We are very much looking forward to welcoming all children back to school on Monday 8th March. 

If you would like to talk to us about your child and any concerns you have about their return to school, please – in the first instance – email your child’s year group email address to pass on information:

reception@summerside.barnet.sch.uk

y1@summerside.barnet.sch.uk

y2@summerside.barnet.sch.uk

y3@summerside.barnet.sch.uk

y4@summerside.barnet.sch.uk

y5@summerside.barnet.sch.uk

y6@summerside.barnet.sch.uk

Arrangements for the start and end of the school day – Return to Autumn Term 2020 routines

The beginning and end of the school day are the busiest times for children and adults congregating together in one place and maintaining safe distances within normal arrangements can be a challenge. We have therefore implemented the following measures for when pupils return to school:

• School staff will be at the designated drop off points to support families to separate and direct children to teaching rooms. Children will say goodbye to parents at their drop off point.
• Parents must keep safe social distance from each other and ensure that their children also do this at drop off and collection: keep 2 metres apart at all times
• Parents/carers and family members over 11 years old must wear face coverings at drop and pick up times
• Parents must arrive on time (not early) and avoid gathering close together outside the gates
• Parents will collect from the drop off points to limit mixing of adults. It is essential that parents are on time as this will allow us to keep year groups separate
• Parents/carers are not able to enter the school site as we are limiting the number of social contacts between staff, children and family members. Parents/carers should raise queries and pass information remotely through our school office (phone number and email address below)

Staggered Start: drop off and collect times for different year groups – Return to Autumn Term 2020 routines

In order to ensure arrangements are as safe and secure as possible we will be operating a staggered start for different year groups. It is essential that you keep to your year group time so that we can keep year groups separate. Collection will be from the same place as pick up with parents staying off the school site at the end of the day.

As with all other arrangements we will keep this under constant review.

The school day

To minimise the number of pupils and staff assembling for periods of time, we have made the following changes to the school day:

• Children will remain with their year group and year group adults through the day

• Assemblies will take place in classrooms
• Learning will take place outside whenever possible
• Children will sit 2 children to a desk and all tables will face forwards
• PPE has been purchased for first aid, intimate care (nappy changing and support with toileting self care) and for children with SEND where close physical contact is needed
• Children will need to wear their school uniform  or PE kit.
• Breakfast club will open from the first day of school with children in small groups, grouped by their phase (Years 1 and 2 together, Years 3 and 4 together, and so on).
• After school clubs will open from the first day. Please book after school sessions in advance here:  https://www.happydaysclubs.com/

Arrangements for break times and lunchtimes

We recognise the importance for all pupils to have a break from learning and to enjoy time outside during the school day. Reconnecting with friends will be an important aspect of pupils settling back into school life, but we have made some adjustments to break and lunch times.

• Children will have staggered break times.
• Zoned areas will be marked on the playground and field
• Reception to Year 6 children will eat their lunches in the hall with their year group only. Children will sit on one side of their tables only and face the same way
• Nursery children will eat lunches in their classrooms
• No footballs or other toys to be brought into school - thank you

School lunches and snacks

All children eligible for a free school meal (including all children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2) will have a hot free school lunch cooked onsite by our regular kitchen team. The Government will not be providing any more free school meal vouchers.

Children in Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 who would like a hot school dinner but are not eligible for free school meals can pay for a hot school lunch as usual. We ask please that children choose to have a hot lunch every day of each half term so that this is manageable for our kitchen team. If children do not wish to have a hot lunch, they must bring a packed up sandwich lunch as usual.

Children under 5 will receive free milk and milk is available in our dining hall each day for children who have had Free School Meals while they have been at Summerside. Children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 will have a free fruit of vegetable snack each day. Children in Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 can bring a healthy fruit or vegetable snack for breaktime.

Medication

All children with a Health Care Plan must bring their medication back to school on the first day and hand it to the teacher at the gate. If you need to update us about changes to your child’s healthcare, please email admin@summerside.barnet.sch.uk

Laptops: Remote learning and possible future bubble closures

Thank you to all families who have worked with our school staff to support children’s learning at home. We have enjoyed working with you and would have been unable to do this without your support. We have loaned laptops to some families who needed a device to learn at school and have contacted you to arrange return of these devices in the first week back at school. If future bubbles are necessary, we have a stock of loan laptops for families who do not have a laptop at home.

Support for pupils and families

We do not underestimate how difficult the recent months have been for us all and we all will have been touched in some way by the coronavirus pandemic. We recognise the need to focus on pupils’ emotional wellbeing as well as their return to learning. We successfully welcomed children back in September and will use a similar approach in March.

Parents may wish to seek support for themselves from the following support agencies:

• Barnet Bereavement Service - 020 3759 4347 or email barnetbereavement@tiscali.co.uk - This organisation offers skilled counselling support to people who have been bereaved. Counselling is offered one hour per week either in the person's home at the office. There is no charge for the service
• Barnet Wellbeing Hub - For people who would like mental wellbeing support, Barnet Wellbeing Hub (based at the Meritage Centre, Church End, Hendon, London NW4 4JT) has moved all of its service provision online and via phone, including yoga classes, virtual wellbeing cafes and emotional health checks. To find out more call 03333 449088 or email: info@barnetwellbeing.or.ukExternal link.
• SilverCloud free online CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy). If you are experiencing anxiety, stress and sleep difficulties, SilverCloud are providing a free online CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) support programme. For further details, please visit their website at: https://beh.silvercloudhealth.com/signup/
• https://www.good-thinking.uk/ is a London-wide NHS digital wellbeing service designed to support low-level mental health needs. It offers digital self-assessment followed by a range of personalised, clinically approved digital and local interventions based on your preferences and location.

• Samaritans – call free 24 hours a day on 116 123
• National Domestic Abuse Helpline – call for free and confidential advice, 24 hours a day on 0808 2000 247
• Shelter provide free confidential information, support and legal advice on all housing and homelessness issues if you call 0330 0536 083 (please note, this is not a free phone number and your call will be charged). A free webchat is available at https://england.shelter.org.uk/get_help/webchat