St. Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School

ST CUTHBERT’S CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL                        

Our New School Expectations during the COVID 19 Pandemic        June/July 2020

It is extremely important that all of us change the way we behave and interact so that we can keep each other SAFE and WELL during these unprecedented times.

The PODs (Groups):

• Each child coming into school will be allocated a group or POD. Each POD will have a maximum of 15 children. These children, along with 2 adults, will stay together all day. Contact with other children from different PODs will not be allowed. They will only be able to play and have lunch with children from their POD.

The School Day:

• Each group or POD will be given specific start and end times for the school day. Children must arrive at school, on time, and only enter the school site through their allocated gate and door. If you are late we may not be able to accept your child that day. If you are late picking up, unless there are exceptional circumstances, your child may not be invited back into school this term.
• Only one parent/other adult should drop off and one pick up. Social distancing must be adhered to, on school grounds, at all times. Parents will not be allowed specific areas on the yards, and will be asked not to loiter or interact with other parents on the school grounds. Parents are asked to leave promptly as soon as their child is in line.
• If parents need to speak to a member of staff they should telephone or email school. Staff will not be able to have conversations at the door/on the yard as normal. This is also includes coming into the foyer / office entrance unless you are specifically asked to do so.

Hygiene and Health:

• Hand washing will take place as the children come into school, after sneezing/ coughing, before and after eating, after using the toilet, before going home and frequently throughout the day. The children will be reminded to wash their hands thoroughly and regularly – including use of hand sanitizers.
• Children will be responsible for cleaning their own equipment.
• Children will be reminded to Catch it! Bin it! Kill it!
• Children will be discouraged from putting anything in their mouths or touching their face.
• Children must definitely not sneeze, spit or cough on to anyone or at anyone else. This is very dangerous and can make people seriously ill.
• If a child is feeling unwell, they must tell an adult straightaway. The child will be removed from the classroom and isolated in an allocated room. Parents will be informed and asked to collect their child, as soon as possible. If the symptoms are COVID related the whole group/POD (staff and children) will be asked to isolate at home for the following 14 days.
• Physical contact will be hugely minimised e.g. holding hands, hugging, high fives etc. will not be permitted
• The children will spend the day either in their classroom or outside with their teacher.
• The desks in the room will be spaced out, as far as possible.                             
• Although we would usually encourage ‘sharing’ between our children, it will not be allowed at the moment. There must be no sharing of equipment (pens/ pencils etc.). There must be no sharing of food or drinks
• Apart for their snack and packed lunches, children will be asked not to bring anything from home, into school.
• We will not expect school uniform to be worn. Instead children will come in clean clothes daily which are practical, comfortable, suitable for outdoor learning, and provide warmth as the windows will be open for ventilation. Please also ensure that your child has sun cream applied before school if the weather is sunny.

It is also very important continue to follow the government’s guidance on social distancing, in your homes, in the neighbourhood and parish. If this social distancing isn’t maintained then the people we come into contact with at school are put at additional and unnecessary risk.  

We know that that things will be very different and these conditions may seem strict. However, I am sure you will agree that we all have a huge responsibility to try our very best keep ourselves and the people around us fit and healthy. Therefore, it is very, very important that we all keep our new school expectations and do as we are asked. Anyone who doesn’t behave in a responsible way will be isolated. They will be kept away from everyone and then sent home. They will not be able to come back into school.