Byfleet Primary Newsletter

• The children have seen noticeable differences since returning to school this term. Firstly, they no longer are in 'bubbles' - they are able to mix with other classes, hence the staggered start/end to the day no longer being used.

• Children are able to complete more group activities and practical tasks and assemblies can take place with several year groups in the hall (we will hopefully move to whole school assemblies in due course).

• One-way systems continue to be used as this has helped with congestion in the corridors.

• We have a 'soft' start to the school day: Reception start at 8.30 and all other year groups at 8.35 with the official start of the day being 8.45. Reception are collected at 2.55 and all other year groups at 3pm. Thank you for continuing to use our one-way system around our school site. Please continue to distance yourself from others and we encourage mask wearing during busier periods.

• We will continue to maintain good hygiene/handwashing, additional cleaning and ensure there is good ventilation. The government is providing us with carbon dioxide devices for each class to ensure that we are able to regulate ventilation. This will be key to continue minimising risk and possible transmission. We will keep this situation under review and adjust as necessary. Our risk assessment is available on our school website.

• Anyone displaying a potential Covid19 symptom will be required to take a PCR test (not administered at school) and isolate until they receive a negative result. Remote education using Google Classroom will be provided as necessary.

• Staff will continue to take 2 weekly lateral flow tests each week, until further notice.

• If you wish to speak to the class teacher, they will be available at the end of the school day at collection time. Alternatively, you may email info@byfleet.surrey.sch.uk. Please liaise with Mrs Sopp or Mrs Creswick in the office for any general queries, and they will happily assist you. If you are attending a meeting in school, we would request that you wear a face covering.

Minimising Risk

• Your support over the last 18 months has been appreciated. We are not out of the woods yet. Please help us by ensuring your children are tested if they have any symptoms. If you are unsure and would like advice, please contact the school for advice. We will do everything we can to minimise disruption to education.

• In the updated guidance, you may have heard that children under 18 years and 6 months, do not have to isolate if someone else in the household has tested positive for Covid19. However, please know that the guidance recommends that all members of the household should have a PCR test and receive a negative result (providing it is negative - isolation is not needed). This is also the case for fully vaccinated adults.

• If you, as a parent/carer, have tested positive but your child is negative and attending school, you would need to ensure another carer/relative escorts your child to and from school. If you test positive you should not be on school site - even outdoors.

• In many ways it feels as though we are all finally making progress and moving on from Covid19 however it has not gone - and we must not be complacent. We are adjusting to some sense of normal cautiously and be assured we are monitoring the situation carefully.

• I am very proud of our community - children, parents/carers, staff and governors - and how we have worked together through recent times. I am confident we will have a lot to celebrate this year, and I look forward to our continued success together.

A message from the Rotary Club of Woking......

On the 10th October we will be holding the annual Woking Swimathon at the Pool in the Park, Woking, raising funds for local charities.

It is a non competitive fun event made up of teams of up to 6 swimmers who take it in turn to swim just one length at a time. It isn't necessary for each swimmer to swim the same number of lengths but on average each swimmer does approx. 10-20 lengths during just under 1 hour. Each team member gets sponsorship for the teams total number of lengths swum, anything up to 100 lengths or more.

Each team member who takes part will be given a commemorative medal. Several local schools normally take part in the event, sometimes entering more than one team.

If you think that any particular year groups at Byfleet Primary School would be interested in participating in the event, please arrange this via your class Whatsapp groups and keep us informed so that we can do a 'shout out' for our children.

For any further information, please contact our chief organiser Terry Smith MBE on 01483 762832 or: terry@wychstar.co.uk

Keith Tatlock, The Rotary Club of Woking on 01932 349803

• A new phonics reading approach is being trialled at Byfleet this term and Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 pupils are currently being assessed by their teachers to ensure they are provided with 3 reading books a weeks that are at the appropriate level for their reading phase - please bear with us in the coming week as we finalise this, before we send home phonics books. Phonics phase reading books will be sent out shortly for you to read daily with your child at home.

• Children in Year 3 - 6 will already have a book(s) to read daily as part of home reading. Please could you ensure daily home reading is being recorded in their diaries (year 3 - 6 are old enough to write this independently) and Reception - Year 2 adults may help their children to record this.

• We have introduced a new 'daily reading reward system' as a whole-school approach to further encourage daily reading and instill a love of reading for our pupils. Further details will be sent out in our next newsletter.

• We are aware that we sent out the PE timetable before the start of term but have had to unfortunately make a few changes, which we apologise for. Please find the final PE timetable below.

• Information regarding clubs for this term will be sent out early next week.

• There will be some exciting new clubs including 'Nutritional Ninjas' - please see flyer for further information.