Reopening Guidance

Dear Parents,

Following the government’s announcement, on May 17th 2020 that school premises can re-open for kindergarten aged children and for childcare supervision, Britannica will reopen classes for Year 1 on June 2nd. All other year groups will remain on distance learning for the remainder of the school year.

Britannica will provide onsite supervision for Primary aged students in Years 2-6 should parents need to return to work. Parents should note that these students will be in small groups and will broadly follow the distance learning programme whilst in school under the supervision of a Teacher or Teaching assistant. Children in Years 4-6 attending school for supervision should bring their own device to school, wherever possible, as many tasks will still require access to online learning and resources.

It is not possible for the teacher to deliver online learning and classroom teaching simultaneously. Children supervised in school will receive support to complete their online learning tasks.

The government regulations do allow us to meet with specific small groups of students for a set purpose, so we have arranged a 2 hour opening for each form/class from all year groups to come to school to have closure for the year, say goodbye to any leaving friends, pick up their belongings and empty out lockers.

Please find below, guidelines for all members of our community, with regards to our provision, reopening procedures and rules, plus a timetable for the site visits mentioned above. I apologise for the length of this guidance but, as you know, this is a highly complex situation.

Thank you to all parents for the questions we have received so far, we have tried to answer them below. If you have any further questions, please email Mrs Moreton directly.

Kind regards,

Neil McGarry

Principal

Last updated: May 25th

This page will be updated regularly in accordance with the latest guidance for health and education. It is designed to give clear guidance for our school community on our planned reopening procedures.

Following on from the reopening for childcare survey sent out last week, we continue to plan for our opening of the school premises from Tuesday 2nd June.

1. Will all students return on June 2nd and be taught as normal?

In line with the government’s announcement on May 17th 2020, Year 1 classes will open and be taught.

Primary students in Years 2-6 needing supervision can also attend. This will have been indicated to the school through the survey sent out last week and should be for the reason that parents need to return to work. This service is for families who genuinely need it only. Sending pupils to school for social reasons is not appropriate.

Primary students in Years 2-6 will continue to be taught online until June 26th. Students needing supervision will be supported to complete and join in with online lessons whilst on the school site.

Secondary students will not return this academic year. Their lessons will continue online until June 26th. There will not be any secondary exams this year.

Students and staff not in school for supervision will be offered a 2 hour time slot to collect belongings, say goodbye to any leaving students in their class, empty out lockers and return school items and books to the library. The timetable for this is listed below.

Students attending school to complete these tasks must follow the guidelines indicated in this guidance. They must leave the school site before the end of their time-slot.

Parents must not enter the school building.

On arrival at the school site, students will have their temperature taken and will go directly to their classroom. Students displaying a temperature above 37.5 degrees must be collected by parents and taken home immediately. They will not be allowed to return for at least 7 days.

At the end of the school day, students will be brought back to the parents at the school entrances by the supervising staff.

2. What are the class time-slots for end of year procedures?

3. Will all staff return on June 2nd?

Only staff required within the Primary section of the school and the school admin team will return.

4. Will there be any Late pick-up, After School clubs, Assemblies, Trips or Adventure Days?

We will provide an initial late pick up service until 4.30pm. No large gatherings/meetings or opportunities for large groups of students will occur. No After School clubs, Assemblies, Trips or Adventure Days. The school will operate strict working and operational hours of 8am until 3.30pm Monday to Friday. Entrance and use of the school site will be forbidden outside of these hours.

5. Have the pick-up and drop-off procedures changed?

Yes. Parents will not be permitted to enter the school building.

Gates will open at 8.00am.

Year 3-6 students attending school for supervision must enter by the back gate. The students will be directed to their classrooms

Year 1 and 2 students attending school must enter at the front gate. The students will be directed to their classrooms to be met by their supervising teacher.

6. Should parents fill in any forms before they send their children back to school?

Yes, a completed and signed Parental declaration is compulsory before your child can come to school. This is available to fill in electronically.

7. What happens if I have not filled in the Parental declaration for my child to return to school on their first day?

Students coming to school for supervision will not be permitted back into the school building without a signed Parental declaration.

8. Can I print and send the form in with my child on their first day in school?

Your child can bring the printed and signed form with them on their first day in school, but must immediately give it to their teacher. We, however, advise parents to return the completed form electronically via email to contact@britannicaschool.hu prior to the first day.

9. What are the expectations of families that do not require supervision?

The school will continue to provide a full online service for all students until June 26th 2020 in line with government regulations.

10. How many students will there be in a supervised class?

This is dependent on numbers. We aim to divide students into smaller groups to adhere to current guidance of 12 or less. We will make decisions based on the number of students requiring supervision.

11. Will students and teachers be required to wear masks on site?

All teachers must wear masks when entering the school and around school common areas, including corridors/halls. Teachers may remove their masks in the classroom.

Primary aged students are not required to wear a mask, but are welcome to do so if they wish. They must arrive at school with their mask. They are allowed to remove their masks in the classroom, but may keep it on if they wish.

12. Can students in school for supervision use outdoor play equipment?

This will be determined by the supervising teacher.

13. Will students go outside for break?

Students in school for supervision will be following the curriculum timetable. If applicable, it may be easier for a year group to follow the same timetable (eg Year 2 Medway and Mersey both follow the Year 2 Mersey timetable). Students in school for supervision can play outside with the same group of students they are grouped with.

14. Should students in school for supervision bring in water bottles?

Water bottles filled with water should be brought from home. These should be clearly labelled with the child's name.

15. Can students share resources?

Students in school for supervision should bring their own pencil case and water bottle. They must not share these with other students.

16. Will classrooms be ventilated?

Classrooms are ventilated regularly, and classroom doors remain open at all times.

17. Will there be hand sanitisers in every classroom?

Yes. Hand sanitisers are also available at the entrance and in common areas.

18. Will the school be cleaned before the opening?

Yes, our cleaning company has been in school performing a deep clean of the school. Additional cleaning has taken place. The cleaning has been assessed and reviewed. Extra resources for hygiene including hand-wash, wipes, sprays and sanitisers have arrived at school. Staff have been in school preparing and we are confident that our school is clean and well prepared.

19. Will online lessons continue during the day for students who do not require supervision in school?

Yes, they will continue as normal until June 26th.

20. Will the timetable change?

For those in school for supervision, as far as possible, we will follow the timetable. However, there may be adjustments to reduce the movement of students around the school, where required.

21. Will specialist lessons go ahead (PE, languages, etc)?

Supervision by our specialist teachers will be provided in school, although this may be at a different time to your child’s current timetable. There will be no swimming lessons. These will be replaced by an additional PE session. PE lessons are planned to be outside. In cases of bad weather, PE lessons will be in the gym but a mask will be required.

22. Will the library be open?

The library will be open for small groups of students in school for supervision. Leaving students and staff will use their allocated time-slots to visit the library and return books.

23. What are the uniform expectations during supervision?

Students in school for supervision are not required to wear uniform and should dress appropriately for active play and sport.

24. Will school lunches and snacks be available?

Lunches will be served as packed lunches to those in school for supervision and delivered directly to classrooms. We will not be using the canteen. For those doing online learning, parents will continue to be credited or refunded.

Individual snacks will be provided for Years 1-3 in their classrooms as normal.

Years 4-6 need to bring their own snacks to school as there will be no possibility to buy them in the canteen.

25. Have the school term dates changed?

No, the school year ends on Friday 26th June.

26. If parents require any assistance with financial matters who should they contact?

Please contact finance@britannicaschool.hu directly.

27. Will public transport be running on June 2nd?

Yes. Please adhere to the current guidelines.

28. Will school buses be running?

Please contact the bus company directly and inform them that you would like to use their service. Students travelling by school bus will be required to wear a mask. The bus company will communicate any other guidance directly to parents.

Front office: contact@britannicaschool.hu

Principal: neil.mcgarry@britannicaschool.hu

Head of Primary: m.moreton@britannicaschool.hu

Head of Secondary: g.barker@britannicaschool.hu

Business Manager: b.bihari@britannicaschool.hu

Finance: finance@britannicaschool.hu

IT: itsupport@britannicaschool.hu

Admissions: admissions@britannicaschool.hu

Safety is our number one priority. We continue to monitor the situation closely and will follow guidance from the Hungarian Ministry of Health, WHO, as well as Orbital Education.

Additional hand sanitisers will be available around the school, and those in school for supervision will be encouraged to use these regularly throughout the day. Regular hand washing breaks will also be introduced. All utilised classrooms will be provided with additional sanitising equipment. Instructions on the correct way to wash our hands and use sanitisers are also shared around school.

Supervising teachers will be provided with masks to wear in school if directed by the Ministry of Health.

All students coming in to school are welcome to come to school wearing a mask if they wish, but requirements will be communicated out based on further guidance from the Ministry of Health when available.

We have purchased further protection, sanitation and cleaning equipment for our school. Our cleaning company have been in school performing a deep clean of the school. Additional cleaning has taken place and the cleaning has been assessed and reviewed. Extra resources for hygiene including hand-wash, wipes, sprays and sanitisers have arrived at school.

Before students can return to school, parents must complete a Parent Declaration form. We advise parents to return the completed form electronically via email to contact@britannicaschool.hu prior to the first day back.

Students and staff in school for Childcare supervision or visiting the site to hand back books or for personal appointments must wear a mask adhering to the following guidelines

Both students and staff are welcome to wear their masks at all times if they choose.

• Primary students are not required to wear a mask, but are welcome to do so if they wish.
• Secondary students aged 12 and above are required to wear a mask when they enter the school for their allocated time-slot and when walking on the corridors/halls. They must arrive with a mask. They will not be allowed to enter without a mask.
• All students in school for supervision and any students visiting school for a pre-arranged appointment must have a signed declaration from their parents to allow them to enter the school.
• Gates open at 8.00am. Students coming in for supervision must follow the guidance given in this document
• Students attending school for supervision will be divided into smaller groups to adhere to current guidance as follows: 12 or less in a group (half a normal class). Classrooms will be prepared dependent on numbers.
• All students in school for supervision should bring in their own resources, including masks (parent choice), gloves (parent choice) water bottles (labelled), pencil cases. These should not be shared with friends and are for personal use only.
• Toilets will be cleaned frequently throughout the day. They will be used on an individual basis (one at a time) only, upon the supervising teacher’s permission.
• Students in school for supervision must follow health and safety guidance as per the posters displayed around the school.
  

• All teachers in school to provide supervision must wear masks when entering the school and around school common areas, including corridors/halls. Teachers that need a replacement mask will be provided one.
• Teachers may remove their masks in the classroom.
• Supervising teachers must make sure all students in school have a signed declaration from their parents.
• Teachers will be in their classrooms to welcome students attending for supervision.
• Teachers will ensure that classroom doors will be kept open and classrooms are well ventilated regularly.
• All teacher meetings will continue to be held online to avoid larger gatherings.
• Teachers have access to hand sanitisers and sprays to maintain a high level of hygiene in the classroom.
• Toilets will be cleaned frequently throughout the day. They will be used on an individual basis (one at a time) only.
• Admin staff must follow the same guidance as teaching staff.
• Staff must follow health and safety guidance as per the posters displayed around the school and ensure that students in the school for supervision do the same.

• Parents must provide a signed declaration before their child(ren) can return to school.
• Parents should only send their children to school if they are healthy and require support with supervision in order to return to work.

If supervision is required and parents decide to send their children to school:

• Parents must ensure that their children arrive at school with a mask.
• Parents do not to enter the school premises.
• Gates open at 8.00am. Drop-off and pick-up procedures will operate as indicated in the Frequently Asked Questions section above.
• Parents with appointments with a member of staff or parents who are dropping off/collecting children must wear a mask.
• Parents are encouraged to pack an extra healthy snack – fruit or veggies – if they are dropping their child off for supervision.
• Parents should check their child’s temperature before bringing them to school for supervision.