remain open at this time.
Whilst I know that this is worrying, the school are doing all we can to prevent further cases from spreading. It is extremely important that all families keep their social contacts to an absolute minimum, and respect social distancing and hygiene measures at all times.
Below is additional information provided by Public Health England, but I am happy answer questions if needed.
I am sorry to bring you this news, but with case numbers rising rapidly in the area, it was inevitable that we would be effected at some point.
Kind regards
Mr Alexander
What to do if your child develops symptoms of COVID 19
If your child develops symptoms of COVID-19, they should remain at home for at least 10 days from the date when their symptoms appeared. Anyone with symptoms will be eligible for testing and this can be arranged via https://www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test or by calling 119 .
People who do not have symptoms should not request a test unless this has been specifically requested by Public Health England or the local authority.
All other household members who remain well must stay at home and not leave the house for 10 days. This includes anyone in your ‘Support Bubble’.
The 10-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill.
Household members should not go to work, school or public areas and exercise should be taken within the home. If you require help with buying groceries, other shopping or picking up medication, or walking a dog, you should ask friends or family. Alternatively, you can order your shopping online and medication by phone or online.
Household members staying at home for 10 days will greatly reduce the overall amount of infection the household could pass on to others in the community
If you are able, you can move any vulnerable individuals (such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions) out of your home, to stay with friends or family for the duration of the home isolation period
Please see the link to the PHE ‘Stay at Home’ Guidance:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection
Symptoms of COVID 19
The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of:
- new continuous cough and/or
- high temperature and/or
- a loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)
For most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness.
If your child does develop symptoms, you can seek advice from the nhs.uk website at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/check-if-you-have-coronavirus-symptoms/. If you are concerned about your child’s symptoms, or they are worsening you can seek advice from NHS 111 at https://111.nhs.uk/ or by phoning 111.
How to stop COVID-19 spreading
There are things you can do to help reduce the risk of you and anyone you live with getting ill with COVID-19
Do
- wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
- use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
- wash your hands as soon as you get home
- cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
- put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards
Further information is available at
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
Advice to Parents/Carers re COVID-19 - 09/11/2020
Dear Parents and Carers
I am writing to let you know that there has been a confirmed case of Covid-19 within our community: a child has tested positive.
The family in question have been in isolation since before half term when another family member tested positive. We are sure that the child has not been in school since contracting the virus. Therefore we are reassured by the Department for Education that there is no further action needed at this time.
Obviously knowing that the virus is now very clearly in the town and community is uncomfortable, but it is probably inevitable. In school we have very robust systems to help reduce the chances of the virus spreading in school, but we cannot do anything about what happens outside the school gates.
Please ensure that you are vigilant for any symptoms of Covid-19 within your household, and follow rules of self-isolation if you are aware that you have been in contact with someone who has tested positive. I also ask politely, again, that parents/carers respect social distancing on drop off and collection times. I have seen far too many people standing close and talking. If you find it impossible to stand two metres apart, I advise that you wear a mask.
If you are ever unsure about what you should or should not be doing, please feel free to contact us.
Hopefully, the new lockdown restrictions will have the desired effect and reduce the prevalence of the virus in our area enough to enable us to keep schools open and maybe have a Christmas celebration.
Take care, and look out for each other.
Mr Alexander
Update from Mr Alexander - 09/10/2020
Dear Parents and Carers,
Firstly, I hope that this email finds you well and sane; it seems an awful long time ago that I first wrote to you like this to inform you of measures I’d put in place as the very first cases of Covid-19 appeared on these shores in February. What a year it has been, and continues to be.
Covid-19 system review:
I said that I would be reviewing the systems and restrictions that I put in place from September for term 2, and now I am ready to do that.
Unfortunately, the country is clearly heading into a second peak of the virus with cases nationwide at more than 17,000 cases. Experts tell us that the number of infections is doubling every seven days, meaning that by the beginning of Term 2 we are likely to have 100,000+ cases a day nationwide. This is more than is thought to have been the case in April.
Therefore, now is not the time to reduce our restrictions. There will be no changes to systems and procedures for Term 2.
We have managed to maintain our standards of cleanliness and ‘bubble integrity’ throughout the term and are fully complying with the requirements. As I have said many times, I know that the restrictions make things more challenging for parents, as they do for our staff. I am sorry for making life more difficult. However, the only way to loosen up the restrictions, including opening after school childcare, would be to make our bubbles larger or mixed.
Although we haven’t had a positive test result for anyone in our community yet, it is important to know that it is still highly likely that we will. Many local schools have had to close bubbles for two weeks, with one having to close the entire school and another closing the entirety of Key Stage 1. If I increase bubble size, then there is a far greater chance of your child’s class being shut for at least two weeks. If I allow mixing, then there is a far greater chance of there being several cases in different bubbles, which will lead to a full school closure. I do not want that to happen to us and therefore will not compromise on our safety measures.
I know a number of you would like the childcare until 5.30pm facility we have provided in the past. Unfortunately this is impossible. I have thought and thought about how I can make this happen and if there is one thing I am good at it is system planning and problem solving. However, I cannot solve this issue without compromising one or more of our protective measures and for that I apologise. I take my responsibility to keep people safe very seriously, and lose sleep about getting things right for as many as possible.
Early Bird Club
There have been an average of 15 children a day using the service this term. As you’ll be aware, the service requires a much greater staffing ratio than the old breakfast club, due to the need to keep children in their bubbles. Over the past 4 weeks the service has cost the school £700, and is predicted to cost the school around £1200 by the end of the term. With budgets as tight as they are, I cannot keep subsidising this service. Therefore, the cost of Early Bird Club will rise to £8 a day from Term 2, which will reduce the burden on the schools finances and be closer to breaking even. We will not make a profit from this service, and if numbers increase over the term we will be able to reduce the cost again.
Online Learning
In more positive news, every year group is now set up for online learning should we need to close a bubble, or even if a child needs to isolate but is well. Just like we did during the school closure, each child has an email address (firstnamesurname@battlelangton.e-sussex.sch.uk – password battlelangton123). To access the online classroom, go to www.classroom.google.com and sign in with the above details. Your child should then see their Year group title on the page, which they can click to enter. Teachers will be putting up the resources used in class for each lesson taught each day. If the bubble ever had to close, the teacher would also record the lesson and upload a video as they did during the lockdown. If your child is off school because you need to isolate, they can access the work online during the day.
Learning loss during the school closure
Another really positive thing is that we have now completed the assessments of children in English and Maths, and although there are some rustiness in the handwriting department, actual learning loss is really minimal. Obviously some children have regressed more than others but the vast majority of children have actually made progress! I think this is a real testament to the support you provided children at home during the school closures, and you should be really proud of the way you adapted so quickly to the home schooling arrangements.
Thank you all once again for the support you have shown me and my staff during this incredibly challenging year. Only one more term until Mr Hughes returns and ruins everything takes back the reigns.
Take care of yourselves, and each other.
Mr Alexander
Previous Updates:
A few final notes for next week and PE information
School Meal Price increase
The price of a school meal has increased by 5p over the holidays to £2.10 per meal.
Year 3 – no longer entitled to Universal Free School Meals
Once pupils move to year 3 they no longer automatically qualify for free school meals. If you think you qualify for free school meals under the entitlement criteria, please go online at https://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/educationandlearning/schools/school-life/meals/free/
to make an application. You need to apply even if you already have an older child who is already in receipt of free meals.
PE - days when your child should come in to school wearing their PE kit
Early Bird Club
If you need to use the Early Bird Club please ensure you book in advance. Further details can be obtained by emailing breakfast@battlelangton.e-sussex.sch.uk
Items to bring to school
Only essential items should be brought in to school, e.g. lunchbox, water-bottle, book bag, coat etc. If older children wish to bring a bag to carry lunch boxes, bottles etc they can – all junior children have a locker where they will be stored.
Parentmail
We are currently experiencing problems with Parentmail and are aware that your child may still be showing in their old class. East Sussex County Council’s IT team are working on this issue at the moment.
We are all looking forward to welcoming the children back into school next week.
Letter from Mr Alexander 28th August
Dear Parents and Carers,
I hope that you have all enjoyed the strangest summer ever known. I have had a few weeks at home with my family, relaxing in the garden and indulging in the excuse to not take my daughter to an overpriced adventure park because of the risk of infection.
The school is virtually ready for the imminent return of children, and we can’t wait to have them all back. Although things will be more difficult and strange for a while yet, we will do our best to ensure that the children are happy and settled in their bubbles as soon as possible.
Coming in on September 7th:
On the first day, as you arrive (at your allotted time), you will see some posts marking the lining up point along the path running up Market road. The posts will have the name of a class on it. When your child’s class is indicated, you go and line up there. There are yellow markings on the floor to help maintain some distances (particularly between parents). It is important that children don’t mix with the other classes. At your allotted time, the class teacher will appear at the small front gate and lead the children to the classroom (after a week or so, this will not be needed as the children will know where to go). KS1 parents can follow the path with their children and drop them at the classrooms, KS2 parents will need to remain outside the school gates.
Hats:
Thank you to those of you that have already paid for your hat on ParentMail. We have purchased the hats and will give them to the children on the first day, even if you haven’t yet paid. After that, they will be a crucial part of the uniform. You will see the benefit when they come out of school in the afternoon, you’ll soon be spotting your child’s hat colour making their way to the gate, and you will know it is time to approach the gate. In the mornings, if you forget the hat, I will ask that you go home and get it. We will let the children in, but you will need to return with the hat ASAP. The hats are crucial to our ability to keep the children apart and reduce the risk of transmission.
PE kits:
You’ll remember that I said PE will be exclusively outside in the Autumn, as risk of transmission is lowered outside. Therefore we ask that children be provided with a tracksuit so they don’t get cold. Preferably it will be black, but if this is not possible initially, then another unbranded tracksuit will be ok. We also recommend black trainers rather than plimsolls as the ground will not always be dry.
In order to ease the logistics of children getting changed, we will ask that you send your children into school in their PE kits, on the day they have PE. They can stay in the kit all day. We will send out information on PE times next week.
I hope that is all as clear as it can be! I know this is going to be challenging for all of us, and I feel bad for making your lives even more difficult. Hopefully we will see the benefit and there won’t be a spike of Covid-19 in our community, which would lead to the full closure of everything again.
Enjoy the last few days of having your children at home. I look forward to seeing your smiling faces as you skip off, free from little people, on Monday 7th of September.
Until then, take care of yourselves.
Mr Alexander
September 2020 Information
Please see below, Parent Information Booklets, giving details for when the children return to school on September 7th.