Message from Mrs.Baxter 15.05.2020
Well – it is Happy Friday once again! We are approaching the end of Summer One 2020 and have seen some amazing home learning, received many messages of support and are humbled by your many kind words to staff in these times. Please remember – YOU too are doing a fabulous job and we salute you!
All staff at Wycliffe cannot wait to have you all happily back in school but will only do so in circumstances that keep you and us safe.
Where are we at with Government guidance? Now there’s a question! I will extract a few quotes from specific government departments in red then endeavour to break this down into readable material in black. This only stands at the time of typing – it is constantly subject to change.
12th May:
The rate of infection remains too high to allow the full opening of schools for all pupils yet. Hence the staggered approach
“At the earliest by June 1 – after half term – we believe we may be in a position to begin the phased reopening of shops and to get primary pupils back into schools, in stages, beginning with Reception, Year 1 and Year 6.”
Boris Johnson, Prime Minister
Please note the word MAY – not will.
We have remained open for keyworkers and vulnerable families throughout this period. They are our 1st priority group. Some schools with a lot of keyworkers or vulnerable families may already be at capacity with smaller classes and staffing and may not reach the opening for other years for some weeks or as and when lockdown reduces further and numbers can be raised. Every school will be different – comparisons cannot be made.
The phased approach, if it happens, will be done in the above year group order but may not necessarily begin on that day. It is recommended that schools work in groups with a maximum of 15 pupils, keep the same staff and the same ‘spaces’ to work in – on the days they are in – IF they are in.
We are currently collating our keyworker and vulnerable numbers of children who need our care – from there we will see whether or not we can accommodate spaces for Reception. On the basis of these numbers Y1 and then Y6 would be our next groups of offered places should we have capacity. It may be that our numbers allow specific days for various groups – as yet this is unknown until numbers are collated. Again – government guidance is ever changing as to how we need to manage this staggered return.
Please note – we will only open for more children if we can do so with all correct risk assessments written, policies in place and trust and government guidelines adhered to. Pupil and staff wellbeing are our priority.
Do I need to send my child to school? Whether you are a keyworker a vulnerable family or one of the next priority group – this choice will be yours when the time comes – as legislation stands today.
Asked whether parents would be punished for keeping their children at home if they still did not feel they would be safe from infection, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman told reporters: “The short answer is, no they won’t.
“While we will not penalise parents for keeping children at home once they are eligible to return to school, we will strongly encourage them to do so.”
We want as many children in school as we can – but you will NOT be punished if you choose to keep them at home – as legislation stands today – 15th May 2020.
I have tried to keep you as updated as I can – much of this is yet unknown and we are constantly led by spikes, decreases, infection rates and the value of R and conflicting guidance. Please remember I can only offer you the breakdown as it currently stands – we have a plan…but it may change.
A final message – to myself perhaps. After an irate 10 minutes awaiting entry to the supermarket last night when a family of 5 were arguing over one person entry and blocking the queue – I shopped with steam coming out of my ears and having missed many my ‘essentials’ to hear this on the radio. A time to reflect Mrs. Baxter!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0AkcG1SYDE
As ever…..warmest regards and a new message,
Mrs Baxter and your Wycliffe family