How can I prepare my child for returning to school?

Talk to your child about returning to school – talk about the things that they are looking forward to as well as any worries/ questions that they might have.

Do try to start getting back into a routine – going to bed earlier and preparing uniform, lunch, bags etc… the night before.

What will be done to support my child secure any missed learning?

Our first priority over the next 3 weeks is to support children in their return to school. We will not be carrying out our usual end of spring term assessments. Teachers will be using other ways to assess where children are in their learning and looking at their next steps as we move into the summer term. Annual school reports will be delayed this year until later in the summer term – further information will follow when available.

My child has special needs, will they still receive extra support?

Yes. Teachers, teaching assistants, in-school specialist staff and external professionals will all be deployed as normal to support children with SEND. If you have any concerns, please contact your child’s teacher or Mrs Venners, SENDCo or Miss Last (Assistant SENDCo/ Mental Health and Wellbeing Lead) by email. We have set up a dedicated email address for parents with SEND queries send@ranelaghprimary.net 

How will the teachers mark and feedback on children’s work?

• Teachers will practice good hand hygiene; they will handle children’s books as little as possible.
• Teachers will not take pupils’ books home.
• Teachers will use “whole class marking” sheets to note misconceptions, gaps, individual needs, good examples - these notes will inform their planning and feedback to children.
• Teachers will “live mark” work during the lesson - this may be in the form of verbal feedback or a post-it note to be stuck in a book.
• If able to do so, pupils will mark their own work with teacher supervision.
• Pupils will record corrections in different coloured pen.

How will my child be safely issued with reading books?

• The library will remain closed.
• Children will have access to reading books in their phases that can be taken home these will be issued by year group staff.
• The covers of library/reading scheme/class books will be disinfected before they are given to the pupil. Returned books will be quarantined before reissuing.

Will my child be given learning to do at home?

• Children will be encouraged to read at home; Times Tables Rock Stars will also be in operation.
• We continue to review our homework policy in light of guidance.

Will children be swimming?

• We are still waiting to hear from Suffolk’s School Swimming Service about deep water swimming in the spring/ summer term for Years 5 and 6.