Planning Ahead

Dear Parents and Carers,
I wanted to share some information with you, to reassure you all, that we are focusing on how school will re-open in September.
I would like to emphasise that the planning incorporates two starting points.

Plan A- a normal return to school, with the pupils moving onto their new year groups and teachers with a full -time timetable and attendance. It would be fantastic to be in this position.
BUT - it is apparent that the NI Executive will recommend a phased return to school, to ensure no second wave impact (imo)

 
Plan B - a phased restart to school , in lieu of the Covid 19 situation.
Restart programme planning& discussions are at DENI / EA level , at local principals level and at school level .
DENI & EA have suggested MON - TUE - children in school /WED - online /Thurs- Fri - children in school. Not all pupils would be in school at the same time. But we would ensure that all family members would be in school on the same day and same time slots. There would be effectively 4 groups of children. I am not sure how that would work in school to ensure a safe environment. I am aware that this isn’t an outcome for working parents either.
I have organised a meeting for each stakeholder group on Thursday 18th @ 4pm, in the school ,involving some of the staff, three Governors and four parents and myself.
We will focus on what a restart plan will involve/ look like and what best meets the needs of the children to ensure a safe environment.

Mrs Blaney has been busy ordering additional materials to ensure sufficient stocks are in place to maintain a safe environment for everyone.

It is important to engage and come up with a plan before the end of June. I will release a plan asap, and as long as ,NI executive make no dramatic changes.

How long the restart plan lasts ?????- we don’t know.
It may evolve over time ????- absolutely.

• P7 Pupils (20/21) early start - DENI /Minister Weir have mooted the possibility of priority groups returning on 17th August for P7 pupils – again – a plan is place to meet this need. I will update P7 parents ,asap, when confirmation is received from DENI .

• P6 Transfer meeting /zoom Q & A I sent out information to P6 parents regarding AQE /GL on Tuesday 9th- I’m sitting in on a Q & A session on Tuesday evening 16th for these parents , organised by Mr Whittaker, Parent Rep.

Finally, the situation may change as DENI make decisions at their level but we need to be able to have a proposal in place , in the event that it is left to local areas or schools.

any queries - email - info@stpatsps.holywood.ni.sch.uk