Dear Parents/Carers,
I am sorry that I have not been able to confirm details for the start of term before now but I was waiting for the latest government guidance to be released.
I am delighted that children will be returning to school next Wednesday 25th August (Years 1- 6, the foundation stage have their own start dates). I am hopeful that this year will feel much more ‘normal’. Obviously, the coronavirus pandemic is still with us so it is essential that we continue with our rigorous hand washing/sanitising routines, enhanced cleaning and ensure rooms remain well ventilated. Please view the school’s updated Covid risk assessment on the school website.

Although face masks are no longer mandatory, the school will support parents that continue to wear them on school site. Staff may choose to wear face masks when interacting with parents.

This letter sets out a reminder of how the school day will work.

How the school day will be managed
School Timings – There will be no staggered start and finish times. School gates will open from 8.40am and children will go straight into classrooms rather than lining up. Children can enter the classrooms from 8.40am. School starts promptly at 8.50am and finishes at 3.05pm. These timings are the same for all pupils.

Entrance to the school –
All junior pupils will enter from Compton Road and EYFS/KS1 pupils through the entrance on Heyworth Road. If you have a KS2 and infant child to drop off please use the Compton Road entrance, drop your KS2 child off first, and then walk through the school site to the KS1 playground. Please use your nearest exit ie if you enter from Compton Road and drop off in KS2, please exit from Compton Road. This will help manage the flow of parents. We also ask that parents do not congregate on school site.

All teachers or teaching assistants will be out on the playground to welcome the children in the mornings and will be available to speak to parents at these times and at the end of the day.

     
Year 5/6 – Please use the gate by the Year 5/6 stairs to enter school. Parents to collect from this gate although we encourage Year 5 and 6 children to enter and exit the school site unaccompanied to build their independence.
Year 3/4 – In the morning, please drop children off at the gate of the KS2 playground (as last year). At the end of the school day, parents are welcome into the school playground to wait outside classroom doors; however, this will not be the case in the mornings.

Year 1/2 and EYFS – Children to be taken to classroom doors in the morning and children will be released to parents from here in the afternoon.

What to bring
    DO BRING

•   School uniform – on PE days children are to come to school in PE kit (KS1/EYFS can bring their plimsolls to change into). PE days will be shared by class teachers in the first week back
• Lunch box (unless ordering a school meal) and water bottle
• Book bag and reading book
• Bikes/scooters – please place neatly in the racks provided

   DON’T BRING

 Anything else including:
X child face mask
X Any other bags
X Stationery, books, toys etc

 Hygiene; how will the risk to pupils and staff be managed?
The school has followed all government guidance regarding hygiene and managing risk – this is all contained in the school risk assessment and will continue with its rigorous hand washing and cleaning regime.
If children are unwell and we suspect them to have Covid-19 symptoms, we will call you to collect them immediately. We will isolate them away from others and will continue to supervise them caringly. In line with guidance, staff will wear PPE during this time. You can access an NHS test for your child. If the test result is negative, children may return to school, if the test is positive, they will need to isolate for 10 days. Any child/staff member identified as a close contact by track and trace will be advised to take a PCR test but will not be asked to self-isolate unless they have symptoms. Please do not send your child to school if they have symptoms of Covid-19 and are waiting for a test result.
The school have outbreak management plan that will be implemented if necessary after consultation with Public Health.

Other key information
• You will still be able to contact teachers using year group emails (see below) and through children’s google classroom accounts (from next week). These accounts will continue to be used for remote learning and homework.
Y6@st-marysfields.leicester.sch.uk

Y5@st-marysfields.leicester.sch.uk

Y4@st-marysfields.leicester.sch.uk
Y3@st-marysfields.leicester.sch.uk

Y2@st-marysfields.leicester.sch.uk

Y1@st-marysfields.leicester.sch.uk

Rowan@st-marysfields.leicester.sch.uk

Hawthorn@st-marysfields.leicester.sch.uk

Chestnut@st-marysfields.leicester.sch.uk

• To speak to the office please call or email. If you need to see the office in person, please buzz the office and they will come and speak to you outside.
• Assemblies – initially these assemblies will take place in Phases. Parents will be invited to attend celebration assemblies when children are receiving certificates. We will start this in the next couple of weeks and details of timings etc will be communicated. Parents will be asked to wear a face masks when attending an assembly in line with the government guidance on crowded areas.
• Welcome meeting Powerpoints will be available in the second week of term – these will detail what your child will be learning this year
• PlayFit will continue to drop off and pick up as normal
• Children in KS2 that have siblings in KS1 will be walked around by staff as normal at the end of the day – please let your child’s class teacher know if this is needed.
 

If you have any questions or concerns, please email the school office@st-
marysfields.leicester.sch.uk or ring on 0116 2824623.

Mrs Nott and Ms Haycock and I will be on the gates next week to direct you and to answer any questions you may have.
I look forward to welcoming you all back.

Yours sincerely,
Mrs Dulieu - Headteacher