September 2020

FACE MASKS/COVERINGS

From Monday we are actively encouraging all parents/carers and children over 11 who enter our school site to wear either a face mask or covering to help keep our school community safe.

The Government guidance recommends that school staff do not wear face masks/coverings.

With bubbles being closed at both Arrow Vale and Ipsley we are trying to ensure that we can remain open for all at MFSA, so please be considerate to others.

Please remember that you should all be socially distancing when lining up to enter the school and that you arrive at the correct time and not 10 minutes earlier. 

Drop off and Pick up times

From September there will be staggered drop off and pick up times to ensure social distancing and a reduced number of parents and children on the school grounds at any one time. 

There will be three 10 minute drop off windows:

8:50-9:00

9:00-9:10 

9:10-9:20 

There will be three 10 minute pick up windows:

3:00-3:10

3:10-3:20

3:20-3:30

It is IMPERATIVE that you stick to your designated time slot. 

If you have more than one child in school, you must drop off/pick up all children at the END of the earliest drop off/pick up slot. 

E.g, Bobby is in 2LW and his drop off time is 8:50-9:00. His older sister is in 3H and her drop off time is 9:10-9:20, therefore both children will be dropped off at their own classroom doors at 9:00, which is the end of the first slot. 

Where to drop off and pick up 

Please see the map below, showing the route you will take to drop off/pick up you child(ren). 

As you can see, children in Nursery, Reception and Year one, will enter the pedestrian gate on Matchborough Way at the far end of school, keeping to the LEFT, walk across the playground and round to the classroom doors, and then exit the school grounds through the pedestrian gate near the school office also on Matchborough Way. As shown by the BLUE arrows. 

CHILDREN IN 1WB AND 1C WILL NOW FOLLOW THE RED ARROW AND ENTER THEIR CLASSROOM AT THE FRONT OF SCHOOL.   IF CHILDREN IN THESE CLASSES HAVE SIBLINGS IN RECEPTION, NURSERY OR A DIFFERENT YEAR 1 CLASS THEY CAN FOLLOW THE BLUE ARROW AND DROP THE CHILDREN FROM 1WB & 1C AT THE BACK ENTRANCE AS SHOWN ON THE MAP. 

Children in Year 2,3 and 4 will enter the pedestrian gate on Matchborough way, keeping to the RIGHT, walk along the front of school to the classroom doors, and then exit the school grounds through the pedestrian gate near the school office on Matchborough Way. As shown by the RED arrows. 

We understand that some families have children in different year groups. If you have a child(ren) in Nursery, Reception or Year one and a sibling in Year 2 or 3 you can follow the Blue arrows across the playground and drop the older sibling through the back doors off the playground. There will be a member of staff to greet them at the back doors. This will also be where you collect the children from at the end of the day. 

Year 4 children need to be dropped at the pedestrian gate and walk to their classroom doors unaccompanied. You will be able to see them enter the school building from the gate. 

At the end of the day, Year 4 children can be collected from their classroom doors, with parents/carers using the one way system and following the red arrows on the map. Children from year 4 who have siblings in Reception, Nursery or Year 1 can be collected from the back door as shown on the map. 

• We ask that you do not turn up to school before your drop off/pick up slot to prevent crowding outside the school gates. You will only be permitted to enter the school premises at your allocated times. 

• Only one adult can accompany children through the one way system for drop off and pick up. 

• The drop off/pick up system is strictly a one way system. 

• There are yellow markings on the ground to ensure social distancing, parents are not permitted to cross the yellow line.

• Please do not stop at the classroom doors, it is important the drop off/pick up system is a steady continuous flow. Therefore if you need to speak to a member of staff, you MUST email or call the school office on:

office@matchborough.worcs.sch.uk or  01527 883 880.

Bikes and Scooters

As access to the bike rack is limited in the one way system, Years 2,3 and 4 can lock bikes and scooters to the red fence in front of their classrooms and Year 1 and Reception can use the normal provision in front of the school office. 

Uniform 

In September, children are expected to return to school in full school uniform. However, children can come to school and remain in their PE kits all day on the days they have PE. 

Please see table below, showing each classes indoor and outdoor PE sessions. 

Please note, children can wear tracksuit tops and bottoms in the cooler weather. If they have indoor PE, then can wear warmer sports clothing over their shorts and t-shirt, or choose to wear tracksuit bottoms for the day. 

Teaching and Learning 

Due to school closures, we know that children have missed the opportunity to meet their new teachers and take part in Transition Days. Therefore, when we return to school the first 3 days of term will be dedicated to transition, giving the children and staff the opportunity to get to know each other.

We understand that this may be a difficult time for lots of children and parents, so it is of utmost importance to us that we spend time explaining to the children how school is different, reiterating the school rules, some of which are slightly different and ensuring good hygiene and hand washing are a part of every day school life. 

We will also dedicate time to PSHE lessons and mindfulness to ensure we can ease any worries and anxieties that may have arose over the past few months. 

From September we will  provide a broad and balanced curriculum and learning experiences for all children, taking into consideration the time and learning they have missed during the closures. 

What to bring to school

From September, we ask that children bring as little to school as possible. We would only like children to bring the following things with them:

• Lunch box/bag - if not having a school dinner 
• Drinks bottle
• Reading book and diary on allocated days 
• Pencil Case
• Coat and outdoor wear - weather permitting 

We politely ask that children do not bring book bags or rucksacks for the foreseeable future. Please note, children will not be required to bring many items to school and therefore should not need a rucksack. 

We are asking children not to bring bags to school to reduce the number of items from different households being in school at any time. This will also reduce the need for children to visit the cloakrooms, as many of the cloakrooms are shared spaces between different year group bubbles. Furthermore, reducing bags, reduces the amount of items being knocked on the floor and being mixed up with other items from other classes/bubbles. 

Children have been asked to bring a pencil case to school with their needed stationary, this will then remain in school and not be carried back and forth. Reading books and diaries will only be brought to school on Mondays and Fridays, so on Tuesday-Thursday, children will only be required to bring a lunch box/bag, if they are not having a school dinner, and a drinks bottle. 

As the weather changes, children who bring hats, gloves and scarves to school will store these in the pockets of their coats or in their drawer/desks. 

Government guidance states that children can not share their everyday resources and therefore we ask that children bring in a pencil case with resources for the classroom .This pencil case will stay in school at all times. If possible, please provide the following items in  pencil cases. 

• pencil
• sharpener 
• rubber
• variety of pencil crayons 
• variety of felt tips 
• ruler 

Any resources you can not provide will be provided by school. 

Children in Reception and Nursery do not need to bring a pencil case to school. 

Hand Sanitiser 

School will provide all children and staff with hand sanitiser, dispensers will be available for use across the school. Children will also be  washing their hands regularly with soap and water. 

Children can bring their own individual bottle of hand sanitiser to school if they wish, however, this must be a pocket sized miniature bottle and must be in the original packaging with a clear label to show the contents.

Children can not bring a personalised clear bottle without a label of the ingredients. 

Lunchtimes

In September, due to social distancing rules and the arrangement of year group bubbles, not all children will be able to eat in the school hall everyday. 

We have devised a rota system to ensure all children can eat in the hall on a weekly rotation and have access to hot school dinners fortnightly. 

On the weeks the children do not eat in the hall, they will eat in their classroom, which will be cleaned and disinfected before and after eating. 

We hope you have a lovely Summer holiday, the staff at Matchborough First School Academy look forward to welcoming back all our children and families in September!

If you have any questions about the information provided or would like support with how drop off/pick will work for you please email Miss Halion on:

deputy@matchborough.worcs.sch.uk  

In the meantime, make sure you get to know more about your new teachers by taking a look at their class posters. Just click on the tab named 'children' at the top of the website and select 'New Classes 2020/21' from the drop down menu. 

Stay Safe!