Phased Re-opening of Rainbow School

18th May 2020

Dear Rainbow Parents and Carers

I hope you are all safe and well. Over the last few weeks we have been working hard to support Rainbow families in a variety of ways, including remote learning, frequent wellbeing contacts, provision of FSM vouchers where applicable, supporting key worker and vulnerable children. As you know, I wrote to you on the 11th May after receiving government’s instruction on a phased re-opening of primary schools for children from the 1st of June 2020, in order to get “life back to normal”.

Since then all primary schools in the District have continued to receive further guidance from DFE and BMDC to help plan how it will be possible for us to maintain social distancing in a primary school setting and keep our children, teachers and families safe; how we might start to phase groups of children returning and what this would look like at each school. We have been in touch with other primary schools, particularly those in BD5 to help us decide on the best way forward for Rainbow. The senior leadership team at Rainbow has been carrying out various risk assessments and evaluating a number of different scenarios to enable a phased re opening for some year groups from early June.

I think it is, therefore necessary that all our Parents / Carers and equally importantly our pupils are fully aware of what is being planned and how the phased return arrangements will work out in practice at Rainbow. Our planned provision will mean;

1. All returning children will be working in small working groups of no more than 10.
2. Each group of pupils will be assigned a member of staff, which may not be their class teacher or support assistant, and a working space which may be other than their class room for the duration of this arrangement.
3. The school will do its utmost to ensure teaching groups are kept socially isolated from other groups by staggering start, finishing, break and lunch times.
4. An increased emphasis on cleanliness and hygiene throughout the day.
5. No breakfast or after school provision.
6. No hot meal provision in school, children to bring packed lunches.

Additionally, the current government and some scientific advice pointing out that it is safe for children to return to school is being challenged by some Teacher’s unions and equally eminent scientist. However, we feel it is ultimately a decision which has to rest with yourselves. It is for each and every one of you to decide if you will feel happy to send your children to school (NO PENALTIES will be issued to parents who choose to keep children at home during the summer term).

To assist our preparations and minimise cross contamination we would like to have a better idea of how many children will be attending school from 1st June. This will help us create consistent teaching groups and staffing arrangements which we will hope to maintain for the rest of the term.

If you would be kind enough to complete the attached survey and return to the school before Wednesday 20th May.

Please note our provision supporting key worker and vulnerable family children will remain in place until further notice.

Thank You for your continued support

Arshad Javed CEO Rainbow Primary School