Our final message of the week comes from Mrs Weekes, Moortown Primary’s Head of School.
When we closed the doors to the majority of our children on 20 March, I don’t think any of us thought that it would go on so long and that so many children would be out of school until September.
There have been children of key workers in school over the past 12 weeks, including the school holidays, so our school has not been completely empty but it’s looked and felt very different. Although there are more children attending now, it’s certainly not the same.
Since 01 June, we’ve opened to more children – not as many as we would like but there are more voices to be heard around school. The guidelines have been followed but it’s been very difficult to arrange and organise. We’re working in ‘bubbles’ so that children are very clear who they are with and where they can go. Our ‘bubbles’ are not mixing and adults and children are cocooned in their spaces during the day.
Currently, we have four ‘bubbles’ with around ten children (depending on the size of the classroom) and two adults in each one. Tables are arranged in the classrooms to maintain the 2m social distance; children always sit at the same table and use the same chair and they have their own learning pack with everything that they need. Outside space is allocated to the different ‘bubbles’ and when the children are outside, one of the adults cleans high touch areas. All spaces are well ventilated – if weather allows, doors and windows are left open. There are two first aiders on site at all times. There are only specific entrances used and there are certain areas not being used at all (eg cloakrooms).
The biggest issue – apart from the obvious lack of physical space – is the number of staff who are able to work. Fortunately, the majority of teaching staff are in school but because of personal circumstances, some staff are working at home, including me. It’s incredibly hard to lead a school ‘remotely’ but the staff in school are working really hard to make sure that everything runs smoothly. With the staff in school, in the four ‘bubbles’, I have no spare staff to create new bubbles or only very limited capacity to expand some bubbles. It’s great that all the teachers are in school, although they’re very aware of the need to get the balance right in teaching children in school and supporting the children at home.
Moving forward, we’re slightly expanding the Y1/2 bubble next week – we’ve allocated more spaces for children of key workers who have not been in school over the lockdown period. We’re also expanding the Y5/6 bubble so that we can invite Y6 children back, on a part time basis, so that they can finish the term at school, for at least some of the time. With this comes some anxiety around staffing, especially if the ‘Test and Trace’ scheme impacts on us. If all our staff are working within bubbles and a member of staff is asked to self-isolate for 14 days, you can imagine the problems we’ll face. Whilst it would be something we would try to avoid at all costs, the closure of a bubble for 14 days is still a possibility. It feels like a balancing act between opening the maximum amount of bubbles and leaving ourselves vulnerable to staff absences.
September is going to be here before we know it. As Mr Roundtree mentioned this week, we still don’t know what school will look like and it’s understandable that some of you will be worried and anxious about what will be in place. We’ll be working very hard to put safe plans in place and will be following the government and local authority advice and guidelines, communicating information to you as timely as possible.
I couldn’t be prouder of the staff at Moortown: they have worked incredibly hard to support learning at home and to make sure there has been provision for children of key workers. I know that their hard work will continue for those in school and the children at home. I would like to thank them all.
Let’s hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel and that we can see you all soon, coming back through the school gates.
If your child is back at school, please make sure you read the last two pages of this document – it’s important information about what we need from you and your child to keep everyone safe at school.
If your child is returning soon, please make sure you read the whole document, so you can be prepared with every detail, from snacks to sun-cream (although not much of that is needed at the moment!).
Have a good weekend, despite the weather.