On Monday 22nd February 2021 all nursery and Primary 1-3 children return to school. We are looking forward to welcoming the youngest learners back to school and continuing to teach P4-7 children remotely.
Nursery
There are no changes in procedure for children returning to Nursery. Please wear a face covering in the grounds of the school and nursery. If you have any queries, please contact the school to speak with someone in the Nursery staff team.
P3/4 Room 5
Primary 3 children in Room 5 return to learning in school on Monday. Primary 4 children will continue to learn remotely. Mrs Gray and Mrs McGee will teach Primary 3 learners in school. Mr Loveday will teach Primary 4 learners remotely. Mrs Gray, Mrs McGee and Mr Loveday will work closely together to ensure that there is continuity of learning for Primary 4 pupils whilst ensuring all children in the class benefit from direct teaching and learning opportunities. This will continue until Primary 4 learners are able to return to learning in school.
Homework
The staff at Heathery Knowe are very grateful for the support offered to children while they have been learning remotely. At a time when our young learners are returning to learning in school all day and settling back into routines, we have decided that homework activities will not be set during the month of March. This is intended to be supportive to families who have older siblings that continue to learn remotely and to P1-3 learners who will be tired as they settle back into school life.
Teachers will suggest optional activities such as home reading, revising sounds and counting activities.
PE Arrangements
The Scottish Government has advised that all PE must be outdoors at the moment as South Lanarkshire Council remains in tier 4. Please provide your child with jogging trousers/ leggings, trainers and a sweater for PE. PE kit should be brought to school to change into. If your child is timetabled for PE at 9am they will be able to wear it to school but should bring a uniform to change into afterwards. If your child is timetabled for PE at 2pm they will be able to wear their PE kit home and will bring their uniform home in their school bag.
There are no changes to PE times and days from the start of session.
Chromebooks
All P1-3 children with school chromebooks should return them to school on Monday morning. Mrs McGee will undertake maintenance of the chromebooks and reissue to families who qualified for permanent loan based on individual circumstances.
Drop Off Arrangements
We reviewed the procedures for dropping children off in the morning and can advise our updated arrangements are as follows:
- Adults must wear a face covering unless exempt from doing so. Older siblings walking to school and then returning home for remote learning should remain close to parents and try to stay 2m from friends. I understand this is a big ask of children however our priority is reducing the risk of transmission.
- The playground is supervised and children can enter from 8.30am using the middle gate. Please note toilet facilities are not available until 8.45am (unless there is an emergency).
- Classroom doors will open at 8.45am and pupils should all arrive by 9am. Children can arrive earlier however need to form a line at the classroom door rather than playing in the playground area to prevent classes mixing with one another.
- Children should enter the nearest gate on arrival at school and are asked to sanitise their hands at the gate. There are gates open at the Nursery side, cafeteria and MUGA pitch.
- Please ensure children arriving by car can be dropped off quickly so that the drop off zone flows as freely as possible.
Pick Up Arrangements
We reviewed the procedures for collecting children in the afternoon and can advise our updated arrangements are as follows:
- The cafeteria gate will be opened at the end of the day as an exit only gate. Please enter via the MUGA pitch gate.
- School gates will not be opened until 2.55pm as classes will be using the playground areas for PE until this time.
- Please use the 2m bumble bee markers / spots to support social distancing while waiting for children at meeting points.
- Only one adult per family should enter the school grounds to collect children. This is to support social distancing of adults and ensure our school community is safe and protected from Coronavirus.
- Please wear a face covering in the school grounds if possible.
Lunch Arrangements
Lunch is now staggered to ensure all the safety measures are in place to reduce the risk of transmission of Coronavirus.
- Lunch sitting 1 is 12.10pm-1pm
- Lunch sitting 2 is 12.30-1.20pm
- Children must sit with their class whilst in the cafeteria. each child has a numbered seat to assist with track and trace. Unfortunately, whilst children do not need to socially distance from one another, we are required to keep groups of children separated.
- The cafeteria cannot accept cash and all lunch payments must be made using ParentPay. Children entitled to means tested free school meals are automatically offered milk. Children paying for milk, must book on using ParentPay.
- If the weather is dry, P5-7 pupils who bring a packed lunch are able to make a choice about whether to eat outside or at the packed lunch area inside. If you would like your child to always eat their lunch inside, please let the school know this is your preference.
- P1-4 pupils will always eat packed lunches indoors.
- If you have any special dietary requirements (intolerances, allergies, health conditions, halal, vegan), please request a form from the school office and this will enable the catering staff to design a menu for your child.
Playground Arrangements
The playground is zoned and each class will rotate around the zones during the week. Children need to play with the children in their class and in the designated area until further notice.
Summer arrangements
The staff and pupils are beginning to plan events for the Summer term. We are requesting views of parents at the initial planning stage on the following events:
- Primary 7 Leaver Ceremony
- Nursery Leaver Ceremony / Graduation
- Alternative to Shorts and Shades Disco and Summer Fayre
- Fundraising
- Primary 1 induction days
- Residential Experience
- Sports Day
- Parent consultation meetings.
- Other ideas
Please use the following link to share your views:
https://forms.gle/XAimKaLcpjBsqJh99
Thank you for your continued support.
Kind regards
Kirsty Duff
