Arrival and departure – all entrances can be used and Mrs Boddy will resume her usual crossing position

All children will arrive and depart at the same time of 8.50 am and 3.30 pm

Staff will continue to collect and deliver your children as this has been useful in providing opportunities for communication between parents and staff

Years Nursery, Reception, 1 and 2 will then wait on the bottom yard (not under the canopy). They will use the doors they have been using this year to lessen congestion on the bottom corridor.

Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 will gather on the top yard with Y6 in the small area and 3, 4 and 5 on the main yard; the big gates will be open.

The school street is still in operation. The street was put into operation by Calderdale due to the extremely unsafe conditions on Knowlwood Road at drop off and pick up due to the number of cars, not because of Covid. This situation has not changed. Many of you use your cars to bring your children to and from school and this combined with local traffic means real congestion at these times. The governors are in full support of the school street and are sure that you will feel as they and the council do, that the children’s safety is the prime concern. The council will be returning in October to carry out an evaluation and make a further decision about its continuation. Children may walk up and down to the car park within the school grounds.

PE

We will continue to ask children to come in their kit on days they have PE as this has ensured less forgotten kit and also reduced the loss of other lesson time due to getting changed. Can we remind you that there is a school PE kit of white t shirt and black shorts and it is essential that they have this for gymnastics and dance. They may wear joggers and a hoody on top that they can then remove before the lesson.

Parental visits to school

As I’m sure you are aware there are still a high number of cases in Calderdale and they are rising at present so we will still be asking parents to avoid coming into school unless by invitation and following the same protocols as before; masks and hand sanitiser

The government has removed the requirement to wear face coverings in law but expects and recommends that they are worn in enclosed and crowded spaces where you may come into contact with people you don’t normally meet.

Bubbles and class closure

Classes will no longer need to stay in their bubbles and we will be able to resume full school assemblies and revert to normal lunchtimes. The best bit about this is we can all sing together again – I will need to practice my piano playing to get up to scratch!

The government guidance re isolation is:

Individuals 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, and any of the following apply:

• they are fully vaccinated
• they are below the age of 18 years and 6 months
• they have taken part in or are currently part of an approved COVID-19 vaccine trial
• they are not able to get vaccinated for medical reasons

Instead, they will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace, informed they have been in close contact with a positive case and advised to take a PCR test. We would encourage all individuals to take a PCR test if advised to do so.

Staff who do not need to isolate, and children and young people aged under 18 years 6 months who usually attend school, and have been identified as a close contact, should continue to attend school as normal. They do not need to wear a face covering within the school, but it is expected and recommended that these are worn when travelling on public or dedicated transport.

We are instructed by the government to have contingency plans in place in case of sudden outbreaks so our remote provision via Teams and bubble organisation are all still there, ready to be reactivated if needed – let’s hope they are not.