Dear Parents and Carers,
The children have been back at school for two weeks now and are settling well into their new routines. You have too; our EYFS/KS1 One Way System is working well, as is sanitising hands on entry and exit. I am writing this Newsletter a week early to clarify some of the guidance the school is required to follow, misconceptions some parents and carers have about arrangements in place for their children and what you need to do if you have a question or complaint.
Some parents and carers are members of WhatsApp groups to give each other support about school and their children. These groups are a great idea when they are used well as they build friendships and networks. However, they are useless as a way of resolving complaints, instead serving only to stir them up, which causes anxiety as information in them is often inaccurate. We can’t help you if you complain to WhatsApp, but we can if you speak to us. If you have a question, need something explained or are unhappy, you need to see or contact your child’s teacher or ask any of the staff at the gates at the beginning and end of the day. We are all happy to help and most often can put your mind at rest straight away.
At school, children are fed free of charge with a piece of fruit at break time and a hot or sandwich meal for lunch, and in a school day lasting approximately 5 hours are given a minimum of 5 drinks of water – 4 during the day and as much as they want at lunchtime; more than they had before COVID-19 when they were able to use the outdoor fountains. Children tell you what they remember, which as we all know is not always what actually happened. This is to be expected: they are young and they are learning.
This is why it is vital you talk to us. For example, this week a young child told her dad she had not eaten lunch. He asked her teacher about it, who was able to tell him she had eaten a sandwich lunch that day in the classroom. What the child meant was she had not eaten lunch in the Dining Hall that day; she had just left that bit of information out. Her dad was reassured because he went to the right person for information to help. Whilst we do not get everything right – nobody does – we do our best in a school setting to provide the same level of care as would a parent.
Government guidance states the number of items brought in to school from home must be kept to a minimum. To provide further reassurance at this understandably anxious time, amongst other things this letter shows you what the sandwich lunch and drinking arrangements look like in practice and that guidance is being followed to keep your children safe.
With best wishes for a safe and healthy week ahead.
