Return to School

Dear Parents

You will be aware of the announcement, by Minister Weir, that there is no longer a requirement for children to be socially distanced from one another in school and as such the children should return to school in a full time capacity.  

This information has been disseminated very close to the proposed starting date already sent out to you.  In order to avoid even further disruption and to allow for plans to be amended, in line with more guidance released today, the school will re-open as previously described, with all of P7 pupils attending every day, Monday to Friday and P2-P6 in their agreed cohort, either Monday/Tuesday or Thursday/Friday in the week beginning 24th August 2020.  Please arrive between 8.45am and prior to the official start time of 8.55am.  Children will go home at 2pm and 3pm as usual.

From Tuesday 1st September 2020, all pupils will return to school, on a full time basis.  A change in arrival times will now be required due to the full complement of children arriving on site in the morning.  Children should arrive on site between 8.45am and 9.15am at the latest.  This staggered drop off time in the morning, will assist in maintaining social distancing on site.   

The children will now work within their year group bubble, as opposed to their cohort.  The year group bubbles will be maintained in class, at break and lunchtime and at playtimes.  The staff will continue to operate within their planned bubbles also.  Staff must still maintain 2m distance from the children and one another.  There will be no P4-P7 changeover classes in the afternoon, in order to maintain the bubbles and keep everyone safe.  

The afternoon finishing times of 2pm (P2-3) and 3pm (P4-7) remain unchanged, due to fewer classes exiting at one time.   

Information regarding timings of the school day, for Nursery and P1 pupils, will be disseminated at the induction meetings in the week beginning 24th August 2020. 

Please note it is your responsibility to observe social distancing both for you and your child/ren when on the Oakwood site.  

It is imperative that should your child be unwell that they remain at home until they are fully recovered.  If you suspect that they have Coronavirus you must follow the current PHA guidelines.

Going forward, if social distancing is reinstated, then the 2/3 split week cohort model will be reintroduced and in the unlikely event of having to close the school, which hopefully will not happen, then the remote learning model will be adopted once again.  

If we work as a team to ensure health and safety guidelines are adhered to, that adults remain socially distanced on site and children work within their allocated year group bubbles, then we have the power as a collective group to remain safe and well and keep the children in school, ‘learning, working and playing together for a better tomorrow.’

I look forward to welcoming all the children back, on their allocated days, in the week beginning 24th August 2020.  Until then, keep safe.

Thank you

Claire Howe