Plans to Reopen the School Following Lockdown Dear Parents / Carers

Home , Huish Episcopi, Langport, Wincanton

26 February 2021

RE: Plans to reopen the school following lockdown

Dear parents / carers,

The past two months in lockdown have been very challenging for all of us, particularly through the worst of the winter, but the days are getting longer, the weather improving and we are now able to plan the phased reopening of the school to all student from Monday 8 March. We are all very excited to have the pupils back with us and get back to delivering face to face teaching in our classrooms. Before we get to that point though there are some important stages to get through over the coming weeks. I have briefly outlined the programme of returning to school in this letter, so please do go through it carefully and contact us with any questions you have. I will write separately to parents and carers of pupils in exam years with more information on how centre assessed grading will work next week.

Testing The expectation from the government is that pupils (if consent is given) will be given three separate Lateral Flow Tests within two weeks of returning to school from the 8 March. These tests must be carried out between 3 and 5 days apart (including weekends). Carrying out over 4000 tests in two weeks as well as delivering lessons is going to be a significant challenge,

Positive test result Should a positive result be recorded for a pupil the following procedure will be followed: 1. Parents will be called and asked to collect the pupil immediately. 2. A member of staff will go to the classroom where the pupil is and ask to speak to them privately, informing them of their positive test result and of the need to leave the site and self-isolate for 10 days. A PCR test is not required. 3. The pupil will be escorted to main reception where they will await collection in the mezzanine area. PPE will need to worn by any member of staff dealing with the pupil.

Testing for pupils from 22 March Once the initial two weeks of lateral flow testing are complete (by Friday 19 March) and pupils have received the appropriate guidance and supervision during the required three tests in school, pupils will each be given home test kits, for testing twice weekly at home. Separate information will be provided to parents on this. Once home testing is up we will retain a small testing centre on site, to help pupils who are unable to administer the test themselves.

Testers Due to large number of tests required we will be using a combination of our own staff, volunteers and paid agency workers to conduct the testing. Please be assured that everyone involved will be trained appropriately, DBS checked (or supervised) and only academy staff will handle data.

Consent

Huish Episcopi Academy Wincanton Road, Langport, Somerset TA10 9SS Tel: 01458 250501 Fax: 01458 250262 Email: [email protected] Web: www.huishepiscopi.net Principal: Mr C J Wade BSc Registered in England and Wales: 7341553 Registered Office as above. Company limited by Guarantee. An exempt charity

Whilst it is important to inform you that testing is voluntary; we would encourage everyone to participate in the asymptomatic testing programme to help break transmission links by identifying those who may be carrying the virus unknowingly. When the consent forms are sent out next week, please respond as soon as possible so we can collate the information and make sure no one is collected for testing that does not have consent. Sixth form pupils will be contacted separately as they can give their own consent.

Return to lessons One of the requirements set out by the government is that pupils should not be accessing their normal timetable until they have returned a negative test result. As you can appreciate, this presents some challenges in accommodating large numbers each day, with growing numbers throughout the week. Due to this requirement, we aim to keep classes and year groups apart as much possible during the gradual introduction of pupils to the site for the first week; keeping year groups in learning zones as we did at the start of September for the whole of the first week back. This will mean pupils staying in one room on their first day in school, and remaining in the designated learning zone for the rest of that week with teachers moving around the site to deliver lessons. This is the only way we can hold pupils in one area away from the rest of their cohort and the wider school community as they return to school and take their initial lateral flow test. I know this is not ideal, but there is no other way and it will only be for one week.

Overview of return to school and implementation of rapid lateral flow tests As the table below shows, Year 12 & 13 will come in to school for their first test on Friday 5th March; they will then return to lessons on Monday 8th March. Year 11 will return to school on Monday 8 March, staying in their designated classroom for the day whilst they have their first lateral flow test, they will then have normal lessons from Tuesday 9 March, but remaining in their learning zone for the rest of the week. This pattern continues throughout the week with one year group starting back each day.

Date Fri Mon Tues Wed Thu Fri Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri 5th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 15th 16th 17th 18th 19th

Test 12 11 10 9 8 7 1 13 Test 12 13 11 10 8 7 2 9 Test 12 13 11 10 9 7 3 8

Year groups will be housed in learning zones (see table below) between 8-12 March only.

Key Worker Children (KWC) and Vulnerable Pupils (VP) will come to school as usual and will join their own year group on the day of return (Year 9 on Wednesday for example), but until then they will remain in their current group in the rooms allocated in the table below.

In order to allow for some teaching whilst testing is taking place on their first day in school, year groups will be grouped in linear blocks in Years 7-9, and by Science classes in year 10 & 11. Lessons will start during period 1 each day, but classes will be collected for testing throughout the morning. Classes should only be involved in testing for 10-15 minutes. On the day(s) following test day 1 year groups will go back to normal classes for their lessons, following a timetable within their learning zone.

Timings of lessons Due to the need to keep year groups in bubbles until further notice, we will need to maintain the school day timings we operated in the autumn term, with lessons running between 09.00 – 15.20 as set out below. The staggered breaks and lunchtimes will still be used until further notice.

The structure of the day will remain as it was in the Autumn term, as follows:

Time KS3 (Y7-9) KS4 (Y10-11) 09.00 – 10.00 Lesson 1 Lesson 1 10.00 – 11.00 Lesson 2 Lesson 2 11.00 - 11.15 Form Break 11.15 – 11.30 Break Form 11.30 – 12.30 Lesson 3 Lesson 3 12.30 -12.55 Form Lunch 12.55 -13.20 Lunch Form 13.20 – 14. 20 Lesson 4 Lesson 4 14.20 – 15.20 Lesson 5 Lesson 5

Social spaces within year groups and toilets for the first week only (8 – 12 March) On entry to the school pupils will wait in the allocated social spaces designated below and will be dismissed to their designated learning zones at 08.55. These social spaces will remain in place during break and lunchtimes for the first week only. Toilets o Year 7 –Science playground Science o Year 8 – Lower courts Playground Portaloos o Year 9 – Main playground Upper School o Year 10 – Science playground J Block o Year 11 – Main playground Lower School o Year 12 & 13 – Sixth Form Café Sixth Form

Social spaces within year groups and toilets from 15 March From 15 March we will go back to the social spaces and toilets used in the Autumn term.

Toilets o Year 7 – Upper school hall / Quad Upper School o Year 8 – Lower courts and lower field Lower school o Year 9 – Main playground Science o Year 10 – Science playground and lower field J Block o Year 11 – Main playground Playground portaloos o Year 12 & 13 – Sixth Form Café

Tutor groups and pastoral care During the first week, apart from the first day of testing (in designated classes) pupils will be in their year based tutor group and will be designated a form room within their learning zone for the week. From the second week (15 March) normal year based tutor groups in timetabled form rooms will be in place.

Face coverings

From 8 March the DfE recommends that face coverings should be worn by adults and pupils when moving around the premises, outside of classrooms, such as in corridors and communal areas where social distancing cannot easily be maintained. Face coverings do not need to be worn when outdoors on the premises. This is something we have managed effectively since the start of the year. In addition to this however, the DfE now also recommends that face coverings should be worn in classrooms or during other activities unless social distancing (2m apart) can be maintained. This does not apply in situations where wearing a face covering would impact on the ability to take part in exercise or strenuous activity, for example in PE lessons. Our approach will be to recommend pupils wear face coverings in lessons where social distancing is not possible, however, we do understand that some pupils will find this very difficult, so there will be no sanction for not complying with this recommendation.

The government says that this additional precautionary measure will be in place until Easter, at which point it will be reviewed and updated guidance issued.

Some individuals are exempt from wearing face coverings. This applies to those who: • cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering because of a physical impairment or disability, illness or mental health difficulties • speak to or provide help to someone who relies on lip reading, clear sound or facial expression to communicate

Pupils may wish to wear a lanyard (available on request) to make it clear that they are exempt, but this is not a requirement.

Break and Lunch times We will still operate a system of pre-booking lunchtime meals and the lower canteen will remain closed at break and lunchtime to pupils; unless allocated as a dedicated space for a year group during poor weather. As we move through the different levels of restriction towards full easing we will make decisions on when to start offering hot and cold meals across different locations. Break and lunch times for pupils will be spent in an allocated social area for each year group ‘bubble’ as detailed earlier. No food or drink will be available from the canteen during morning break (pupils will be expected to bring their own water and snacks), but water will be available in each of the teaching zones throughout the day (additional water coolers have been installed within each teaching zone). Lunch will be in the form of pre-ordered (via the website) hot or cold meals and will be prepared and named ready for delivery to the social areas at lunch time. Parents will need to ensure the Wisepay account has sufficient funds to pay for the pre-ordered meal. Pupils will need to collect their lunch from the following designated areas:

Upper Kitchen 12.30 - Year 11's 12.55 - Year 7's Lower Kitchen 12.30 - Year 10's 12.55 - Year 8's Gym Corridor 12.55 - Year 9's

Returning to learning The initial two weeks of pupils returning will be very disjointed, so there will be the need for a lot of flexibility by all members of the school community so that problems that may occur can be dealt with efficiently. During the week commencing 8 March it will not be possible to run

live lessons due to staff being in school and the growing number of face to face lessons throughout the week. As a consequence, all work for classes not in school that week will be put on the google classroom, with a full return to face to face lessons the following week. Where possible classrooms will remain arranged with rows of desks facing the teacher, in keeping with government guidance, which also states that teachers must remain at the front of the class and at least 2m from the pupils at all times. It will still be necessary to use seating plans so we know where every pupil is sitting for contact tracing purposes, and to ensure that we deliver the appropriate support to the pupils who need it. All pupils will be expected to follow the seating plan as directed by their class teacher.

Extra-curricular activities The running of after school clubs, activities and academic sessions is only permitted if it is as a child care replacement (as identified in the government guidance) once pupils start back from the 8 March. So, as in the previous return from lockdown we will not be running any additional activities at the moment. As soon as this changes we will start running extra- curricular activities once again.

Cleanliness Hand sanitisers will still be available for every teaching room and must be used when pupils enter and exit. Cleaning equipment will also be available in each classroom for use during the day.

The end of the school day The current system at the end of the day will remain in place. Pupils will make their way to the Year group social areas and await to be dismissed from there.

As mentioned previously, if you have any concerns or questions about the return of pupils to school in the next few weeks, please do contact us so we can support you and your families in getting all the pupils back to full time learning on site.

Best wishes

Chris Wade Principal