Critical Worker Childcare

Dear parents / carers

I can now confirm we will open tomorrow (Wednesday 5th January) for the children of critical workers. Please read this letter carefully for information on how the childcare will be organised.

Critical Workers
All families who completed the Critical Worker Google Form shared with parents on Monday have been accepted for a childcare place. This form is now closed and all places have been allocated.

Childcare for Other Reasons
We will contact any families directly where we feel children could benefit from time in school. This could be due to a wide range of reasons which we will discuss with you.

Start and Finish Times and Entrances
Critical Worker Childcare (CWC) will be open for the standard school day (8.45am – 3.25pm). All start and finish times will remain the same with the exception of Year 3 who will now finish at 3.20pm. We ask parents to arrive and depart promptly and observe social distancing in the yards, wearing a face covering while on site.

Lunches
We are currently in discussion with LA Catering Services as we would like normal school meals to continue. However, this is something they have chosen not to provide this week. ALL children must come to school with a packed lunch for this week . We will update you with further information as soon as we can.

Children’s Belongings
Your child may continue to bring any items they need for the day into school. This includes a clearly named water bottle and packed lunch. Children must bring a coat each day as the weather is currently very cold. Your child may come to school in either their school uniform or their school PE kit.

The Timetabled Day
Children will have the opportunity to complete their remote learning during the day. The rest of the day will then be spent doing other activities including lunch and some outdoor time. Children will be in their own class with a member of their class staff team – this will be their teacher on some days and teaching assistant on others. We have kept children in their own classes to reduce bubble sizes and reduce the number of children that will need to be sent home if a member of the bubble received a positive COVID test. Children will also stay in their own class bubble for breaks and lunch time.

Booking
While your child has secured a place at CWC, you do not have to take this place every day. You must book your child into childcare for whichever days you require. This is to allow staff to plan for which children will be in school and for safeguarding reasons. Both the children of critical workers and children who have been invited to attend by school staff for other reasons should book in this way. Booking should be done via the School Gateway app no later than midday for the following day. To make your bookings, follow these steps:
Open School Gateway
Tap home
Tap ‘Clubs’
Tap ‘CWC’
Tap ‘Make a booking’
Select the days you require (this can be done in advance for the week or term if you prefer)
Tap ‘Make a booking’
Tap ‘Book’
If you are having trouble accessing the app or making a booking, please contact the school office where a member of staff will assist you.

If you are a critical worker and require childcare tomorrow (Wednesday 6th January), you must book tonight. Booking is now open and will remain open until 10.00pm. If you have any difficulties using Gateway tonight, please email school to confirm your child will be attending.

Out of School Club
We are pleased to still be able to offer OOSC to children of our critical workers. Arrangements for OOSC will remain the same this week although the club will close at 5.00pm each day. There will be some minor organisational changes from next week, but we can confirm that both breakfast and after school club will be open. Further information will follow by Friday.

Thank you for your patience while we have put these plans in place to support your children in school.

Kate Byrne
Headteacher

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