The Rudheath Senior Academy Middlewich Road, Rudheath, Northwich, Cheshire CW9 7DT Tel: 01606 42515 E-Mail: [email protected] Website: www.rudheathsenioracademy.org.uk Dear Parents/Carers, Re: Arrangements for September 2020 We welcome the decision by the government that will be mandatory for all students to return to school full time from September and the Rudheath staff team are looking forward to welcoming them back. Although the school will largely back to normal, there will be some changes. Schools have been asked to group students in bubbles by their respective year group. This means that students can have contact with others who are in the same year group only. In order to operate safely and within the government’s guidelines, Rudheath Senior Academy have had to rethink and reorganise some of the school day, as well as exploring issues around lesson transitions, breaks and lunchtimes. You can read the full government guidance here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the- coronavirusoutbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-school The school will reopen to Year 7 students on Thursday 3rd September. All remaining students in Year 8 – Year 11 will return on Friday 4th September. Tuesday and Wednesday of this week will be dedicated to staff training and final preparations for the reopening of the building. Structure of School Day On arrival, Year 7 students will be directed to go through the designated Year 7 entrance on Middlewich Road and go straight to their new designated Year 7 hub. Staff will be on hand to direct students to where they need to be. Year 8 – 11 will enter through their designated entrance, also on Middlewich Road, where they will be directed to meet with their tutors and Heads of Year. Any students who arrive after 8.45am will need to enter via the new pastoral entrance on Shipbrook Road (old school reception). All students will receive their timetable on their first day in September which will explain where they will be learning. For students who have used a face covering on public transport, they will be asked to remove them upon arrival on the school premises. In line with national guidance, pupils will be instructed not to touch the front of their face covering during use or when removing them. They must sanitise their hands immediately on arrival (as is the case for all pupils), dispose of temporary face coverings in a covered bin or place reusable face coverings in a plastic bag they can take home with them, and then wash their hands again before heading to their classroom. Year Group Zones As you will know, Rudheath Senior Academy has undergone an extensive rebuilding project. The larger site has enabled us to place year groups into dedicated teaching zones around the building. In some areas, refurbishment projects are continuing during the next academic year, resulting in some classrooms being out of use. Students will still be taught in sets where this takes place and in options subjects for Years 10- 11 and therefore the majority of students will move between classrooms within their zone dependent on their set or options choices but won’t be taught in a classroom outside of their zone. We will adapt our plans in line with guidance from the Department for Education. Uniform Students should wear their full school uniform. Current guidance indicates that uniform do not need to be cleaned any more often than usual, nor do they need to be cleaned using methods which are different from normal. The only amendments to the uniform policy is that all students must wear black shoes. Students who arrive at school in trainers will be asked to go home and return in appropriate footwear. 01244 566167 [email protected] The Coach House, Union Street, Chester, CH1 1QP The Rudheath Senior Academy Middlewich Road, Rudheath, Northwich, Cheshire CW9 7DT Tel: 01606 42515 E-Mail: [email protected] Website: www.rudheathsenioracademy.org.uk SEND Support From September, we are preparing to deliver a broad and balanced curriculum for all our students, including educational and care support for those students who require additional support. This means we expect all students to return to school including those with additional needs. For those students with an Education, Health and Care Plan, their individual Risk Assessment will be reviewed in light of the government’s updated guidance for schools. Teaching assistants will try to maintain social distancing within the classroom wherever possible, intervening only as and when necessary to provide educational and care support to those students who require it. From September, Lydia Garrett will join Rudheath Senior Academy as Acting Assistant Headteacher and SENCo; she will continue to liaise and work with relevant external support agencies in order to enable specialist staff to work with students who require continued support. Safety Measures Rudheath Senior Academy has been working with the North West Academies Trust and Cheshire West and Chester Local Authority to ensure that the safety of our pupils is prioritised. As well as the organisational changes outlined above, we have conducted a full risk assessment which we will regularly review. We will also ask students to sanitise their hands every time they enter and leave a classroom. We will continue to review these measures and communicate with you accordingly. In the event of a future partial or full closure of the school, we will continue the curriculum remotely. Since March, we have delivered and refined our online education through Microsoft Teams. I hope that this information provides you with the reassurances you need and that the arrangements we have put in place will mean that students and staff will be as safe as possible. I know the first days and weeks of term will be a challenge for us all but we will soon get into a routine which will enable our students to enjoy their lessons following what has been a significant disruption to their normal way of learning. Upon their return, students will have access to our brand-new classrooms and see first-hand the ongoing progress and commitment that is being made to ensure their education and learning surroundings are what they deserve. Whilst Covid-19 may have restricted access to education in some ways, I am confident that this September will be a bright and fresh start for the school in the next step of our exciting journey. Any questions you may have will be answered in our weekly bulletin, which will be communicated home each Friday from the start of the next academic year. This will also provide important updates about Rudheath and any amendments to the organisational changes that have been outlined. In the meantime, I hope that all our families have an enjoyable and safe summer holidays. We look forward to welcoming you back in September. Yours Sincerely Lee Barber Headteacher 01244 566167 [email protected] The Coach House, Union Street, Chester, CH1 1QP .