Newsletter 4.9.2020
Date: 4th Sep 2020 @ 2:14pm
Dear Parents / Carers
It has been lovely to welcome the children back to school. Seeing their happy faces as they have reacquainted themselves with friends and staff has been a pleasure.
Within school, I am pleased to say that the children have generally followed the guidance and have maintained their distance from each other and staff. When needing a reminder, they have acted quickly and have followed the rules.
Uniform
Thank you for supporting our request to send the children into school in appropriate uniform, they look very smart and well prepared for their learning. However, we have a small number of children who are wearing black cloth trainers, which is not part of the uniform. We ask that these children find appropriate school shoes.
Routes into school
Please can we ask that all visitors to school comply with the one-way system which has been implemented. The main route into school is along the pathway adjacent to Kiddicare and the main exit can be accessed across the yard to the front of the Y6 entrance and to the Verdin Car Park. However to alleviate the numbers on site we have also opened the ramp adjacent to the Verdin Exchange for the children in Y4 –Y6. This helps to keep individuals apart and will hopefully reduce the spread of the virus if anyone is unfortunate to contract it.
Car Park
Although we have implemented staggered times for entry and exit to school the volume of cars has led to traffic jams and delays. We realise that this is frustrating, but rest assured we have been working on solutions to the problem with relevant parties. Unfortunately, the issue has been compounded by the closure of the car park on the town centre and the poor weather on our return. What we must remember is that most schools are not fortunate to have such a facility close to their school. The car park is also owned by Cheshire West and Chester Council and therefore not under our control although I have made recommendations to them for modifications.
What can the school do / has the school done?
I have made representations to Cheshire West and Chester Council and have asked if the timing of the traffic lights on Grange Lane can be modified at ‘rush hour’. I have also asked about having the junction to the Verdin car park widened. These are long term plans but we need to continue to push for a change.
As a school we have looked at ways of reopening one of the entrances off the High Street. Due to Covid-19 restrictions this has proved difficult, due to the flow of pedestrians and the difficulty in implementing a one-way system. Having explored the different possibilities, from Monday 7th September, we will be opening the vehicle entrance off the High street to pedestrians. One of the site officers will guide all foot passengers, using this entrance to a pedestrian gate which will lead to the Nursery / Foundation Stage area. Parents will then be asked to follow a route along the fence line and return to the High Street (having dropped off or collected their child) via the pedestrian gate closest to the chip shop.
What more can members of the school community do?
Walk to school where possible.
Be child aware: We ask that all drivers allow sufficient time to enter and exit the car park, being aware that children can and do move suddenly when least expected.
Reduce the speed at which you enter / exit the car park.
Keep close control of your children.
Some parents have suggested parking in different zones depending on the arrival time of your child. We should be grateful if users could adhere to the following:
8.40am / 3.00pm arrivals: Park close to the Verdin Exchange
9.00am/ 3.15pm arrivals: Park close to the Kiddicare end of the car park
9.15am / 3.30pm arrivals: Park close to the Verdin Exchange
Be a courteous driver: Allow one vehicle to leave in front of you before you leave the car park.
Send me an email with your concerns over the safety of the car park and access to Grange Lane. I will forward these to the Highways Department. Together, we might be more likely to get a response!
School Times
Thank you for your understanding with the staggered start and finish times. These are generally working well and are ensuring that we minimise the numbers in any area at a specific time. We have now recorded the times when your children have arrived this week and have listed them accordingly. We should be grateful if you would therefore ensure that you work to these times. Should you need to change due to work commitments etc. then please email to do so.
Please note:
The children starting at 8.40am should be collected at 3.00pm
The children starting at 9.00 should be collected at 3.15pm
The children starting at 9.15am should be collected at 3.30pm
Please note that the staff will only release them in accordance with these times to ensure the safety of all concerned. Please do not ask the teachers to release your child early, as this would result in them having to leave other children unattended.
This system will also help the staff provide your children with additional support which they may need following Lockdown as extra reads will be undertaken and a focus will be on basic skills. This input is in addition to the main lessons each day.
School Clubs
During the next two weeks’ staff will be starting a number of after school clubs. For these the children will be in Year group bubbles. The children will be asked if they would like to attend and an electronic form will be distributed seeking your permission. In instances where numbers are limited the staff will allocate places on a first come basis. This can easily be achieved as the reply forms provide a time and date stamp. Children not allocated places will be placed on a waiting list and offered places at a later date. Should your child start a club and wish to stop for any reason, we ask that you notify the member of staff so that the place can be offered to another child. Please note that should a child fail to attend a club on 3 consecutive occasions, then their place will also be awarded to another child.
Mr Askey
I am pleased to inform you that Mr Askey’s wife gave birth to a healthy baby girl just before the start of the term. He is currently on paternity leave and Mrs Lowe and Mr Bratt will cover his class until his return. I am sure that you will join with me in wishing the Askey’s all the very best for the future.
As you can imagine the return to school this year has been challenging, but with your continued support, then we can achieve a great deal and ensure that your children reach the standards which they are capable. Should you have any concerns, please don’t hesitate to raise them. We also love to hear when you feel that we are getting things right!
Many thanks
Mark Joule
Head teacher