Brynmill Opening Logistics Key Points for Parents
Welsh Government has issued comprehensive guidance for schools for the February phased reopening which details the planning and reorganisation that schools will need to put in place in readiness for Foundation Phase return from 24th February.
The Minister for Education, Kirsty Williams, says that “we will start a phased return to face to face learning for our Foundation Phase learners (3 – 7 year olds).
There will be some flexibility over this first week, with all Foundation Learners (including those in non-maintained settings) in school by the end of that week..”
In order to mitigate some of the risks associated with a Foundation Phase return, schools are being asked to reduce contact by:
- Grouping learners together
- avoiding contact between groups as much as possible
- arranging classrooms with forward facing desks where appropriate
- staff maintaining distance from learners and other staff as much as possible
- Use of face coverings
Below is a set of answers to the things we think most parents will want to know. If you have any other questions, we will use them to update this page.
| Point | Actions |
| What date will my child start? | Wednesday 24th February– Foundation Phase classes Reception-Year 2
Thursday 25th February – All Foundation Phase pupils including nursery pupils Friday 26th February – All Foundation Phase pupils including nursery pupils |
| Will there be staggered drop off and collection times? Yes
What will the timings be?
Where do I line up with my child?
|
In line with Welsh Government’s suggested measures for arriving and leaving schools, classes will have a different drop off and collection times. The timings will be as follows
8:30 am – 3:00 pm 1 /2 H – Gate 3 1 /2 L – Gate 2 1 / 2 B – Gate 4
8:45 – 11.15 am Nursery LFPM – Gate 4 Nursery LFP R – Gate 3 8:45 am to 3:15 pm LFP M – Gate 4 (with runner) LFP R – Gate 3 with runner KS2 Childcare – Gate 1 and 2 |
| Do I need to wear face covering to drop off my child? | All parents and visitors to school sites must wear a face covering. Parents should also avoid gathering at the school gate and should arrive as close as they can to their agreed drop off/collection time.
Wearing of face coverings (primary) The Welsh Government has updated its guidance on the use of face coverings in schools. To reduce the risk of transmission amongst parents and relatives, please wear masks when visiting school, and at drop-off and collection areas. Maintaining clear social distance at the school gates will also reduce risk and set a good example to pupils. If you have a secondary school aged child, be aware that face coverings should now be worn by year 7 and above pupils in all areas outside the classroom and be worn on dedicated school transport for year 7 and up. Please follow these guidelines and encourage your child to follow theirs too. They have been made stronger to keep you and your families as safe as possible. They are based on new advice from Welsh Government’s Technical Advisory Group, as we learn more about the way COVID-19 is transmitted. |
| Dropping off my child
How will they come into school? |
Pupils will arrive and wait at different gates with one parent on socially distanced queue spots next to their class’s assigned gate/s.
*It is important that pupils are accompanied by one parent or carer and that parents/ carers are on time.
Parents/ carers will be asked if they or their child have any Covid symptoms.
Children will enter one at a time and find a ‘splat’ to stand on. All children will use hand sanitiser as they enter school and the need to handwash reinforced throughout the day. Please help us by ensuring social distancing, thinking twice before sharing lifts to schools, holding parties, sharing childcare, mixing on the way to school, whilst on school premises or afterwards. Please act responsibly as not doing so could jeopardise the return to school for the rest of the spring term. |
| Collecting my child
How will they leave school?
|
All pupils must be collected from school. Staff will bring pupils down to the allocated exit and wait on splats. Parents/carers are asked to wait on queue spots, a member of staff will call each child in turn. Once reunited with your child, parents and carers are asked to move away from the gate to avoid a gathering of any kind. Please maintain a social distance of 2m. |
| How will children be grouped?
|
Your child will be in a consistent class size contact group. |
| What about break times? | Pupils will stay with their class for break times and lunch play on a staggered basis. They will be able to use an outdoor zone (weather permitting) with the aim of minimizing contact between groups, whilst still giving our children chance to run around and play together. |
| Will there be Social Distancing? | Reducing the number of contacts between learners and staff will be achieved through keeping groups separate and through maintaining distance between individuals.
In primary schools, especially for younger learners the emphasis will be on separating groups. For learners old enough, they should be supported to maintain distance and not touch staff where possible. |
| What if my child becomes unwell? | Pupils who are feeling unwell during the school day will be allocated an isolation room for their and others’ safety.
Pupils who are feeling ill before school should not attend and if they exhibit COVID19 symptoms, they should follow Public Health Wales advice for families in terms of quarantine and Track and Trace. |
| Will the school continue to provide childcare for KS2? | Yes. Onsite learning for children of critical workers in Y3-6 WILL be available from 23 February. Onsite learning will still be offered to those who need it as opposed to those who want it.
No onsite learning available for Foundation Phase pupils prior to their return to avoid mixing of contact groups during week beginning 22 February. Places will continue to be confirmed on a first come, first serve basis for the children of critical workers. |
| What about Lunchtimes?
Free School Meals
|
Pupils will stay with their contact group (class) and will eat together in class or outside.
Between 24 February and 26 February, your child (Foundation Phase and Childcare) will be required to bring a packed lunch to school.
From the week commencing 1 March, Reception to year 2 children will start to receive a hot meal in school again. Please remember to make sure your sQuid account is topped up. Free school meal payments/parcels will not be provided for Foundation Phase children after 26 February (the last payment should be in bank accounts by Friday 12 February to cover the period up to 26 February, and the final fortnightly food parcel will be delivered on Monday 15 February
The Local Authority catering service have informed schools that they are planning to offer school meals. For parents who wish to use this service, it will be available via Squid as usual from the 1ST March. |
| Will my child need equipment?
Can my child share class resources?
|
For individual and very frequently used equipment, such as pencils and pens, pupils need to have their own items that are not shared. They should bring in their own pen and pencil case (one). However, if pupils need to borrow, then these will be cleaned at the end of the day.
Classroom-based resources, such as books and games, can be used and shared within the contact group; these will be cleaned regularly
Pupils should bring in their own water bottle and can fill it up through the day themselves, not share. |
| Will there be Nursery provision? | Nursery will be returning on Thursday 25th February 2021 |
| Do staff or pupils need PPE? | Due to the scientific evidence related to the wearing of PPE clothing and masks, the schools risk assessment identifies when it may be needed, and that staff may choose to wear masks. If you wish your child to do so, we respect that choice however, parents are asked to consider WG guidance, which states that “No one who may not be able to handle face coverings as directed (e.g. young learners, or those with special educational needs or disabilities) should wear them as it may inadvertently increase the risk of transmission”
They must wash their hands upon arrival and dispose of temporary face covering in a bin.
Hand washing should always be practiced before putting on and after removing PPE |
| How will infection control be managed? | Additional cleaning will take place through the day of all surfaces, high touch areas and resources used. Children will only use resources that can be frequently cleaned. Posters and videos will reinforce this with pupils. Toilet usage will be managed and water fountains will be made unavailable. Pupils with First Aid or Personal Care needs will be attended to by staff with PPE. |
| What about uniform / clothing? | There is an expectation that pupils will wear uniform in line with the school policy. (clean each day) |
| Will there be Breakfast Club?
Will Playworks After School Club be operating?
|
There will be no Breakfast club
Schools in Swansea have risk assessments in place that will focus on educating 3-7 year olds within their class bubbles. This means that after school clubs, breakfast clubs and any activity that mixes bubbles in schools should be avoided. |
| What will children be doing? | WG are directing schools to develop an approach to learning for the Autumn term which is flexible enough to adapt to different scenarios and differing amounts of in-school learning and learning at home or elsewhere.
Priorities continue to include:
. |
| Will I be able to talk with my child’s class teacher | Of course – however ad hoc site visits are not permitted. Where possible, we would try to arrange consultation remotely either via a telephone call or over Microsoft Team at the earliest convenience.
Please note, with the exception or drop off and collection, all gates will be locked. Should parents/carers require access to the school building, please contact the school office of 01792 463019
Class dojo messaging service should be used as a means of communication between school and home. |
| I have children with different start and finish times.
What are my options? |
Dropping off
Where siblings start times are different we would ask that the children arrive at the time (and gate 1) of the later sibling.
Collection. WG Guidance demands that schools endeavour to avoid contact between different groups of learners. We would ask, unless in the case of an emergency, that your child/ren are collected at their allotted class pick up time. |