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COVID Parent Update - 31st December

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Dear Parents and Carers,

I hope you and your families are safe and well and that you have been able to have a rest. It has certainly been a strange Christmas this year in an ever-changing landscape to which we have to adapt. We know that there will be still be much change ahead but how lovely to have the wonderful resources and facilities to offer our children a rich education on our new site. 

As you will be aware from the government's announcement yesterday afternoon, there have been some changes to plans for children's return to school in January. 

We are awaiting the arrival of our rapid testing kits for secondary students and staff which will be provided by the government.  At this stage, the government's testing programme is for secondary students only. We will update you on how testing will be rolled out once we receive information from Slough and the government about administration procedures. Testing will be a critical tool and a priority to quickly identify positive cases and stop the spread of the virus and so keep our community safe. 

In the meantime, I cannot emphasise enough the importance of secondary students wearing face coverings in communal areas, continuing to practice good hand hygiene and respecting social distancing. Please speak to your child regularly about Hands, Face, Space. These simple but effective measures go a long way to keeping us well and helping us to stay open to deliver the education our students need and deserve.

If your child has tested positive over the Christmas break, is self-isolating or is required to shield, please contact the office email office@groveacademy.co.uk to let us know.

May I also take this opportunity to request that you ensure that the office is updated with any new contact details. It is imperative that we are able to contact you quickly in case of illness or an emergency.

Please note, to keep our community safe, all meetings will be by appointment only. Please do not attend the school reception desk without prior arrangement. 

Our plans for the start of new term 2021 

Thursday 7th January
All Primary return as per published staggered start times. See below:

Reception        9.00am - 2.55pm
Year 1              8.55am - 3.10pm
Year 2              8.50am - 3.05pm
Year 3              8.45am - 3.00pm
Year 4              8.45am - 3.00pm
Year 5              8.40am - 3.15pm
Year 6              8.35am - 3.20pm

Children of key workers, SEND and vulnerable groups. The office will send out start and finish times for these students.

Friday 8th January
All Primary
Children of key workers, SEND and vulnerable groups

Secondary students will access remote learning from 7th January.

Monday 18th January
Year 10 return

Tuesday 19th January
Year 10 and Year 7 return

Wednesday 20th January
Year 10, Year 7 and Year 8 return

Thursday 21st January
All secondary on site

We do know that all guidance and planning is kept under review in response to government and local authority guidance. We will keep you updated with changes as they arise. Our office staff remain available to support and answer any queries you may have. 

I am very much looking forward to seeing our children again, working under one roof and bringing our school community together again in our fabulous new building.

May I wish you all and your families a happy new year. Stay safe and well.

Kindest regards
Natalie Wismayer