At Dame Janet we want you to feel comfortable sending your children into school in these unsettling times.

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On this page you will find information on social distancing and other measures we are taking to keep our children, staff and wider community safe.

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Please be aware that you may not be able to enter the site from your usual gate and will have to follow social distancing guidelines. We ask that only one adult accompanies the children to and from school to reduce numbers in the waiting areas.

 

Attendance at school: The government relaxed the rules on attendance during the first national lockdown.

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However, this will change from September 2020.

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The government guidance says: ‘Missing out on more time in the classroom risks pupils falling further behind. Those with higher overall

absence tend to achieve less well in both primary and secondary school. School attendance will therefore be mandatory again from the beginning of the autumn term’.

 

School uniform will be expected.

 

As Dame Janet already has a staggered system of entry (between 8.40am and 9.00am) and we are lucky to have multiple entrances, we will not be adding additional times for different year groups. Please use the yellow markings on the paths and playgrounds to continue to help your family understand the importance of social distancing during pick-up and drop-off times.

 

Nursery children and parents will use the main Nursery gate (found next to the main school gate on Newington Road). We are unable to operate a one-way system here, but have had a good system of social distancing in place during the lockdown period.

 

Year R, Year 1 and Year 2 will continue to enter the school through the Stirling Way entrance. You will then notice separate paths for Year 1 and Year 2 parents and children to ensure the route to classrooms is clear. All parents and carers will then follow the new one-way system, through the Year R outdoor area and out through the main school gate. The school day finishes at 3.00 pm for Year R, Year 1 and Year 2. Collection arrangements will be at the same location.

 

Year 3 and 4 pupils will enter the school through the Year 3 and 4 gate (found on Highfield Road). We will also operate a one way system where parents and carers leave the playground through the side gate (found at the back of the grass area) back on to Newington

Road. The school day finishes at 3.10pm for Year 3 and Year 4. Collection arrangements will be at the same location.

 

Year 5 and 6 pupils will enter through the Year 5 and 6 gate (on Newington Road) and parents/carers will exit through the staff car park to ensure a one-way system can be in place. The school day finishes at 3.10pm for Year 5 and Year 6. Collection arrangements will be at the same location.

 

Please wait at 2 metres distance from one another, be considerate of others and do not gather at gates or too close to the doors.

 

Hand hygiene: Your child will be expected to follow strict behaviour rules relating to physical contact with other pupils, and keeping their hands clean. Pupils will be asked to wash theirhands regularly, and/or use hand sanitiser.

 

Please support us by talking to your children about the importance of following instructions from adults, only talking when your mouth is empty, flushing the toilet, washing hands thoroughly and giving virtual hugs to friends.

 

Lunch: Our lower and upper school kitchens will re-open in September, and lunches will be available again. Pupils eligible for free school meals will return to having their lunch at school, and will no longer receive lunch vouchers.

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Playtime safety: In order to minimise the risk of large groups of children mixing during break times, year groups will have designated areas to play.

 

Belongings: We will continue to provide stationery for your child to use during school. We continue to ask that no bags are brought to school during this time. Please apply sun cream before school and provide your child with a water bottle that can be refilled throughout the day.

 

Breakfast club: In order to not mix children from different year groups, breakfast club will not be operating for the time being. We appreciate that this may cause some difficulty for parents/carers but we need to ensure that the safety of the children and staff is a priority.

 

School mini-bus: The school mini-bus will also not be used during term 1 to collect children before school. We ask parents and carers of children who used this service to make other arrangements during this time. We will review this decision prior to term 2.

 

Symptoms: You must ensure that if anyone in your household has COVID-19 symptoms, your child does not attend school. Any child or staff member who develops symptoms in the school day will be sent home immediately. If anyone in your household, or your child, tests positive for COVID-19 you must inform the school.

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