A message form Pinaki Ghoshal, Lewisham’s Executive Director for Children and Young People and Angela Scattergood, Director of Education.

The Mayor of Lewisham, Damien Egan has published a statement on behalf of Lewisham Council in response to the killing of George Floyd in the United States. You can read the full statement here: https://lewisham.gov.uk/articles/news/black-lives-matter-in-lewisham

We believe that our schools and settings are key to tackling racism and other forms of discrimination. We will support all Lewisham schools and settings in their commitment to standing against racism and injustice, alongside and in solidarity with the local and global Black community.

At Downderry Primary School we believe that the diversity of our population and workforce is one of our greatest strengths. This is reinforced through our values education which includes: equality, respect, understanding and forgiveness.

This week we successfully welcomed back our Year 6, in addition to our key worker and vulnerable groups, as part one of our phased return.

On Monday 8th June we welcome back children in Year 1. Earlier this week Mrs Deane and Miss Veale contacted their classes to outline days their children are invited to come in and share procedures to ensure the safety of all concerned.

Reception teachers will be contacting their Parents/ Carers next week with an intent to welcome back Reception the week commencing 15th June.

You can find information for parents and carers about phase reopening of schools by going to GOV.UK website and searching “Guidance for Parents”.

• What parents and carers need to know about schools, colleges and other education settings during the coronavirus outbreak

• Opening schools and educational settings to more pupils from 1 June: guidance for parents and carers

As a consequence of Coronavirus we are no longer accepting cash payments at the office. All payments now need to be made by our e-payment service ParentPay. Register here; www.parentpay.com/parents/ and make sure you credit your account.

Please telephone the office should you require assistance with ParentPay.

The Home-Learning timetables for the week commencing 8th June can be found in the Home-Learning section of the Class pages on the school website. We have also added a Mental Wellbeing section to highlight the importance of children’s wellbeing during this tricky time. Here you will find resources on wellbeing and online safety.

As part of government’s roadmap to recovery we will be welcoming back children from Year 6 on Monday 1st June, in addition to the ongoing support for our vulnerable children and children of key workers.

Yesterday you received a letter outlining our intent to get our children back to school safely. The letter can be found in the Parents > Letters section of the school website.

Parents and Carers of these children have already been contacted to outline measures we have taken to maximise a safe return of our children, in consultation with public health guidance. Key features of this include: a deep clean and enhanced cleaning regime using disinfection as appropriate, small bubble groups of children to enable social distancing, regular hand washing, and a revised timetable and curriculum to support the mental and physical health of our children, as we all adjust to a new norm. To facilitate social distancing Children in the key worker bubble should enter and exit via the key stage 1 gate, the Year 6 bubble via key stage 2. A senior member of staff will be present to help direct your children safely.

To help reduce face-to-face contact with and between Parents and Carers you can help by sending only one parent/ carer with the child at the start and end of the school day, and observing the social distancing signs that are in place. Year 6 children are invited to walk to and from school on their own but we ask that you help reinforce the message: straight to and from school! Parents and Carers will not be permitted into the school site to reduce the risk of infection.

Lewisham’s schools remain open to support the children of critical workers and vulnerable children. This support will remain in place during May half term, where families need it.

The government has asked primary schools to begin to welcome back more children in phases starting with nursery, reception, Year 1 and Year 6 – from 1 June at the earliest, if Coronavirus infections decline sufficiently. The government has indicated that they will make a final decision on this date by 28 May.

I know that everyone wants children to be back in schools and learning as soon as is practical, with measures in place to ensure children and adults are as safe as possible. There is no doubt that a long absence from school can exacerbate inequalities in learning as well as having a detrimental impact on children’s health and wellbeing.

Any decision to increase numbers in school and the timing of a phased return of year groups will be based on careful planning and risk assessment, taking into account the welfare of both children and adults.

This means that no one should yet assume that their child will be able to return to school on 1 June. Parents, children, teachers and staff should be reassured that we will only invite pupils back when a risk assessment has been undertaken and a full plan has been put in place. In the coming weeks, you will be advised of our plans. Mrs. Dunn will be contacting all Year 6 Parents and Carers to outline our intent for their phased return today.

There will inevitably be anxieties around a phased return to school, but there is no pressure to send children back to school before they are ready. In partnership with the LA and other partners, we will build confidence through a careful and well-planned return to school, when it is safe to do so.