Schools ‘all ready’ for reopening

Headteacher Andrew Smith EMN-200828-130020001

It has been almost six months since schools closed their doors to pupils when the Covid-19 lockdown began back in  March.

But this week all pupils will be welcomed back to lessons - with some special precautions to keep staff and students safe.

Executive headteacher of Market Rasen and Nettleton Primary Schools Andrew Smith said staff at both schools would be trained on new routines  and ‘fully ready’ for the new term.

Mr Smith said: “We are all ready to go.

“We have a comprehensive reopening plan that follows the DfE [Department for Education] guidelines and a very detailed risk  assessment.

“Staff have been consulted fully on both documents.

“We have sent information to parents about our plans and have answered any individual questions they have to reassure them.

“Our parental response has been overwhelmingly  positive.

“We will be treating each class as its own bubble and they will not meet other  bubbles.

“Adults will be assigned to bubbles.

“We will have staggered start times, finish times, playtimes and lunchtimes.

“We have organised extra cleaning in the day and at the end of the day.

“All staff will be having two days training on new routines, Covid-19 safety and pupil wellbeing to ensure we are fully ready to welcome all of our children back.

“Naturally we are cautious but we feel we are as well prepared as we can be to restart our children’s education, which is a priority.”

Throughout the lockdown schools were open for the children of key workers, and from June children from reception, Year 1 and Year 6 were also able to return.

At Market Rasen Primary School, a total of 104 children were at school in June.

Mr Smith said: “When we brought more children back on June 1 it went very smoothly and we are hoping and expecting this will go just as well.”

Back in June, 50 per cent of reception pupils went back to school, 62 per cent of Year 1 pupils returned and 57 per cent of children in Year 6.

This represents 22 out of 44 children in reception, 28 out of 45 pupils in Year 1 and 24 out of 42 in Year 6.