Dear Parent and Carers,
Welcome back and I hope you all were able to have a restful half term. Following the Government’s announcement this week, we are very happy to confirm we will be welcoming all our pupils back to school on Monday 8th March.
As you know, operating a staggered start and end to our school day helps to avoid large groups gathering and keeps everyone safe. Please drop your children off on time and collect them promptly, leaving the school site as soon as possible. Arrangements remain the same as they were before lockdown:
Nursery: (AM) Drop off 8.30 Pick up 11.30. (PM) Drop off 12.45 - 1.00. Pick up 3.45
Reception: Drop off 8.45 Pick up 3.00- Front playground (via front Reception gate).
Year 1: Drop off 9.00 Pick up 3.30 - Middle playground (via front Office gate).
Year 2: Drop off 8.45 Pick up 3.15 - Middle playground (via front Office gate).
Year 3: Drop off 8.30 Pick up 3.00 - Middle playground (via front Office gate).
Year 4: Drop off 9.00 Pick up 3.30 - Top playground (via back Sheppy Place gate).
Year 5: Drop off 8.45 Pick up 3.15 - Top playground (via back Sheppy Place gate).
Year 6: Drop off 8.30 Pick up 3.00 - Top playground (via back Sheppy Place gate).
Social distancing:
We shall ask you to continue to maintain social distancing when bringing/collecting your child at school and that you also leave the site as swiftly as possible. Please ensure you wear a mask at all times while on the site. Routines in school will continue to minimize movement around the rooms and corridors and there will be no whole school gatherings in the hall. You must stick closely to the staggered start and finish times for the different year groups, as it is difficult for staff to remain at the entrances for prolonged periods.
School office:
The office will remain closed - unless you have a pre-arranged appointment. Please continue to use the telephone and email system for communication at this time.
Phone: 01474 534540 Email: office@wrotham-road.kent.sch.uk
Catching up
For the first few weeks, our main priority will be to settle all our children back into the routines of school life. This will also be a period of information gathering to find out where gaps in knowledge lie and then we will make plans to address these. However, we will continue to offer our full, ambitious curriculum throughout.
Healthy and Safety:
Over the last few weeks all staff have undergone regular Lateral flow testing to help minimise the transmission risk in school and to help maintain the two class bubbles. This process has provided both reassurance for individual staff members and for the school in its efforts to reduce transmissions and to provide our community with the safest possible environment for work and study.
Home Learning:
The staff and I have been very impressed with the efforts of pupils in their remote learning and we are aware that this work is underpinned by the unwavering support of parents. We recognise that this period has been far from easy and we thank you for your commitment to making this period of online learning as successful as possible.
Staffing:
We will sadly be saying goodbye to Mrs Nicky Catlow, our SENCO, at the end of this term. She has decided to move on to a new school in Bexley and we wish her all the best in her new position. In the meantime, Mrs Phillips who has been amazing over the last year supporting our families will be working alongside Mr Bennett and I to take on the SENCO role until we find a replacement.
World Book Day:
We will be celebrating World Book Day on Thursday 4th March and it is certainly going to look a little different this year. It is strange to think that World Book Day 2020 was when we started heading in to the first school closure! Now that we have Vimeo, teachers will be reading their favourite book to you and if you want to dress up and post your photos to the Purple Mash blog - please do so!
Just a reminder that the school website is www.wrotham-road.kent.sch.uk which has all the relevant letters and information you will need to know. Our blog address is wrpsblog.blogspot.co.uk and is updated weekly
Finally, but very importantly, if anyone in your household demonstrates symptoms of Covid-19, your family must follow current guidelines on isolation. Anyone exhibiting symptoms will not be allowed to enter school. Full guidance can be found on the Government website https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus.
Many thanks for all your support and the many positive comments over the last week. Stay safe as we look forward to a successful start to the term.
Kind Regards,
Sarah Jack
Headteacher
