Posted on 23rd December 2020
Dear Parent,
I am writing to you to make you aware of our current plans for a January 4 return. You will know that Schools received the information about the staggered return on the afternoon of Thursday 17 December, our final day of term. I am aware that further Department for Education/ UK Government communications may mean we will need to revise our plans.
Return to School w/c 4 January
Teaching and Learning
Health and Safety
While on site, students will continue to be bubbled in their year groups. We will continue to implement routines that stress the importance of hand sanitation, wiping down desks, etc. Students should continue to wear a mask in all communal areas around school. There are no changes to our Risk Assessment. [link]
Testing
We want to support the aspiration of frequent testing in Schools but information about how this will work is scarce. The benefit of daily/ weekly testing (when it happens) is that any student identified as a ‘close contact’ of a positive student can remain in School and will not have to self-isolate, if they return a negative test each day. Once we have more information, I will write again. Testing is optional and will require parental permission for students under 16.
Transport
School buses will run as normal. However, in the event of a positive test/ student displaying symptoms, students will be isolated on the school site and must be collected as soon as possible by an adult. The student will not be allowed to use school transport services, etc.
Tracing
Our tracing role ends this evening. Please only contact the enquiries email address if your child is going to miss the start of term because he/ she is self-isolating.
General points
You will appreciate that this is an evolving situation. We may need to call upon the help of volunteers so if you have a medical background and would be willing to support the School once we can test students and staff. Please email Mrs Anna Sharp if you would like to volunteer. (anna.sharp@caistorgrammar.com)
Further questions
If you have any questions, please email the enquiries address. It is monitored but responses will be limited due to the Christmas break.
I plan to write again with any updates by December 30.
Closing comments
I would like to see as many students in School as possible on 4 January who match the criteria above. I ask that you do all you can to keep safe over the festive period, limiting contacts and continuing to follow the guidance. I anticipate there will be more COVID-related absences in the first few weeks back. No matter how hard we try, this is inevitable.
I do hope we can keep absences to a minimum by doing all that we can to ensure that students can attend School. Staying open to deliver face-to-face teaching in a COVID-safe environment remains our ambition.
With best regards for a peaceful, restful, and safe Christmas,
Alistair Hopkins
Headmaster