Hello everyone I hope this letter finds you all well.

I will start by thanking you all once more for the support you have given your children in their remote learning again this week.

Next Friday school will be closed to allow preparations for full opening so there will be no remote learning set for that day either as all staff will be in school.

The Remote Learning survey mentioned in Tuesday’s newsletter will be sent at the beginning of next week. Please take a few minutes to complete this, your feedback is important.

I also stated that I would be sending details of the opening of school on the 8th March.

All children will be expected to return.

The very stringent safety measures we had in place during the Autumn Term will remain. There is so much positive news around and that is excellent but we must remember the virus has not suddenly disappeared and I would ask that you all comply to what is being asked. The children will continue to be taught in their year group bubbles with all hand washing and sanitisation in place. Staggered start and end times will remain as will staggered playtimes and lunchtimes across school.

I have included a reminder of the main routines below:

*The children will wear their school uniform including school shoes. As always, no trainers, jewellery, large bows or extreme hairstyles.

*The children will not be allowed to bring anything into school with them apart form their packed lunch box, water bottle and planners. We will supply new plastic bags on Monday 8th March.

*PE kits will continue to be worn on PE days. This is PE kit on the bottom, white tee shirt and school jumper. No other sweatshirts or hoodies should be worn.

*One adult only please with each child where at all possible. Please ensure the children stay with you as they wait to come in and do not run around

*Please do not arrive too early either at drop off or pick up times. Please arrive as close to your times as possible to avoid large groups of parents/carers gathering.

*Please wear a face mask at all times on school premises and at the school gate if possible. I will be back with my box at home time!!

*Please do not stay to chat at the school gates- I will ask people to move away should this happen. Please ensure paths and driveways are kept clear at all times by lining up at the fence and in single file.

*Remember the same rules apply for parking and dropping off. Please do not drop off on zig zag lines or at the entrances to school.

*Parents/carers must not come into school unless by prior appointment. Please ring or email with all questions or enquiries.

*Children must have everything they need for the day. If they have forgotten anything you must ring the office to be given a time to come. Please do not just arrive at the office to drop off forgotten items.

*Teachers will not be able to speak to parents/carers at the school gates, either morning or afternoon. Please use DB Primary or planners for all communication, request a phone call or email school.

*Please inform school if your child is going to be absent for any reason. Attendance is once again reportable so please ensure this happens.

*If you are going to be late you must ring the office to arrange a time to bring your child. Please do not just bring them to the office. It is vital that the drop off times are adhered to as all entrances are being used at various times.

I know that there is a lot to remember here but I really do need parents/carers to proceed back to school with caution. We must not allow the virus to take hold again. Safety must come first.

Coming into school and picking up will be the same as in the Autumn Term.

The times and entrances are as during the Autumn Term, with a fifteen-minute time slot and are as follows:

Nursery

Nursery am and full time – 8.45am through entrance B

Morning Nursery leave at 11.45am- Entrance C

Full time pick up at 3.00pm- Entrance B

PM Nursery- 12pm at Entrance C- pick up at 3pm – Entrance B

Reception

Reception Class 1- 8.45am- Entrance C pick up at 3pm

Reception Class 2- 9.00am- Entrance C pick up at 3.15pm

KS1

Year 1- 8.45am – Entrance C picking up at 3.00pm – Entrance B via one-way system

Year 2- 9.00am- Entrance C picking up at 3.15pm- Entrance B via one-way system

KS2

Year 4- 8.45am- Entrance B picking up at 3.00pm Entrance B

Year 6- 8.45am- Entrance A picking up at 3.00pm Entrance A

Year 3- 9.00am- Entrance B picking up at 3.15pm Entrance B

Year 5-9.00am- Entrance A picking up at 3.15pm Entrance A

At pick up time, the one-way system for Nursery and KS1 parents/carers will remain. Please line up at Entrance B at your given time, in single file and with a distance between you and the person in front. Masks MUST be worn on the premises at all times.

As with the Prime Minister’s Roadmap out of Lockdown, we will review the systems in place by June 21st. However, I will not change anything until I feel it is safe to do so.

I have stated in past letters that there are many systems that have worked very well, and so we will never go back to everything as it was before March 2020 and the first lockdown. We will have the Sugar Hill new normal.

I understand that some of the children may be apprehensive about coming back, and that you will be worried too. Please be assured that the staff will do everything they can to welcome the children back and ensure they settle back into routines and that they will be as safe as we can possibly make it. Please spend some time next week talking about coming back and explaining that school will be just the same as before Christmas. Staff will do the same on DB and Tapestry.

If you would like to talk to Mrs Atkinson- Jones about any issues please email or ring school to arrange a call back.

Do not hesitate to email or ring school at any time if you have any questions/worries about any of this.

We are all looking forward to welcoming all children back on March 8th. The school is just not the same without them.

Thank you again for your support during the last 8 weeks and enjoy the fine weather this weekend.

Mrs Paula O’Rourke

Please follow Lockdown restrictions to keep us all safe. This is a SHARED RESPONSIBILITY.

PLEASE WEAR MASKS ON SCHOOL PREMISES AND AROUND SCHOOL GATES

SHOULD ANY MEMBER OF A HOUSEHOLD BE SENT FOR A COVID TEST THE WHOLE HOUSE MUST ISOLATE UNTIL THE RESULTS OF THE TEST ARE KNOWN