Dear parents/carers

I would like to say an enormous thank you for everything you have done to support the school and your children this year. It has certainly been a strange one! Thank you to those of you who have worked hard on home schooling, and thank you to those of you who have been able to send your children back into school, and thank you to all of the keyworkers who have kept everything going whilst we have been in lockdown. Also, a special goodbye to our wonderful Year 6 children, and to those parents whose association with The Tynings has now come to an end. We wish you all well.

SEPTEMBER PLANS

When we return in September, we have been advised to work on the principle of ‘minimum contact.’ The children will continue to be in ‘bubbles’ but we are able to increase the size of these to make school as normal as possible. Children will therefore return to school in class groups – the expectation is that everyone should be back in school.

Our bubbles are, on the whole, year group bubbles, which enables us to stagger the start and end of day, break times and lunchtimes. For break time and lunchtime, the children will be in larger groups, with EYFS, Y1 and Y2 outside at the same time, Y3 & 4 at the same time, and Y5 & 6 at the same time. Staggering the start and end of day enables us to minimise the number of people on site at one time, and support social distancing.

Children in EYFS, Y1, Y3, and Y5 will start school at 8.45 and finish at 3.10 as normal.

Children in Y2, Y4 and Y6 will start at 9.00 and end at 3.25pm.

Where you have children who fall into both of these groups, you could aim to arrive at 8.55 to help reduce your waiting time.

After school club will begin on Wednesday 2^nd September; the usual booking system applies. Breakfast club is a little more complicated so will not begin until Monday 7^th September. In the past, we have been able to allow children to turn up at breakfast club without any booking facility, however from September we need to know how many children we will be having to keep children in bubbles, so we are asking you to give us advance notice if you wish to use this facility. Please email the school office by every Friday to let us know what you will need the following week. Please also pay using SIMS Pay, as we will not be handling any money in school. For the actual breakfast, we are negotiating a flat fee with Aspens for children to choose what breakfast they want.

School dinners will be provided as usual, but with a different menu in place. (See attached) This menu will run every week until the October holiday, so please ignore the dates at the top and the fact it says "week one".  We have grouped the children to minimise contact and lunchtimes will be staggered.

https://thetynings.schoolzineplus.co.uk/_file/media/2514/aspens_menu.pdf

Tuck will not be running initially. Please provide your child with a piece of fruit if they wish to have a snack at break time. Please note – this should only be fruit.

Equipment: Your child will need their water bottle and their packed lunch if they are having one. We will provide pens, pencils etc so they will not need to bring in a pencil case; please do not bring in school bags either.

An updated risk assessment will be placed on the website after we have completed our consultations with staff. As always, our ultimate aim is to keep your children safe whilst they are in school.

SUMMER EVENTS

Introducing Billie Eillish, Homer Simpson and Woody!

Our three scarecrows will be on display at the front of the school from August 6^th – 9^th as part of the Staple Hill and surroundings Scarecrow trail. I hope you enjoy looking out for others in the area too!

Reading Challenge – don’t forget to take part in this year’s summer reading challenge. https://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/. The theme for the Challenge is “Silly Squad” – a celebration of funny books, happiness and laughter. The Summer Reading Challenge website will be free to access and a place where children can rate and review their books and work towards their reading goal. It will also feature video content, games, quizzes and digital and downloadable activities to incentivise and encourage children and their families to take part in the Challenge at home.

We will not be asking you to record reading in school diaries over the summer, but would love to see as many of you as possible take part in the challenge!

Speaking of reading, here are this week’s stories from class teachers – please enjoy listening to all of them!

Finally, I would like to wish you all a very happy, safe school holiday. I am looking forward to September, when hopefully there will be a greater sense of normality to life at The Tynings. I hope everyone is able to have a break this summer, and that we have the sunny weather we all deserve!

Lois Haydon, Head Teacher