Newsletters

The Children's House - Nursery School Reopening

Dear Parents,

Before we set out the Nursery arrangements for the rest of the summer term, we would like to thank you for your support and understanding throughout the first half of term. It has been quite a journey for all of us as we have adjusted to online learning. The teachers have thrown themselves into unfamiliar territory with real commitment and creativity. We are so proud of them and of the tremendous work the children have produced under your guidance. We know that this has been a challenging time for families who have had to juggle childcare, work commitments and online learning.

The government has said that schools should open for nursery, reception, Year 1 and Year 6 classes from 1st June at the earliest. We know that children thrive when they are happy at school with their friends and teachers, so we want to see them back at school as soon as possible. Behind the scenes we have been planning for a June return, following the latest government guidance.

Please also note that if the government changes its mind over the earliest re-opening date for schools, we will be forced to postpone our opening until directed to do so.

Although we would prefer to welcome all of our children back for a full school week, we simply cannot teach two groups of children from the same class simultaneously. We are constrained by DfE limits on class sizes and available space. We are limited to no more than 16 children per floor of the Nursery. Therefore, the most workable option is for us to teach each group for two consecutive days per week, either on a Monday and Tuesday or a Thursday and Friday. Rather than teaching children for four half-days, either morning or afternoon, we felt that two full days would give parents enough time to focus on work. More importantly, half-days would entail an unfeasible amount of cleaning between groups in the middle of the day.

Our morning-only children will attend Nursery on two consecutive mornings per week, but on three consecutive mornings every other week. The upstairs room will be deep cleaned by staff on Wednesdays and on Friday afternoons. On Wednesday teachers will plan and organise resources for both school and online provision. Online provision will continue for children on non-school days. The downstairs room will be cleaned every afternoon when children are not present.

We are putting detailed safeguarding and hygiene measures in place in order to minimise the risk of children and adults contracting coronavirus. In addition to social distancing and enhanced cleaning, we are reducing the number of children in the Nursery at any one time enabling us to create smaller classes often referred to as 'pods' or 'bubbles' within each room. Class groups will be separated from one-another in the room and adults from one class will not mix with adults from another.

Attached are details of the way in which we will operate, including class lists, with timetables following shortly. In the meantime, it will be helpful if you can begin to prepare your child for a positive return to school. We want to diminish the potential stress of returning to a changed school environment after such a long break. The staff will be familiar to the children, but classrooms will be less so with carpets, soft toys and cushions removed. You will also have to prepare your child to become used to a relatively swift goodbye. The first few days might be difficult, so the better prepared everyone is, the smoother the transition will be.

On return to school the staff will have to become familiar with and implement an entirely new way of operating. This will allow us to open as safely as possible, focusing on measures that will help limit the risk of coronavirus transmitting within The Children's House. Children have been at home for a long time and will have to adjust to a socially distanced day. The return to school should be as gentle and manageable as possible for everyone, so we have decided to stagger the children's return during the first week. Staff will have a two-day induction inset at the beginning of the week and will finish re-organising the school on the Wednesday. Teachers will upload activities onto Seesaw for 1 - 3 June but will not be free to respond to messages. On Thursday 4th June Group A children will come into school for one day only. On Friday 5th June Group Z children will come into school for one day. The school will be thoroughly cleaned between groups. Our new timetable will begin on Monday 8th June.

It goes without saying that the safety of your child and of our staff is our top priority. We are doing our utmost to limit the possibility of viral transmission at school, but our ability to remain open is dependent on us not having an outbreak. Please help us by following government guidelines on social distancing as best you can outside our school setting as well. Most importantly I would ask anyone who is displaying coronavirus symptoms, or who lives with someone who does, not to attend school. If you or a member of your household has a vulnerability and you have chosen to send your child to school, we encourage you to tell us so that we can take this into account.

We hope we have covered most aspects of our return in the information below, but if you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact us. Enjoy the beautiful weather that has been forecast for the rest of the half-term and we look forward to seeing you soon.

Warm regards,

Kate and Salima

We are following Department for Education advice: early years and primary age children cannot be expected to remain 2metres apart from each other and staff. 

Please see advice at the link below for more information:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preparing-for-the-wider-opening-of-early-years-and-childcare-settings-from-1-june/planning-guide-for-early-years-and-childcare-settings#Section2

We will be reviewing government advice regularly.

ORGANISATION OF THE WEEK/DAY

The Downstairs Nursery

* the Downstairs Nursery children will be divided into two separate groups and will attend school on either Monday/Tuesday or Thursday/Friday.

* each group will also attend on alternate Wednesdays

* children can be dropped off between 8.45-9.15am and pick up time is 12.00pm

The Upstairs Nursery (Pre-Reception)

* the Upstairs Nursery will be divided into two separate groups and will attend school on either Monday/Tuesday or Thursday/Friday

* Wednesdays will be a child-free day to enable teachers to plan for the week and to continue providing online learning from home

* children can be dropped off between 8.45-9.15am and pick up time is 2.20pm (the school day will be shorter than normal to take into account of the long distance commute on public transport made by class teachers and lack of outdoor trips)

*Pre-Reception teachers will take their small group of children out for short afternoon walks with parent’s permission

Additional Information

* there will be no school outings, visitors to the school, assemblies or specialist lessons such as dance and Spanish for the rest of the term

* teachers will provide focus activities for Nursery days and will prepare other practical activities for the days when children are at home, which will be sent to parents via email and also posted on Seesaw

* Children will continue to access music and dance lessons online via Seesaw

SOCIAL DISTANCING AND SAFEGUARDING ARRANGEMENTS

* classes will enter and leave the school via separate entrances (see below)

* areas for queuing parents will be marked 2m apart

* the Upstairs and Downstairs of the Nursery will operate separately and children and staff from each floor will not mix

*children will remain in their class area, with the same children and teacher and teaching assistant throughout the session and will not mix with the other classes in the group

* teachers will maintain some distance from the children during activities but will be available to comfort or attend to a child’s needs or requests

*children in the class will share tables for certain activities such as snack, but will sit at opposite ends and will sit at opposite ends in the same marked place every day

* if needed the glass classroom will be used as an isolation area for ill children in the Upstairs nursery and the Downstairs nursery will use a screened off area of the downstairs room

* please do not travel to school on public transport unless absolutely necessary. Please use your car if you live a long way from school, or travel to school on foot, bike or scooter (school drop-off notices for cars can be obtained from the school office). Please note that bikes or scooters cannot be parked inside the Nursery

*most staff will not use public transport unless unavoidable

* pushchairs cannot be brought into the Nursery (a staff member will monitor sibling babies during drop off/pick up)

Downstairs Nursery

*entry and collection through main Nursery door (drop off 9.45-9.15am, collection 12pm)

* will continue to use the loos adjacent to the classroom (toilets will be colour coded for each class)

Upstairs Nursery

* entry and collection through the Fire Exit door and steps on Elmore Street (drop off 8.45-9.15am, collection 2.20pm)

* will continue to use the upstairs toilets

CHILDREN WILL NEED TO BRING:

* a full water bottle, healthy snack and Pre-Reception will need a lunch (not nuts please) Bottles and lunch boxes must be labelled and lunch boxes should be insulated and contain an ice-pack to keep the food at a safe temperature

* clothes must be freshly laundered for each school day

* please apply sunscreen before school when weather is hot and send your child in with a sun hat

WE WILL PROVIDE:

* pens/pencils etc. in individual labelled packs to be kept at school

LOWERING THE RISK OF INFECTION

* Parents should drop off their child at the nursery where a staff member will be waiting to welcome your child and direct them to wash their hands. If this is not possible, parents can enter the building and drop off their child within a designated area, either just inside the main entrance door (downstairs) or outside the glass classroom (upstairs).

*parents are requested to limit interactions with staff during drop off and pick up and engage with them via email or Seesaw if possible as an alternative

* staff and children will be cleaning hands more often than usual – washing their hands thoroughly for 20 seconds with running water and soap and drying them thoroughly or using alcohol hand sanitiser ensuring that all parts of the hands are covered

*children and staff will wash their hands immediately on arrival at school and at regular intervals before and after activities throughout and at the end of the school day

* children will be encouraged to follow good respiratory hygiene by promoting the ‘catch it, bin it, kill it (wash hands)’ approach

* Hygiene stations (containing sanitising wipes and anti-viral gel) will be placed in every classroom, staff rooms

* both children and staff are asked to wear freshly laundered clothes to school every day

* parents and children are asked not to use public transport when travelling to and from school

* most staff will not use public transport when travelling to school except where this is unavoidable

* parents must check their child’s temperature each morning. If it is raised above 37.5, children should be kept at home

* if a child seems unwell at Nursery we will check their temperature. If it is raised we will ask for them to be collected immediately

*each class will have their own equipment boxes which will be sterilised at the end of the day

* children will be given their own labelled box for their snack/lunch box, water bottle, etc. 

* children will be given their own labelled pack with pencil, pens, scissor, paint brush etc.

* the Upstairs Nursery and equipment will be deep cleaned by our cleaning staff each Wednesday when no children are on site

* the Downstairs nursery will be deep cleaned by our cleaning staff on Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon depending on the alternating Wednesday group

* all equipment and boxes used will be sterilised at the end of each day

* we will work to an enhanced cleaning regime to include disinfecting of frequently touched surfaces such as tables, light switches, door handles and taps at regular intervals throughout the day

* all soft surfaces such as carpets, cushions and soft toys have been removed from the classrooms (named small yoga mats or tiles will be used for floor activities – these will be disinfected at the end of the session)

* children will sit at the same marked tables daily

*children are asked not to bring in toys or ‘show and tell’ items from home into school

* iPads and touch screens will not be used by children

* staff dealing closely with children (in case of accidents, when taking temperatures or assisting with toileting) must wear face shields, plastic aprons and disposable gloves

* story books will sit in quarantine for three days before being placed back on the bookshelves

* Rooms will be kept well ventilated

* Shared multi-sensory activities such as sand/water play will be suspended

FAQS 

We will be reviewing government advice regularly and will update the FAQs accordingly.

WILL THE FEE ADJUSTMENT REMAIN NOW THAT THE SCHOOL IS PHYSICALLY OPEN? 

Yes, fees will remain at the adjusted level for the rest of the academic year.

WHAT IF I CHOOSE NOT TO SEND MY CHILD BACK TO SCHOOL?

You are entitled to keep your child at home this term, but we expect you to maintain contact with the school and to access online learning via Seesaw.

IF I HAVE DECIDED TO KEEP MY CHILD AT HOME BUT CHANGE MY MIND AND WOULD LIKE HIM/HER TO RETURN TO SCHOOL; CAN I DO THIS?

Yes, this is possible but please contact Kate or Salima to discuss.

WHAT’S YOUR POLICY ON VISITORS? 

We are not encouraging visitors to the school and they will only be admitted when absolutely necessary (for emergency repairs etc.) Visitors to the school are required to follow social distancing and hygiene guidelines. Essential visits will be occur outside normal school hours wherever possible.

HOW ARE YOU RECORDING ABSENCE OF PUPILS WHEN SCHOOL RE-OPENS? 

If you choose not to send your child back to school absence will be recorded as an ‘Authorised Absence’.

WHAT IS YOUR CLEANING REGIME?

We have an enhanced cleaning regime throughout the school and will sanitise equipment daily. We will deep clean the school between groups.

WILL CHILDREN AND STAFF BE EXPECTED TO WEAR FACE COVERINGS ON SITE?

Wearing of face masks in schools or education settings is not recommended by the government at this stage.

If a child or member of staff wishes to wear a face covering then they will be allowed to do so. Please ensure masks are sealed in a plastic bag before disposal. 

We would prefer teachers to communicate without face masks so that children are able to see facial expressions. 

WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF MY CHILD OR ANY MEMBER OF THE HOUSEHOLD IS SHOWING SYMPTOMS OF CORONAVIRUS?

If your child or anyone else in your household displays symptoms of Coronavirus, we would ask that your child does not attend school until medical advice has been sought or testing has taken place.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF A CHILD OR STAFF MEMBER TESTS POSITIVE FOR CORONAVIRUS?

The entire upstairs or downstairs cohort will have to self-isolate for 14 days.. We will immediately revert to our full online learning programme via Seesaw and Zoom.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF MY CHILD IS MILDLY UNWELL WITH SOMETHING OTHER THAN CORONAVIRUS?

If your child is mildly unwell with something other than Coronavirus, keep them at home that day. We will not be able to switch days as that will disrupt our bubble structure. If in any doubt, please call the school administrator.

Most common symptoms

fever

dry cough

tiredness

loss of taste/smell

Less common symptoms

aches and pains

sore throat

diarrhoea

conjunctivitis

headache

rash on skin

discolouration of fingers or toes

Serious symptoms

difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

chest pain or pressure

loss of speech or movement