Message to Yr10 05/06/20
Please see a message from Mr Solly regarding Yr10 and the plans to return to school...
Dear parents and carers,
I hope this latest message finds you all safe and well.
As you know, we have been waiting for publication of some key documentation before we proceeded with any specific plans for the re-introduction of Year 10. Since I last wrote to you we have received government guidance for secondary schools, along with the scientific evidence from the government and the independent SAGE group regarding the wider opening of schools. This has helped us shape our ideas and plan for Year 10 students receiving some face-to-face contact before the summer break.
The key points from the guidance are:
- No more than 25% of the Year cohort should be in school on any one day. For us that is a maximum of 45 students.
- Social distancing should be implemented and therefore class sizes will need to be small and movement of students restricted.
- Use of public transport should be minimised. This is problematic for us as so many of our students catch some form of bus. We are working with the council and other local groups to find solutions for this.
- The mixing of students between groups is to be avoided. This means we will look to create small classes and students will be taught only in these groups whilst they are in school. An implication of this is that it will be very challenging for us to include all curriculum subjects in this provision.
- Schools need to follow and implement government guidance on hygiene. We will ensure there are adequate facilities for this.
We are using this guidance, alongside the feedback we received in our Year 10 parent survey to formulate a plan which we will shape in consultation with our staff and governors.
The next steps in our planning are crucial. Here is a brief timeline that we are working towards:
- 8th June: Specific plans are issued to UCC staff for review. We will spend time talking with all our teams to gain their comments and feedback. Our governors will also receive these plans and approve these electronically.
- 11th June: We will publish our plans to parents and students. We will ask parents to indicate to us whether or not they will send their child into school under the proposed arrangements. Please note, school attendance is optional and it is up to individual families to decide what is best for their children.
- 22nd June: This is the first date we would look to bring back Year 10. This would give us four weeks of face-to-face contact with Year 10 before the summer break.
I am very grateful for the patience and understanding shown by parents and students during a time of uncertainty.
This week we have re-opened our provision for the children of key workers and vulnerable students. If you require a place for your child from the week beginning 15th June please complete this online form asap.
There is an opportunity that Mr Rhodes has asked me to highlight to you. You can read the details of this below.
I hope you all have a great weekend.
Take care and stay safe,
Mr Solly.
Resilient Rutland information for parents
Resilient Rutland are keen to share with parents their new monthly moves calendar for building resilience. Together with schools in Rutland, they have been introducing the Resilience Framework and are developing a monthly focus for all families.
We have attached the June calendar to explore the coping section of the resilience framework and also a copy of the framework for you to have a look at. The calendar is written for children but relevant and usable for all of us, especially in current climates. The framework is the foundation for a whole school and community approach. The positives the framework can bring into our lives are huge and the great thing about the activities is that they are easily achievable and something the whole family can try.
The framework complements the work we are doing in schools with the national charity YoungMinds – it has the potential to transform lives. Remember also, that Resilient Rutland have lots of free printable resources on their website which focus on the resilient moves.
Please click on this link here for a short video that Resilient Rutland shared on their Facebook page yesterday to introduce our Resilient Moves Calendar for June 2020.
https://www.facebook.com/ResRutland/videos/561311407905357/
Resilient Rutland would also like to take this opportunity to invite parents to a parent chat group. Please see the attached flyer. If you are interested in taking part please contact Lynette Harte via email or facebook.
The parent chat sessions will start with a short talk or activity based on the resilience framework, followed by a talk about the project and then finish with a chat about challenges we are facing with lockdown/return to school.