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Thank you to those of you that have contacted the school to discuss the uniform requirements for next term. Given that the feedback that we have received from families this week has been so diverse, with some wholeheartedly welcoming this temporary change and others expressing concerns, we will use this opportunity to launch a family uniform consultation moving forward. We apologise to those of you who considered that last week’s communication lacked clarity and would therefore like to provide further information.
As schools are not able to relax covid risk assessments due to growing infection rates and concern around the delta variant, we have decided to plan for an autumn term that is similar to this one. This means that uniform requirements will continue to differ from pre-covid times so we do not want you to buy any unnecessary items of clothing or footwear.
This year, sending your children to school in their P.E. kits on their P.E. days has had a number of practical benefits. As well as supporting our risk assessment, it has helped the school day to run really smoothly. Building on this success, for the autumn term, we ask that children wear regulation P.E. kit on a daily basis. This will also be convenient for Commando Joe’s sessions plus our expanding outdoor learning and play opportunities. This will, hopefully, simplify the school uniform requirements. We do not want to ask you to buy additional items that will only be used for part of the week. Whilst recognising that grey trousers are readily available at a relatively low cost, brown tunics and skirts can be more difficult to source and are more expensive.
Please choose from the following options for next term -
Bottoms:
- BLACK tracksuit/joggers (plain – no stripes or patterns) or
- BLACK leggings (plain – no stripes or patterns) or
- BLACK shorts or cycle shorts (plain – no stripes or patterns) as currently worn for P.E.
Top:
- Polo shirt – if you need to purchase more, please opt for white ones as we would like to secure as much consistency as possible. If you have an existing supply of yellow polo tops that fit, please feel free to use them; coloured P.E. tops with the school logo will also be fine.
Sweatshirt:
- BROWN sweatshirt or cardigan with logo (available from SchoolTogs in the lower high street)
Footwear:
- Black trainers – no shoes please as children will need to wear trainers for P.E./playtimes/lunchtimes/outdoor learning/daily mile. If your child’s current trainers are not black, and you do not need to replace them because they still fit your child, other colours are acceptable.
Please note that we have expanded the options above in light of feedback from families.
As we are aware that some families have managed to accumulate items of uniform or have items that will still fit, please be assured that there will be opportunities for your children to wear these when we are able to relax our covid risk assessment. The changes described above relate to the autumn term – they are not necessarily permanent.
A family uniform consultation will enable us to understand the views of all members of our community and, in partnership with Governors, make decisions for the longer term. Please be assured that IF permanent alterations to our uniform policy were to be made in light of this feedback, there would be an extended period of transition to ensure that families that have been able to put aside multiple items of clothing are able to use them. We do not want unnecessary waste or expenditure.
As you may be aware from the media several local schools have been affected by partial closures of bubbles this week. This has been due to children and staff testing positive. This new delta variant of COVID-19 is obviously causing concern, hence why wider society did not re-open this week.
We have been advised by the local authority that should a member of staff test positive on a lateral flow device then we are required to close the relevant bubbles immediately and not wait until the results of a PCR test are returned. This will obviously mean that this will happen at very short notice. Unfortunately, this is beyond our control. As soon as the PCR result is returned, then we can inform families of what they need to do next.
Please can we continue to ask you to remain vigilant and to ensure that a PCR test is taken at the slightest sign of symptoms. It is important that you notify school if anyone in your family is going for a PCR test – your whole family must isolate at home until the result comes back. If it is negative, your child/children can come back to school straight away. Please inform school by phone or email of the result as soon as possible.
If the school is closed, and the result is POSITIVE, please text or phone us on 07413 173395 immediately. Mrs Godfrey is very happy to receive messages out of hours (early morning/evening/weekend) so that bubbles can be closed quickly. This will help to reduce the transmission in our community.
Please can we also remind you, that adults can get lateral flow kits to complete a test at home as can any secondary age child, these can be carried out twice weekly. They are not to be used with primary aged children. These tests are only to be used if you do not have symptoms. They are available from pharmacies, test centres or available to order. Please see the link below
Please can we remind you, again, about parking in a safe and considerate way outside school. Please DO NOT park across driveways, on double yellow lines, on the kerb or in any other way that is inconsiderate or dangerous to other road users. Please also be aware of other road users, including those using bikes and scooters as well as pedestrians, as you park or drive off. It is essential that everyone is acting in a safe and considerate way. We do not want any accidents.