Brynmill Opening Logistics Key Points for Parents
Welsh Government has issued comprehensive guidance for schools for the Autumn Term which details the planning and reorganisation that schools will need to put in place in readiness for a full return on 14th September.
Welsh Government say that “It is expected that planning and preparation days will take place at the start of term to enable schools and settings to work with their staff on reviewing their risk assessments, processes and associated systems.”
In order to mitigate some of the risks associated with a full 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
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? | From Thursday 3rd September – Year 6 and Reception in phased groups only
From Monday 7th September – Year 1, 3, 5 (Year 6 and Reception phased groups will continue to attend) From Wednesday 9th September – Year 2 & 4 (all other year groups with exception of Nursery will continue to attend) From Thursday 10th September – Full return of all pupils with exception of Nursery |
| Will there be staggered drop off and collection times? Yes
What will the timings be?
Where do I line up with my child?
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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 1 & 2 1 / 2 B – Gate 4
8:45 am to 3:15 pm LFP M – Gate 4 (with runner) LFP R – Gate 3 with runner 4/5 J - Gate 1 & 2
9:00 am – 3:30 pm 3 /4 N Gate 1 & 2 3 /4 T Gate 3 5/6 D Gate 4 5/6 E Gate 5
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| 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. They will take turns in using All children will use hand sanitiser as they enter school and the need to handwash reinforced throughout the day. |
| Collecting my child
How will they leave school?
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All pupils must be collected from school including Year 6 pupils. 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 |
| How will children be grouped?
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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.
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| 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. |
| Will the Local Authority continue to provide emergency childcare> | No, there will be no emergency childcare provision in the autumn term. |
| What about Lunchtimes? | Pupils will stay with their contact group (class) and will eat together in class or outside.
The Local Authority catering service have informed schools that they are planning to offer school meals. However, direct provision for school dinners will start from 14th September. All pupils will need to bring a packed lunch for the first 2 weeks until the 14th. For parents who wish to use this service, it will be available via Squid as usual. There will be a choice of hot or cold meal which will be delivered to the classroom in disposable containers and with disposable cutlery. |
| Will my child need equipment?
Can my child share class resources?
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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) which should contain a pen, pencil, ruler, sharpener, rubber, and some colouring pencils. Extra items that would be useful are a gluestick , a whiteboard/dry erase pen and pink, green & purple highlighters. 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 not be returning at the beginning to the Autumn Term. At the time of writing, schools are awaiting the publication of further guidance on early years and nursery provision. |
| 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 be allocated members of staff 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 from September in line with the school policy. |
| Will there be Breakfast Club? | Breakfast clubs and After school clubs will not be in place for the first few weeks – inline with the Welsh Government guidance ” It is likely that schools and settings will need to respond flexibly and build this up. It is recognised that this may be logistically challenging, particularly when offering facilities across year groups.”
We are hopeful that we will be able to phase in Breakfast Club from September 14th. Schools are awaiting further advice from the Local Authority regarding how schools can make Breakfast Club work alongside the wider protective measures.
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| Will Playworks After School Club be operating from September? | At the time of writing, Playworks After School Club are awaiting Welsh Government Operational Guidance from which to plan for a safe return. It’s unlikely that Afterschool Club provision will be available from the very start of the Autumn term. Playworks will contact registered parents with updates and start dates in September. |
| 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.
Schools have been asked to consider a range of priorities including:
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| 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 video conferencing 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. |
| Free School Meals | The Local Authority will be providing a choice of a hot or cold option which those eligible for Free School Meals will be able to order via Squid
If you think you are eligible but have not already applied, please follow this link. https://www.swansea.gov.uk/applyfreeschoolmeals All children will need to bring a water bottle.
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| 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) of the later sibling.
Collection.
WG Guidance for the September return demands that schools endeavour to avoid contact between different groups of learners. When scaled up to a full return, it would not be possible to have children from many different contact groups leaving their classrooms at the same time.
We would ask, unless in the case of an emergency, that your child/ren are collected at their allotted class pick up time. |