12^th June 2020

Dear parents/carers/guardians,

I hope you are all safe and well.  I write today to update you with information regarding the re-opening of the school following its closure at the end of March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  I have waited to communicate my plans until the guidance was finalised by Welsh Government and the Local Authority.  I know this is a big step for everyone and that is why I have considered the safety of everyone in the planned timetable I now offer to you.  Between 29^th of June and the 24^th of July 2020, the children from Reception – Year 6 and the STF/OAU pupils, will be offered, one half day per week for ‘check-in and catch-up’ with their class teacher.  I do feel this is a vital opportunity that you should take advantage of, if you feel able to.  These sessions have been planned with the utmost safety in mind.  We have arranged the timetable so that only one third of each class will be in at any one time.  In addition, we have considered having the classes in for different sessions so that your child/children will have their own designated entrance to come in through, they will have their own break time on the yard, for just their small group, and they will not be in school over the lunch period.

When the children are in the classroom, they will have their own socially distanced area to sit in, and we have already prepared their own labelled packs with pencils, ruler, rubber and everything they need for each session.  I feel with these procedures in place, you can feel safe in the knowledge that we will have done everything we can to keep everyone safe.  I feel these ‘check in and catch up’ sessions are extremely important as the pupils can see their teachers again and can come back to their schools and see some of their friends, who I am sure they will have missed.  It will also be a time where they can chat with their teachers but also an important time where their teachers can introduce their online learning activities for the week.  The teachers can introduce the literacy and numeracy concepts for the week and set the children off on their home learning.  This blended approach will then enable the teachers to check how the children are getting on with their learning and resolve any areas they might be struggling with.  The following week the teachers will then be able to check how they have progressed, see if there were any issues and set them off on the new week ahead.  I feel this is an approach we can build on as we move forward.

For the children of Key-workers who have been attending our Emergency Hub, during the school closure period, those sessions will continue to run at the reduced times of 8.30am – 3.30pm.  The day that hub pupils ‘check-in and catch-up’ with their teachers, they will not be able to attend the Hub.  I am also afraid to say that the hub pupils will have to bring their own packed lunch and snacks when they attend the hub from the 29^th of June as the meals will no longer be provided. The hub provision will cease on the 24^th of July 2020, as school staff are not being asked to provide this care over the summer holidays.

It is of immense importance that we continue to follow current advice regarding hygiene and social distancing. Please see previous guidance from UK/WG websites. Pupils will be encouraged to engage in regular hand washing whilst in school.  Before attending school it will be important that you check your child’s temperature and that they are well before attending their session.  Your class teacher will inform you of your timings to attend school and your entrance point to the building.  It is important that you follow these time slots and maintain social distancing while dropping your child at school.

Please be assured that the health, safety and wellbeing of all is of paramount importance and we continue to monitor this with the relevant bodies.

These arrangements follow the guidance issued to schools by the City and County of Swansea and will be monitored on a regular basis. We will keep you updated via the school website and usual communication channels.

We look forward to seeing as many of the children as possible before the summer holidays and I hope we have alleviated some of your worries. As always, any questions or queries please contact me immediately on the school number 01792 781811, or email me on thomasa493@hwbcymru.net or speak to the class teacher.

Kind regards,

Mrs Alison Thomas