Parent Update 14 April 2021

Wednesday 14th April 2021

Parent Update – 14 April 2021                                

As you are probably aware the First Minister confirmed on Tuesday 6 April that following the Easter Break all students are expected to return on a full-time basis.   For our school this means a return on Tuesday 20 April FOR ALL YEAR LEVELS. Students will follow the timetable issued and used in August 2020. See last parent update Thursday 1 April 2021

This is great news and we hope that in-school learning will remain in place for the remainder of the current term and into next session.

As expected with the return of all students the 2m distancing mitigation has been removed.  However, a range of other mitigations are in place to help keep all students and staff as safe as possible

Our health and safety mitigations are:

• Lateral Flow Device Covid-19 Asymptomatic Twice-weekly Testing Programme strongly recommended for all staff and students,  to be carried out on a Sunday/Wednesday pattern
• Expectation that all students and staff wear face coverings at all times during the school day (except those with exemptions)
• Sanitising stations at school entrances and exits
• Separate entry and exit points for year groups – as used in August 2020
• Supervised breaks for students with specific in school cohort arrangements and separate breaks and lunches for BGE and Senior Phase students.
• Floor markings and a one way system to support safe movement of students and staff
• Sanitisers/Spray/Wipes in every teaching space;  with an expectation that students and staff ‘wipe down’ their area at the beginning and end of each lesson
• Pedal bins in each teaching space to support safe disposal of wipes/handkerchiefs
• Clear staff/student 2m distancing expectations,  including clearly identifiable ‘staff only’ areas in classrooms,  with regular and frequent ‘rule reminders’
• Classrooms organised with student desks forward facing and in rows;  consistent seating plans in subject classrooms for students where possible
• Open door policy in classrooms to reduce door handle use and improve ventilation
• Where practicable, an open window policy to improve ventilation
• No use of PE Changing Rooms;  students are permitted to come to school dressed for PE on timetabled days
• Test & Protect compliance; our attendance recording will be crucial to ensure we know where staff and students have been and who they’ve been with.
• Bring your own snacks and lunch, BACS payments will continue for students entitled to a free school meal
• Clear signage to support good health and hygiene habits, visible throughout the school campus and referred to regularly by staff to support student compliance
• Enhanced and visible cleaning/hygiene routines, applying to all staff and students,  this will be agreed at school level with transparency around routines
• 2m distancing markings in corridors and social spaces to encourage awareness
• No non-essential visitors/meetings, e.g.,  most parent/carer meetings will be by telephone or virtual platforms

We hope you are reassured by our commitment to maintaining high levels of health and safety management in the building and we will be reinforcing these measures with all young people and the adults in school.

We look forward to welcoming your child back next week.

My next update, week beginning 19 April 2021, will address issues and concerns parents may have around the assessment schedule.

Kind regards

Craig Biddick

Head Teacher

 

 

 

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