Willow Tree Primary School

Friday 18^th September 2020

Weekly Update

Dear Parents & Carers,

I can’t believe how fast the last few weeks have gone!  I hope your children continue to feel settled in school and if you or your family need some support, please arrange an appointment to speak to your child’s teacher.

Rising Cases

As you may be aware, cases of Coronavirus locally are climbing.  Yesterday, I received updated guidance that you are now being asked to wear a mask when dropping off and collecting your child. 

Morning Drop off

As I wrote to you last week to make some adjustments to our going home timings, I am making some slight changes to the morning drop off routine as we are finding a lot of families arriving at the same time in the morning and it is making social distancing exceptionally tricky.  In light of the local rises in cases, we have to ensure we are trying as much as possible to maintain social distance requirements and try to minimise the risk of transmission locally.

I would ask that you stick to your allotted times.  From Monday, Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 will be allowed to arrive from 8:45am – 8:55am with Reception at 8:45am; Year 1 at 8:50am and Year 2 at 8:55am.  Please do not arrive before this as the playground gates will not be open and it is leading to groups gathering at the front of school which is making social distancing difficult.

Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 & Year 6 will arrive later at 9am – 9:10am with Year 3 at 9am; Year 4 at 9:05am; Year 5 and Year 6 at 9:10am.  Unless you have a child in the first drop off slot, please do not arrive before your allotted time as other parents from the earlier group may still be on the school grounds and again it will make social distancing difficult.

There will now a 5 minute gap between the two different drop off times to try and alleviate the congestion we have only one way into school.

This change will allow a gap between the different drop off times for the different year groups as we only have one way onto the school grounds and one way out.  I have been asked why the main car park gates can not be open.  This is for the health and safety off all pupils & parents who walk through that area in the morning and in the afternoon.

If you have a child in a year group which crosses the timings (for example Year 2 and Year 4), I would ask that you come towards the end of the Year 2 time (8:55am) and then by the time you have dropped your younger child off, then it will be nearly time for the start of your older Year 4 child (9:05am) to come into school.  If you do find that you have to wait, please use the space on the playground to maintain the correct social distance from each other.

Also, can I ask that you leave the school grounds promptly and do not stop outside the school gate as this will make our socially distancing tricky for parents who arrive in the later time slot.  Thank you for your understanding during this time.

Update from Local Authority

I sent out an update letter from the Local Authority earlier this week and I have sent another letter from the Local Authority out today. 

Extreme Reading

Just a little reminder about our Extreme Reading competition.  The staff entries are all starting to come in now.  The closing date for entries is 30^th September.

Flow Chart

We have placed a flow chart further down this page to support you in making a decision about whether or not to send your child to school or not during the current pandemic.  I hope this is useful to you.

Snack

As we move towards being more healthy during our morning break, could I reiterate that a healthy snack is needed at break?  Thank you for your support in this.

Homework Launch

We are hoping to have our homework procedures ready by next Friday.  I will send further information out in due course.

Here to Help!

All my staff are here to help and support you not only during this current pandemic but throughout your child’s journey through school.  However, as I always do at the beginning of any school year, I  just wish to remind everyone of the need to be respectful and that aggression towards staff will not be tolerated under any circumstances.  Thank you for your support in making Willow Tree a respectful community for all.

I have heard it said that the weather this weekend will be lovely with lots of sunny and fine weather on offer (albeit a little cooler than the high temperatures earlier in the week!).  I hope you all get to spend some quality time together this weekend and I look forward to seeing everyone back in school on Monday.

With very best wishes,

Mr Perkins

Headteacher