Dear Parents and Carers

I write to you today in the sincere hope that this is our last day when our children will be separated and that when they all return on Monday we can carefully provide all our children with the face to face attention and support that they have been used to.

Our teachers and support staff have scrutinised the plan that I sent to you last week and we see no need to make any adjustments at this time and I would ask you to familiarise yourself with them once again to ensure as smooth a return as possible.   With this in mind clearly parking will be an issue but I do hope it will not develop into a problem.  As the weather continues to improve if you are unable to walk please consider parking away from school and you are most welcome to use the MCA car park at the top of the lane and walk to school with your child. 

I shall not repeat the information sent to you last week as you should have it to hand on your phones but it is also available on our school website under our Corona Virus Tab. 

School Uniform – I have no intention of making demands around winter or summer school uniforms but simply ask that your children attend school as they always have done wearing a school uniform and school shoes as they always have done.  Please support me and the governors by ensuring that jewellery is not worn and particularly earrings as children will be unable to take part in school swimming lessons as well as PE and sports activities.

PE Days

We have tried to keep as much of our previous arrangements the same, some slight adjustments may have been required to ensure equal provision for all children. 

We are pleased to be able to offer our children the following PE and After School opportunities until further notice and it is our intention to include our reception children in an after school club later in the Summer Term.  Please ensure that your children come to school in their PE Kit including tracksuit on their PE/Sports day.

Days         PE - Afternoons                     After School Clubs until 4.15pm

Monday    Reception – Sam                   Year 5 & 6 Boys Football – Sam –                                                                      Separate Pitches

Tuesday   Year 5 – Sam                         Year 5 Circuit Training and Batting                                                                   Sports – Sam

Wednesday Year 4 – Swimming with      Year 4 Rounders – Sam                                        Sam followed by PE

                   Year 2 – Active Soccer        Year 2 Multi Sports and Team                                Coach                                  Games - Active Soccer Coach

Thursday    Year 4 – Violins in Hall         

                   Year 1 – Sam                      Year 1 Multi Sports and Team                                                                           Games – Sam

                   Year 6 – Miss Couzens       Year 6 Tag Rugby – Miss Couzens

Friday         Year 3 – Sam                      Year 3 Rounders – Mr MacAreavy

                                                               Year 5 & 6 Girls Football – Sam –                                                                     Separate Pitches

You will notice that we have arranged most PE days to match after school classes to maximise their participation by not having to change their clothing.

Parents evening on Zoom - We have decided to have individual parents meetings the week beginning 15^th March in much the same way as we did in the Autumn Term.  Teachers will contact you next week to arrange a suitable time.

The DfE have just released information regarding Rapid Lateral Flow Testing for adults living with school aged children or school staff. If you would like to engage in this worthwhile scheme to undertake two home tests per week please see the information below.  These tests are for adults only and school children should not participate in this government scheme.

How to get a rapid lateral flow test

There are different ways to get a test for school staff, pupils, and members of their households, childcare and support bubbles in England who do not have symptoms of coronavirus.

Members of households, childcare or support bubbles of school staff and pupils

This section does not apply to secondary school pupils, and primary and secondary school staff, who should take twice-weekly tests using home test kits provided by their school.

From 1 March 2021, if you’re a member of a household, childcare bubble or support bubble of staff or a pupil you can get a twice-weekly test:

• through your employer if they offer testing to employees. Primary Schools do not offer this service.
• at a local test site
• by collecting a home test kit from a test site
• by ordering a home test kit online

Get a test through your employer

Your workplace may offer rapid lateral flow testing to you. Contact your employer to find out more.  Please do not contact your child’s primary school.

Take a test at a rapid lateral flow test site

You can take a rapid lateral flow test at a local site. Testing at these sites is assisted, which means you will swab yourself under the supervision of a trained operator.

You may need to book an appointment.

Find your nearest rapid lateral flow test site

Collect test kits

You can collect 2 packs of home test kits at a local collection point. Each pack contains 7 tests.

Anyone 18 or over can collect.  Please be reminded your child’s primary school is not a collection point.

Most collection points are open from 1.30pm to 7pm. You can check online if the location is open or busy before you go. You do not need to make an appointment.

Do not visit a collection point outside opening hours, as it may be used to test people with coronavirus symptoms outside these times.

Find your nearest home test kit collection point.

Order home test kits online

If you cannot get tested at your workplace, or are unable to go to a test site or collect test kits, you can order a home test kit online.

Do not order online if you can get a test through other methods. This frees up home delivery for those who need it most.

Order rapid lateral flow home test kits

What twice-weekly testing involves

You will be asked to:

• take a test twice a week (every 3 or 4 days apart)
• report every result to NHS Test and Trace on the same day you take the test

Report your test result online or by calling 119.

If anyone tests positive or gets coronavirus symptoms, they should tell the school and:

• self-isolate immediately
• get a PCR test to confirm the result
• follow the stay at home guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection

A negative result means the test did not find signs of coronavirus. But this does not guarantee you do not have coronavirus, so you should keep following all coronavirus advice including:

• regular handwashing
• social distancing
• wearing a face covering where recommended

Our nearest test sites are Aintree Race Course, Kirkby Leisure Centre and Edge Hill University

Although we are all looking forward to our children being back where they belong there is much good work within our community that must continue if we are to enjoy what we hope will be a more normal summer and indeed future.  It is most encouraging that the Covid rates per 100,000 in Sefton are below 100 and continue to fall and we all want this figure to further reduce and therefore we must continue with our social distancing, the wearing of face coverings and hand washing. 

On a personal note this has been an unusual period in our lives and one that I am sure we shall never forget, although I hope that the support that we have given to each other will continue in the future and that we may all step back and consider how we so often take things for granted until we are deprived of them.  I have no doubt there may be a few personal wobbles along the way and I shall continue to be available to you from 7.00am in the morning where you are most welcome to contact me in which every way you feel appropriate.  Can I thank you again for your support and I wish you a peaceful weekend as we look forward to what will no doubt be a unique and happy Monday.

Yours sincerely

Mr D MacAreavy - Headteacher