IMPORTANT - School is now going through a process of phased re-opening for certain year groups.  Please check your messages and the school website on a regular basis for updates.  If you have any concerns please email office@killinghall.bradford.sch.uk we will be happy to help. New work for the children will be added online on weekly basis. Please take care and follow government advice.

16 July 2020

Dear Parent/Carers

Well this year certainly has brought its challenges and I would like to begin by thanking you all for your support and patience during these unprecedented times.  I would also like to particularly thank you for the effort many of you have put into supporting your children at home with their learning during the last 3 months.

I am so pleased to be able to say that from September we are able to welcome all children back to school, we have missed them all so much.

Years 1,2,3,4,5 and 6 will begin school on Thursday 3 September. Due to the need to social distance we have staggered the start/end times of the day for each year group, as below.  I appreciate that this is not ideal, particularly if you are bringing more than one child to school and they are in different year groups, however I once again ask for your patience and co-operation to allow everyone to enter and exit school in the safest possible manner.  As soon as guidance allows, we will arrive together as we have done in the past.

For all classrooms at the front of the building i.e. 1AJ, 2AS, 2AB and Year 5, please bring children to the usual entrance.  Staff will be there to direct you.

For classrooms which are accessed by the playground at the back of the school please come into school via the car park gates (these will be used only for pedestrians during these times) and walk down the drive at the beginning of the day.  Once you have delivered your child to school you will be asked to leave via the footpath which runs alongside the school drive. 

When you collect your child from school please use the footpath as normal to walk down to the playground but once you have collected your child you can exit the school via the carpark drive and walk up this and out of school.

Please adhere to social distancing rules for everybody’s safety.  These are very busy times of the day.  I ask that you drop your child off at the gate and leave the premises as soon as possible via the allocated route to allow people to be able to social distance.

Below are a few of the changes which will help you prepare your child for next year.  Our full Action Plan for school in September will be uploaded onto our website.

What to Bring into School

Children need to wear uniform which is clean.

Children bringing packed lunches from home need to bring them in a disposable bag please.

Children can bring their ‘Feelings Boxes’ that have been made at home in readiness for learning in their new class. 

Children will need to bring book bags and PE bags back to school.  They will need to bring a water bottle with their name on. Children do not need to bring anything else to school. They do not need to bring a mask. If guidance on these changes we will let you know.

Keeping Safe in School

In the classroom children will have their own set of equipment/stationery which will be cleaned daily.

Tables and equipment will be cleaned regularly throughout the day.

Sanitising stations are located throughout school.  Children will wash hands regularly throughout the day and will be taught about respiratory hygiene.

Year groups have been organised into bubbles for lunchtime and playtime.  These bubbles will not mix with other bubbles.

Children will not gather in groups any larger than a year group size, this will be for assemblies, playtimes, sports days and lunch in the main hall.

Singing, computing, library and art/DT will now be taught in much smaller groups.  Teachers will work within bubbles whenever possible to minimise the risk of cross infection.

It is more important than ever that children arrive at school at their allocated time.  This will help with social distancing and means that everyone is playing their part in keeping everyone safe. 

If you, your child or any member of your household is displaying symptoms of COVID-19 (a high temperature, a new continuous cough, loss of taste or smell) then you must not come to school but must immediately seek a test.  Please inform school as soon as possible of the outcome so that we can take any necessary steps in keeping everyone safe.

You can find information about how to request a test for COVID-19 at https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIpdPY66zP6gIVVOvtCh2IrQtgEAAYASAAEgKK6_D_BwE

Any child displaying symptoms of Coronavirus will be isolated within school until they can be collected by a parent/carer.

Any adult coming into school will have their temperature taken and will be refused entry if it is a concern.  There will be no trips until further notice.

The full risk assessment for school re-opening can be found on our website from August 2020.

Lunch

Children who have school lunch will receive a hot lunch in the dinner hall on alternate weeks, they will have a packed lunch in their classroom on the other weeks.  Children who are entitled to free school meals will continue to receive a school lunch at no charge.

If you are not sure or think you may now be eligible for this funding because your circumstances have changed please contact the school office.

If your child has an allergy that we are not aware of please let the school office know asap.

Breakfast Club / After School Clubs

We will be unable to offer Breakfast Club for the first two weeks in September on re-opening.  Priority will be given to working parents.  After school clubs will commence later in September and will be offered as a year group club to ensure there is no mixing of bubbles.  Information will be sent out in September about these clubs.

Parents Coming into School

If you need to speak to your child’s teacher you will need to phone the office who will be able to arrange this.

If you have any concerns or any issues that need resolving please phone the office or email them.

Parents/visitors will only be allowed into the building by appointment.  Before entering temperatures will be checked and details recorded in the event that track and trace needs to be implemented.  Any person not willing to give this information will not be allowed entry into school.

The Curriculum

The main focus of the work that children will be undertaking on returning to school will be on ‘recovery’.  This will be in the form of our ‘Recovery Rainbow’ which ensures that each child is ready to start learning again.  We will be delivering booster classes to all children next year to begin to fill the gaps in their learning due to school closure during lockdown.

It is statutory that all schools deliver Relationship Education to primary children by the Summer term 2021.

A draft policy has been produced by the Local Authority in consultation with The Council of Mosques, The Local Authority and Bradford SACRE and The Equity Partnership.  I have attached this policy for your information.

We are hoping to adopt this policy once it has been shared with parents.  I would welcome any comments you have on this before the end of September 20.

Staffing Update

I am pleased to be able to tell you that we will be welcoming Shaheen our Extended Schools and Parental Education Worker back to work at Kilinghall in September.  We will be saying goodbye to Gazala who was covering Shahen’s role in her absence.

Mohammed (Year 3 teacher) is now the proud father of a baby boy and will be taking paternity leave in September.  I will keep you updated as soon as I know who will be covering his class.

We welcome Kayleigh (Bright Start) back after her maternity leave.

Our French Coach Marion has decided to return to France in the Summer.  We have appointed a new language specialist called Mags.

I apologise for the lengthy letter but there is, I’m sure you can appreciate, lots to fill you in about.  As always if you have any concerns please phone the main office 01274 771166 or email office@killinghall.bradford.sch.uk.

Please have a great Summer, let’s hope for lots of sunshine so that quality time can be spent safely outdoors.  I look forward to seeing you and all the children in September and thank you again for your patience and understanding this year.  Stay safe everyone.

Yours sincerely

Claire Spencer

Headteacher