Letter for First Class Parents

19 October 2020

Dear Parents/Guardians, 

Our initial Covid-19 response plan for the safe reopening of our schools provided for First Class to finish their school day at 2.15pm.  

As per our response plan, the committee has reviewed this arrangement.

It is our recommendation that the 2.15pm departure continues post mid-term until the Christmas holidays.

We would like to get your own feelings on this and so would ask that you click and complete the very short survey directly below.  Any feedback and possible solutions would be much appreciated as we’re acutely aware that this has an effect on family & working life.  

Link To Survey Click Here (First Class Parents Only.  Survey finishes at 3pm Tuesday)

The rationale

We are still in the middle of a pandemic & public health & safety concerns remain a priority.  Staggering departure times is working well as we continue to play our part in keeping our children in school.  

Class teachers report that the children are working very well in class & have settled back to school very quickly, but that engagement drops off considerably in the afternoon.

Pre-covid, the morning assembly meant that actual class time didn’t start until well after 9.30am.  The pupils are in class and engaged in their classroom learning from 9.20am sharp. 

Time at the end of the day used to be allocated to writing down homework in the journals.  This could take anything up to 15 minutes during Term 1.  This is no longer the case at present.     

Teachers are not concerned that the children are missing out.  They believe that they are getting everything done in the time allotted &, crucially, the children appear happy, content and engaged.  It’s really a case of quality over quantity here.

2.30pm departure was discussed but it was agreed not to do so because the Deanery school changed their departure time to 2.30pm to help with traffic congestion and social distancing. It would be unfair on our colleagues and parents from the Deanery to do so.    

2.45pm is the next slot available, but that is already the busiest departure time and so we would be adding to congestion and crowd if we move the children to that time.

Thank you for your ongoing cooperation and engagement.  

Le meas, 

Mary Andrews & Will Ryan 

On behalf of

The Joint Schools Covid-19 Response Committee