Dear Family and Friends of Crossmichael Primary School,

Covid- 19 Updates to Risk Assessments

At school we have been updating our risk assessments.  It is likely that in the future there may be times when some pupils or a class has to isolate.  So that we can minimise the number of pupils who may have to isolate in the event of someone testing positive, we have made some changes.

 

The school playground is now divided into two ‘zones’ with P1/2 and P2-4 playing at the back of the school (supervised by Mrs Jennings and Mrs Stitt) and P4/5 and P6/7 at the front of the school (supervised by Mrs Cowan and Mrs Clifton).  Mr McWilliam (janitor) will also be in the playground.  Pupils should make their way to their zone when they arrive at school in the morning.  Pupils will play in their zones during play time and lunch time.

 

At lunch time, we have two sittings.  The first sitting is at 12pm for P4/5 and P6/7 (supervised by Mrs Cowan and Mrs Clifton).  The second sitting is at 12.30pm for P1/2 and P2-4 (supervised by Mrs Jennings and Mrs Stitt).  Pupils will sit at tables with their classmates.  Tables are wiped down between sittings.

 

Pupils who travel to and from school by bus, should ensure that P4/5 and P6/7 pupils sit at the back of the bus and P1/2 and P2-4 pupils at the front of the bus.

 

I have spoken to our children about this very sensitively.

I explained that adults are wearing masks because we are following advice from the Scottish Government.  We do not want to spread germs like coronavirus.

I explained that if someone in the class tested positive for Covid-19 then it was likely that the whole class would have to be sent home to isolate (dependent on advice from the Public Health Team).  If classes mix together then more of us would have to be sent home and we don’t want that to happen.  This is why we are minimising contact between class ‘bubbles’.

At lunch time and in the playground, we have two classes who are mixing together but they are not sitting together and are outside when playing so the likelihood of spreading germs to each other is reduced.

I finished by reminding pupils that they have control in helping us to stop coronavirus from spreading.  I reminded them of how fantastic they are at washing hands, using hand gel and staying in their class bubbles.

 

At the end I asked pupils to show me how anxious/ worried they were feeling by raising their thumbs up, down or in the middle.  It is interesting to note that approximately quarter of our children are feeling confident, half are feeling a bit worried and a quarter are feeling very anxious.  I then listened to their questions and answered them.  They said they felt more settled afterwards.

We will continue to reassure pupils in school but it may be helpful for parents. guardians to look again at the resources available to support children.  You can find some helpful resources on our Partnership Schools’ Blog:

https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/dg/candg/advice-page-coronavirus-support/

As always, please contact the school if you wish to discuss anything further.

 

Best wishes,

Mary E Lidstone-Scott

Headteacher