Dear Parents and Carers

Following my letter of 13 May, I am writing to explain the approach The Three Rivers Learning Trust is taking regarding the expansion of provision to include the priority year groups – Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 6, along with the children of Key Workers and vulnerable groups, defined here.  Further DfE guidance has been issued, which has helped to inform our planning, including detailed guidance for primary schools settings, which includes our First and Middle Schools which you can find here.  

We are awaiting secondary school guidance to support KEVI in determining how we should engage with students in Year 10 and Year 12. Ms Savage will be in touch with parents once these details are known.

The Learning Trust is committed to support all of our schools to expand provision, in line with the government’s aspirations and in the safest way possible. Please be assured that the health and wellbeing of our pupils and our staff is our highest priority. 

 

The planning process is complicated and we are currently working through social distancing guidelines with our Health and Safety advisors to consider issues such as break and lunch time, children with specific learning support needs, entry and exit from school site, toilet access and arrangements and movement around school. We have also considered the use of PPE and, whilst the government guidance is clear that face masks are not recommended for staff or pupils, we will have appropriate PPE available in the event of anyone showing symptoms so that staff can safely deal with the situation. Our schools will also be looking at adjusting curriculums and will be focussing on ensuring your children’s wellbeing and mental health is a priority upon return to school as they transition from learning from home. 

 

Thank you to First and Middle School parents, for your response indicating whether your child is to return at this point; each school now has the list of additional pupils and is organising class groupings. I know that this has been a difficult decision for parents/carers and can assure you that pupils not returning to school at this point will continue to be set home learning work.

The schedule for the pupils coming into school is as follows:

 

• Monday 1 June and Tuesday 2 June continued provision for the children of Key Workers and vulnerable groups currently attending school
• From Wednesday 3 June we will open for more children from the Key Worker and vulnerable groups, who have not attended to date
• Monday 8 June we will open for those children from Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 6, who have indicated they wish to return

 

Your Headteacher will write directly to you to confirm the specific start dates for your child, and provide detailed information about the revised school arrangements. It is very clear that the return to school will not be what our children are used to and they will need support to understand this.  

 

The Board of Trustees has carefully considered the guidance to ensure our schools are well prepared and safe for pupils and staff. 

 

Our schools will ensure:

 

• Classes of no more than 15 pupils, and sometimes fewer depending upon the size of rooms
• Pupils will remain together in the same class throughout the day and, wherever possible, with the same teachers and teaching assistants 
• Safe arrangements for entry into and exit from the school premises
• Staggered break and lunch times to manage social distancing arrangements between class groups
• Continued regular hand washing and cleaning of the school during the day
• Thorough daily cleaning of each school, and enhanced cleaning each week.  Therefore, our schools will close to all pupils, from 1.00pm each Friday, from Friday 12 June, to enable enhanced cleaning to be undertaken

 

Please note that the government will review the national data and the associated evidence on 28 May, before confirming that the reopening of schools will proceed. We will also continue to assess numbers in school in line with our risk assessments and staff availability. Your school will keep in touch with you about this and will communicate as soon as possible, if further changes are required.  

I fully understand what a very difficult and anxious time this is for parents, staff and children. I encourage you to read the guidance for parents and carers which you can access here and I want to reassure you that we are doing all we can to prepare for the wider re-opening of our schools and we are confident that we can do so safely.

 

Yours sincerely

Simon Taylor

CEO