Many of our children are collected by adults who are at higher risk due to age or underlying medical conditions. The increasing infection rates understandably cause heightened anxiety amongst all of us but particularly those in the higher risk groups.

Please can we ask you all to follow this guidance to ensure everyone stays as safe as possible when collecting children at home time.

• Where possible only one adult should collect a child/children – (However, we do understand that when picking up several children an extra adult is sometimes necessary for safety)
• Please do not gather in groups on the yard – try to maintain safe, social distancing whenever possible.
• Please leave the yard promptly after you have collected your child/children.
• Once collected, children must remain with their parent/carer. Children must not be allowed to run around the yard or use the play equipment at home time.
• Parkside children must only be on the yard with prior arrangement from Mr Cornforth to collect a sibling or if they are directly supervised by a parent/carer. They must not bring their friends into the yard unless they also have permission to collect a sibling.

Your understanding and co-operation during these challenging times is greatly appreciated.

Several people have expressed concerns about the number of people on the yard at home time. For everyone’s safety I am reminding parents that, where possible, only one parent should collect a child.

In addition, whilst it has been lovely to see our old Year 6 pupils in their new Parkside uniforms, I must now ask that Parkside pupils do not come onto the yard without prior arrangement, unless accompanied and directly supervised by a parent. If a Parkside pupil is dropping off or collecting a Key Stage 2 sibling on behalf of a parent, then please let the office know. There will, of course, be a one Parkside pupil per collection requirement. Please could you pass this message on to any of your children who attend Parkside.

Finally, I would like to thank you all for not standing on the path outside the school railings as this allows everyone to exit the premises in a safe way, maintaining social distancing as much as possible.

Mr Cornforth

Will your child turn 5 between 1st September 2021 and 31st August 2022? If so, please see information below. You will need to complete an application online by 15th January 2021. Applications open from Monday 14th September.

How to apply for a school place

Dear Parent/Carer

The government has stated that: ‘For the vast majority of children, the benefits of being back in school far outweigh the very low risk from coronavirus’

Following the government’s advice, we are looking forward to welcoming all children back to school from Wednesday 2^nd September.  Our aim is to provide the most enjoyable experience for our children whilst ensuring that safety is still our number one priority.   To ensure we make school as safe as possible there will be some minor changes to the organisation of the school day.

Start/finish times:

All start times cover a 10-minute period and you can drop your child off at any point within that time window.  A member of staff will be at the door to welcome your child and direct them to their class.  We kindly request that only one adult drops off/picks up each child to help ease congestion and facilitate social distancing.  At home time please come into the yard where you can easily distance from each other rather than standing on the street blocking the path/gate.

Class Bubbles

Under the new guidance, each class will become a bubble with their teacher and teaching assistant.  However, Key Stage 1 (Year 1 and 2) will form a larger bubble to enable children to be taught in ability groups for phonics across the Key Stage.  Contact between bubbles will be limited and we will be operating staggered break and lunch times so that we only have two classes out on the yard at any given time.  The lunch period has been extended to enable us to limit numbers in the dining hall and ensure tables and chairs are sanitised between bubbles.

Hygiene

All children will be asked to wash their hands on entry to school.  Hand sanitiser and anti-bacterial wipes will be available in all rooms to ensure that ‘hot spots’ like handles and surfaces can be cleaned regularly.  Toilets will be cleaned between bubbles at break and lunch times to further reduce the risk of infection.  If your child has a packed lunch, please could they bring it in a wipeable lunchbox/container so that it can be easily sanitised by staff.

Uniform

All pupils will be expected to return to school in September in school uniform.  As we will have doors and windows open to improve air circulation, please ensure your child always brings their school jumper or cardigan.

Breakfast club

For the first week in September (Wednesday 2^nd to Friday 4^th), breakfast club will be for Key Stage 2 children only (Year 3 to Year 6).  This will enable us to see how we can operate this safely before inviting children from Key Stage 1 (Year1 and Year2).

Preventing the spread of infection

In the event of your child presenting with symptoms of COVID-19, please refer to the stay home guidance:  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance

In addition, it is your responsibility to book a test for a child or family member displaying symptoms: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested

Many thanks for your continued support.  We very much look forward to welcoming everyone back next week.

Mr Cornforth

Dear Parent/Carer

The government has stated that: ‘For the vast majority of children, the benefits of being back in school far outweigh the very low risk from coronavirus’

Following the government’s advice, we are looking forward to welcoming all children back to school from Wednesday 2^nd September.  Our aim is to provide the most enjoyable experience for our children whilst ensuring that safety is still our number one priority.   To ensure we make school as safe as possible there will be some minor changes to the organisation of the school day.

Start/finish times

All start times cover a 10-minute period and you can drop your child off at any point within that time window.  A member of staff will be at the door to welcome your child and direct them to their class.  We kindly request that only one adult drops off/picks up each child to help ease congestion and facilitate social distancing.  At home time please come into the yard where you can easily distance from each other rather than standing on the street blocking the path/gate.

Class Bubbles

Under the new guidance, each class will become a bubble with their teacher and teaching assistant.  However, Key Stage 1 (Year 1 and 2) will form a larger bubble to enable children to be taught in ability groups for phonics across the Key Stage.  Contact between bubbles will be limited and we will be operating staggered break and lunch times so that we only have two classes out on the yard at any given time.  The lunch period has been extended to enable us to limit numbers in the dining hall and ensure tables and chairs are sanitised between bubbles.

Hygiene

All children will be asked to wash their hands on entry to school.  Hand sanitiser and anti-bacterial wipes will be available in all rooms to ensure that ‘hot spots’ like handles and surfaces can be cleaned regularly.  Toilets will be cleaned between bubbles at break and lunch times to further reduce the risk of infection.  If your child has a packed lunch, please could they bring it in a wipeable lunchbox/container so that it can be easily sanitised by staff.

Uniform

All pupils will be expected to return to school in September in school uniform.  As we will have doors and windows open to improve air circulation, please ensure your child always brings their school jumper or cardigan.

Breakfast club

For the first week in September (Wednesday 2^nd to Friday 4^th), breakfast club will be for Key Stage 2 children only (Year 3 to Year 6).  This will enable us to see how we can operate this safely before inviting children from Key Stage 1 (Year1 and Year2).

Preventing the spread of infection

In the event of your child presenting with symptoms of COVID-19, please refer to the stay home guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance

Many thanks for your continued support.  We very much look forward to welcoming everyone back in September.

Mr Cornforth
Headteacher

On Thursday we said goodbye to the most wonderful group of Year 6 children. They have taken all aspects of year 6 in their stride and tackled all challenges (and disappointments) in a mature and awe-inspiring manner. From SATs prep, to home learning packs, to our virtual leavers’ assembly, they have put their all into every aspect of school life…and done so with 100% effort and smiles on their faces!

They are an intelligent, hard-working, resilient group of children who will be a big miss next year – Parkside don’t know how lucky they are!