Dear Marlborough Families,
A very warm welcome back to the academic year. It has been so very special to welcome the children back to school over the past few days. To see the children playing together on the playground once more and hear their excited chatter and laughter has been just magical. Thank you so much for putting your trust in the Marlborough team. I imagine the full time return to school for your children has caused you mixed emotions; worry about your child’s safety and joy that they are finally back learning and with their friends. The team has worked so hard to create a safe but welcoming and nurturing learning environment for the children. It will take us all a little while to adjust the changes that have been put into place but at heart we are still very much Marlborough!
Covid-19 – Our collective responsibility as a community
I believe that we have a collective responsibility to keep everyone in the Marlborough community safe. As a school we have put numerous safety measures in place to ensure that we do our utmost to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus. However, we will only be successful if everyone in the school community supports us by closely following the guidance from the Welsh Government and Public Health Wales.
If your child has one of the following symptoms, they are to remain off school and you are to arrange a test for them as soon as possible
- High temperature
- New continuous cough
- A loss of taste or smell
Symptoms – https://gov.wales/check-if-you-need-coronavirus-medical-help
How to apply for a test – https://gov.wales/apply-coronavirus-covid-19-test#section-42332
Self-Isolating: Your entire household must self-isolate until one of the following criteria is met:
- The person with symptoms has a negative test
- The self-isolation period is completed
If your child has a negative test, they may be unwell with a cold or bug. You will need to assess the severity of the symptoms as to whether they should be kept off school until they are better.
Dealing with a suspected case in school
If a pupil has any Covid symptoms, they will be taken to an isolation room. There is an isolation room in each zone of the school. A member of staff will accompany the child, the staff member will wear appropriate PPE. Parents/ carers will be phoned immediately and you must arrange to collect the child as quickly as possible. You must also arrange for a test for the pupil, as they will not be allowed back into school until a negative result has been confirmed. At this point your household need to self-isolate until either a negative test has been confirmed or your isolation period is completed.
If a member of staff becomes ill during the school day with Covid Symptoms, they will be sent home immediately. They will be required to take a test and will also remain at home until either a negative test has been confirmed or their self- isolation period has been completed.
Dealing with a suspected case in your household
If someone in your household has suspected coronavirus , the entire household must self-isolate following the same rules as above.
What will happen if there is a confirmed case in school?
We will inform you each time there is a confirmed case in school. Any confirmed case will result in everyone within the same zone, who has had direct contact with the person who has had a positive test will need to self-isolate for 14 days.
Returning from holidays abroad
If you have recently arrived back from abroad, or are planning a trip abroad, please ensure that you are aware of and compliant with the current quarantine requirements.
Countries currently on quarantine list https://gov.wales/exemptions-self-isolation-coronavirus-covid-19-html
Transition and Graduation
As you will be aware, the children have started this term off with their teacher from the previous academic year and in their previous classroom. Over the next few days an enhanced transition programme is in place to introduce children to their new teachers and to their new classrooms. Friday 11th September will mark the last day of this arrangement, this will be marked as a Graduation Day. The children and their teachers will have a celebration party on the afternoon of the 11th. Children may bring a snack to eat.
On Monday 14th September all pupils will transfer into their new year groups.
Reception and Nursery – New Intake
We look forward to welcoming our new Nursery and Reception intake into the Marlborough family from Monday 14th September onwards. These pupils will have a staggered start to allow the pupils to get used to their new surroundings and new staff in a supportive and nurturing way.
A few reminders
The first few days back have gone relatively smoothly. Below are a few issues that we could really do with your help in ironing out.
- When dropping off and picking up children to and from the playground, please remember to follow the one-way system. In through the gates on Agincourt Road and out through the gate on Blenheim Road.
- Please ensure that you keep to the designated drop off / pick up time.
- Once you have dropped your child off, please exit the playground as quickly as possible to avoid too many people on the playground at any one time.
- Please ensure that your child has everything that they need for the day, i.e. packed lunch, water bottle and coat. We cannot accept items dropped in to school later during the school day, as this means staff and children having to cross zones.
- Please also ensure that your child arrives on time for the start of their session. Late arrivals risk crossing zones to get to their classrooms.
I know that you will understand and appreciate that these measures are in place to keep everyone in the Marlborough community (pupils, parents and staff) safe.
School Dinners
We have just received notification from Cardiff Catering that school Dinners will not be resuming until Monday 21st September. All pupils will need to continue to bring a packed lunch until that date. ParentPay Bacs payment or Supermarket Voucher to pupils eligible for FSM until this date.
After School Club and Breakfast Club
I have had discussions with Playworks about the feasibility of the safe return of the After School and Breakfast club. The guidance from the Welsh Government and Local Authority states that these clubs can restart. However, they also acknowledge that children attending Breakfast Clubs and After School Childcare will be cutting across established groups and that this is unavoidable.
To ensure that we minimise the risk the following changes will be made:
- Pupils in the Sunshine Zone (Reception, Year 1 and Year 2) will use the Foundation Phase hall.
- Pupils in the Rainbow Zone (Year 3 and Year 4) will be in the bottom half of the KS2 hall and use the Y3/4 toilets.
- Pupils in the Star Zone (Years 5 and 6) will be in the top of the KS2 hall and use the Y5/6 toilets.
The pupils in the Star Zone and Rainbow Zone will be segregated at all times.
We aim to start After School on Monday 14th September, with Breakfast Club starting up in the following weeks. PlayWorks will be in contact with parents who have registered an interest in re-taking up a place. https://playworks-childcare.co.uk/latest/playworks-the-meadows/
What if I have a concern?
Step 1 – talk to the class teacher or a class teaching assistant (they are available at the start and end of the school day or you can contact the school office to arrange to speak to them by phone).
Step 2 – If a satisfactory resolution has not been achieved, arrange a meeting or phone call with the team leader. (Nursery -Mrs. Lloyd, Reception – Mrs. Hodges, Years 1 & 2 – Mrs. Sherlock, Years 3 & 4 – Mrs. Davies, Years 5 & 6 – Mrs. Adams).
Step 3 – If a satisfactory resolution has not been achieved arrange a meeting with an Assistant Headteacher (Mrs. Crew, Mrs. Hodges & Mrs. Lloyd).
Step 4 – Should a satisfactory resolution still not be achieved a meeting with the Headteacher will be arranged.
In the very rare instance that a satisfactory resolution has still not been achieved the school’s Complaints Procedure which can be found on the school website outlines the following steps to be taken.
Premises
A huge thank you to Mr. Jenkins, our wonderful Estates Manager, who has redecorated the Foundation Phase hall over the summer holidays. The transformation is remarkable and the space looks so light and airy now.
Attendance
Please be assured that we are taking a more nuanced approach with pupil attendance this year. Please keep us informed of the reason for any pupil absence as we still need to closely illness numbers and ensure that all pupils are safe and well.
Payments
We are trying to avoid the unnecessary handling of money and paperwork. All payments should be made via ParentPay, this will include the collection of dinner money once this service is back up and running. Currently, 78% of parents have activated their accounts. If you have forgotten your log in details please contact the school office.