September Plans
You may be aware that Government guidance for a full reopening of all schools in England was published at the end of last week and we have spent this week trying to translate that in to procedures and practices that will work on our site. Our overriding principle has been one of max-imising safety for everyone. In schools, that means avoiding mixing of groups as far as possible. The Government has spoken about keeping children in ‘bubbles’ which work independently of each other. In second-ary schools, these bubbles can be as large as a year group, as for exam classes, students work in a variety of groups because of their option choices. We want to retain option subjects as we believe in a broad and balanced curriculum.
To minimise movement around the building we will be keeping Y7 and 8 tutor groups as a bubble, in one base room for the vast majority of the time. Their teachers will move to this base room to teach them. From Y9 upwards, students will have to move because of their options but will follow a strict one-way system to avoid crossing. Some of the timings of the day are staggered, as below and like many schools, we have had to amend our start and finish times to accommodate this. We appreciate that this is not ideal but it is to minimise mixing of groups in different years. We have decided to continue with online lessons for p5 for Sixth Form to enable them to leave the site at lunchtime, thus alleviating
pressures at that busy time.
We would recommend that students walk or cycle to school, rather than using public transport. If this is unavoidable, they should obviously wear a mask.
Timings for the school day – September 2020
Year 7
Arrive at 8:30am via the main student entrance and go straight to their form room which will be their base for the day.
P1 – 9am -10am
Break 10am – 10:20am
P2 – 10:20am – 11:20am
P3 – 11:20am – 12:20pm
Lunch 12:20pm – 1:05pm
P4 – 1:05pm – 2:05pm
P5 – 2:05pm – 3pm
Leave at 3pm via the most convenient exit.
Break and lunchtimes will be on the playground area by the field.
Year 8
Arrive at 8:30am via the Ebrook Road gate and go straight to their form room which will be their base for the day.
P1 – 9am -10am
Break 10am – 10:20am
P2 – 10:20am – 11:20am
P3 – 11:20am – 12:20pm
Lunch 12:20pm – 1:05pm
P4 – 1:05pm – 2:05pm
P5 – 2:05pm – 3pm
Leave at 3pm via the most convenient exit.
Break and lunchtimes will be on the large MUGA(2).
Year 9
Arrive at 8:40am via the main student entrance and go straight to their form room.
P1 – 9am -10am
Break 10am – 10:20am
P2 – 10:20am – 11:20am
P3 – 11:20am – 12:20pm
Lunch 12:20pm – 1:05pm
P4 – 1:05pm – 2:05pm
P5 – 2:05pm – 3:05pm
Leave at 3:05pm via the most convenient exit.
Break and lunchtimes will be on the smaller MUGA(1).
Year 10
Arrive at 8:40am via the Ebrook Road gate and go straight to their form room.
P1 – 9am -10am
P2 – 10am – 11am
Break 11am – 11:20am
P3 – 11:20am – 12:20pm
P4 – 12:20pm – 1:20pm
Lunch 1:20pm – 2:05pm
P5 – 2:05pm – 3:05pm
Leave at 3:05pm via the most convenient exit.
Break and lunchtimes will be on the large MUGA(2).
Year 11
Arrive at 8:50am via the main student entrance and go straight to their form room.
P1 – 9am -10am
P2 – 10am – 11am
Break 11am – 11:20am
P3 – 11:20am – 12:20pm
P4 – 12:20pm – 1:20pm
Lunch 1:20pm – 2:05pm
P5 – 2:05pm – 3:10pm
Leave at 3:10pm via the most convenient exit.
Break and lunchtimes will be on the smaller MUGA(1).
Year 12
Arrive at 8:50am via the Ebrook Road gate and go straight to their form room.
P1 – 9am -10am
P2 – 10am – 11am
Break 11am – 11:20am
P3 11:20am – 12:20pm
P4 12:20pm – 1:20pm
Leave at 1:20pm via the most convenient exit
P5 – lessons will be delivered online.
Year 13
Arrive at 9am via the main student entrance and go straight to P1.
P1 – 9am -10am
P2 – 10am – 11am
Break 11am – 11:20am
P3 – 11:20am – 12:20pm
P4 – 12:20pm – 1:20pm
Leave at 1:20pm via the most convenient exit.
P5 – lessons will be delivered online.
First week back arrangements
Because we want to get this right, we will start the term at slightly different times for each year group, to enable the new routines to ‘bed in’. Below are the details:
Tuesday 1st September – Staff Training Day
Wednesday 2nd September – Staff Training Day– NB .this is an additional Training Day to prepare the school for pupils
Thursday 3rd September – Year 7 and Year 11 only. (Students will arrive and leave at their designated times)
Friday 4th September – Years 7 – 10 All students will arrive and leave at their designated times. Year 11 to work from home.
Monday 7th September – Years 7 – 11 to follow their normal timetable and designated timings.
Tuesday 8th September – Year 13 9am start, period 1 in tutor groups Assembly/welcome back session with Miss Proctor delivered remotely on Monday 7th September. Time tbc.
Wednesday 9th September – Year 12 8.50am start, period 1Assembly/welcome back session with Miss Proctor delivered remotely on Tuesday 8th Septem-ber. Time tbc
Uniform
We are expecting all students, including sixth form, to return to school in September in full uniform.
Details of our uniform policy and expectations can be found here:
https://plantsbrookschool.co.uk/uniform-plantsbrook/
As mentioned in a newsletter earlier this term, the ‘skater’ skirt is no longer allowed as part of our school uniform. Please refer to the ‘uniform support’ PowerPoint within the uniform section on the school website for picture support. We do have a supply of correct uniform in school and we expect students to borrow uniform if their own clothing does not meet school policy. Due to Covid-19, we are unable to accommodate students in incorrect uniform as we previously have and therefore please be aware that students in incorrect uniform may be asked to return home to change.
We are going to be making use of the outside spaces far more on our return to school and so students should be well equipped with a coat and an umbrella for cold and wet weather.
Equipment
We have always published a basic list of equipment and this remains the same:
 – Black pens
 – Coloured pencils
 – Pencil
 – Maths set
 – Pencil case
 – Red pen
 – Ruler
 – Rubber
 – Calculator (recommended Casio fx-83 GT Plus or Casio fx-85 GT Plus)
However, with the restrictions on shared equipment, we would also like students to be equipped with the following additional items:
 – Whiteboard pen/s (Dry-wipe)
 – Sharpener
 – Highlighters
 – Glue stick
A suitable apron if they study any of the following subjects at KS4 or KS5:
 – Art
 – Design and Technology
 – Engineering
 – Food
To take account of the very unusual circumstances we are in, we have added an appendix to our Be-haviour Policy. Please discuss this with your child. It is absolutely crucial for everyone’s safety that we work together and that everyone follows the rules.
Appendix to Behaviour and Rewards Policy (draft)
Updated behaviour and expectations guidance relating to the return to school after the enforced school closure due to coronavirus.
At Plantsbrook School we recognise that returning after such a long time at home presents a unique and challenging set of circumstances. We understand that students will take time to settle in and establish themselves in a routine and that it will feel strange for them to be back in school and in classrooms with their friends. Some students may feel anxious or nervous about their return to school and we will do everything we can to support our students. There will be some additions and amendments to school rules for students to follow. These have been developed to ensure the safety of students and staff and should be taken very seriously.
The main aim of this document is to reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus, but we recognise that things can go wrong when children are learning new habits. Should this happen, staff will consider what risk has been posed, and whether any immediate mitigation needs to take place (e.g. washing of hands), before responding to the problem as an opportunity for further learning (e.g. by reminding and reinforcing the rules or by discussing the risks of that behaviour).
Behaviour that wilfully undermines the safety measures that the school has put in place or risks the safety of students or staff will not be tolerated. If incidents occur, then they will be treated as high level behavioural incidents and sanctioned accordingly.
Our environment has needed to be radically altered to offer the safest operating procedures for pupils and staff which may not be those best designed for optimal learning or wellbeing but are in accordance with the latest government guidance issued.
Dress Code
Students should attend school wearing their full school uniform which includes blazers, ties and appropriate school shoes.
We will be using the outside spaces of school as much as possible during break and lunchtime so you should also make sure that you bring a coat and/or umbrella with you in case of cold or wet weather.
Arriving and leaving school
All students, where possible, should arrive to school by car, on foot or cycle. If, as a last resort, students have to use public transport, they should socially distance themselves from others and wear a face mask as per government guidance.
Year 7 students should arrive to school at 8.30am and go straight to their form tutor rooms. Year 7 will leave at 3pm by the main student entrance.
Year 8 students should arrive to school at 8.30am by the Ebrook Road entrance and go straight to their form tutor rooms. Year 8 will leave at 3pm by the most convenient exit.
Year 9 students should arrive to school at 8.40am by the main student entrance and go straight to their form tutor rooms. Year 9 will leave at 3.05pm by the most convenient exit.
Year 10 students should arrive to school at 8.40am by the Ebrook Road entrance and go straight to their tutor rooms. Year 10 will leave at 3.05pm by the most convenient exit.
Year 11 students should arrive to school at 8.50am by the main student entrance and go straight to their form tutor rooms. Year 11 will leave at 3.10pm by the most convenient exit.
Year 12 students should arrive to school at 8.50am by the main student entrance and go straight to their form tutor rooms. Year 12 will leave at 1.20pm by the most convenient exit. If students have a
lesson period 5 it will take place remotely at 2.05pm.
Year 13 students should arrive to school at 9am by the main student entrance and go straight to their first lesson. Year 13 will leave at 1.20pm by the most convenient exit. If students have a lesson period 5 it will take place remotely at 2.05pm.
The slight staggering of the school day is in order to reduce the mixing of year group ‘bubbles’. Students must not wait for friends in different year groups at outside of school at the end of the day as this could increase the risk of infection. Students should make their way home straight away.
Social distancing
The advice on social distancing measures applies to everyone. Everyone needs to minimise
opportunities for the virus to spread by maintaining a distance of 2 metres between individuals. This advice applies to both inside and outside of the school buildings including where students may need to queue for entry to school or for their lunch etc.
There should be no physical contact between students such as hugging or ‘bumping’. In classrooms
students must follow instructions from staff at all times. This is especially important with regards to
seating instructions and entering and leaving classrooms.
Student expectations
Some of our normal classroom expectations have had to be amended in response to the coronavirus and they are outlined in the ‘Amended routine lesson rules’ section below. In addition to these rules a set of specific expectations have also been developed to minimise the risk of infection to students and staff alike. These have been devised in line with government advice and will be regularly reviewed as and when guidance changes.
Amended ‘routine’ lesson rules
As proud Plantsbrook School students we will ‘be the best that we can be’ by:
· Arriving to lessons in an orderly and socially distanced way
· Wearing full uniform with pride and being fully equipped.
· Acting and speaking respectfully to everyone at all times using ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ and address staff by saying ‘Sir/Miss’ or ‘Mr/Mrs’ followed by the teacher’s name.
· Following all instructions promptly and without question.
· Raising our hand to speak.
· Remaining focused on our work and making positive contributions to lessons.
· Not eating during lessons.
· Not using mobile phones or any form of technology in an inappropriate manner.
Additional expectations in order to reduce the spread of coronavirus
· Students must tell an adult immediately if they are experiencing symptoms of coronavirus.
· Students should follow the one way systems in place at all times.
· Students are permitted to wear face masks should they choose to during the school day to reduce the risk of spreading infection and to protect each other.
· Students will sit in their classroom at a desk assigned by a member of staff. This will be the desk that the student always works at.
· Students are not permitted to use the toilet during lessons unless they have medical reasons. (same procedures linked to hand washing)
· Students are not permitted to get up out of their seats during lessons as this could interfere with the
social distancing measures.
· Students are not permitted to share equipment with other students or staff as this could increase the risk of contamination.
· Students will be asked to leave completed work in school in the classroom in which they are assigned.
· Staff will support students from the front of the classroom at a safe distance.
Exiting the school
· For specific times of arriving and leaving school for each year group see previous section.
· Students will be dismissed by a member of staff at their allotted time to adhere to social distancing measures. Students will exit the building through the designated door as instructed by a member of staff.
· Upon leaving school and in the community on the way home students should remain 2 meters from their peers and go straight home.
· Families should consider the government guidance to remove and wash clothing on arrival home and to shower immediately.
Virtual lesson expectations for students
Show respect towards the teacher and other students in terms of what you say and how you say it.
· When turning the camera function on make sure that you are dressed appropriately and that no-one else is within the view of the camera.
· Please ensure you have a neutral background.
· Take responsibility for your behaviour. Incidents of inappropriate behaviour will be reported to the leadership team and your parents will be contacted.
· All virtual lessons will be recorded by the teacher to ensure staff and students are safeguarded.
· All virtual lesson recordings will be kept by the member of staff on their school google drive account.
· Virtual lesson recording will not be shared with any students.
· By joining in the virtual lesson you are giving your explicit consent to the recording of the session and the storage of the recording.
Rewards
· Students will continue to be rewarded in the usual way through the awarding of green and gold cards for those students attending school and learning remotely.
· Unfortunately, there will not be a formal presentation evening this year. However, student achievement, in its widest sense, will be recognised through certificates and awards nominated by subject teachers, form tutors and achievement coordinators.
· In addition, excellent attendance and punctuality, up until the 20th of March 2020, will also be recognised.
We will continue to follow all Government guidance and also any specific local advice that is relevant. As always, thank you for your support.
Ms Campbell
