Phased Return – 23rd Feb

Phased Return – Early Years, P1, P2, P3 and S4 (on a limited basis)

Dear Parent/Carer,

You may be aware of the statement by the First Minister yesterday, which confirmed that a phased return to school would take place from Tuesday 23^rd February onwards.

For Baltasound Junior High School, this means that from Tuesday 23^rd February:

• BJHS Early Years will return in full, as normal. Days/timings will continue as they were before our Christmas shutdown. All staff will return on the days they normally work in BJHS.
• P1, P2 and P3 will return in full, as normal. Transport, timings and school meals will remain as they were before Christmas. All staff supporting this group will be in school as normal.
• S4 will return on a limited basis – only working through practical work for certain subjects which cannot be undertaken at home. Further information will follow specific to S4 pupils and parents which will contain information on timetables, transport and testing (see below).
• All Secondary students will have to maintain 2m distancing from each other and staff when on school transport and when in school. This does not apply to Early Years or Primary students.
• Students with Additional Support Needs and the children of Key Workers will continue to access school in the normal way. I will be emailing all key worker parents asking for their requirements to be shared with the school for the weeks ahead. Any new applications should contact Children Services using the link on this page – https://www.shetland.gov.uk/schools/schools-covid-19-updates
• Pupils in P4, P5, P6, P7, S1, S2 and S3 will continue to learn from home with their paper packs, Teams activities/assignments and live sessions with their teachers.
• All staff and S4 students will have the option to test themselves for COVID-19 twice per week, using Lateral Flow Device testing kits. Consent forms and guides will be provided to these groups this week.

In addition to this, we will continue with our existing COVID-19 safe protective measures which include the wearing of face coverings, regular hand washing/sanitising, minimising the sharing of equipment/resources and effective ventilation.

In the coming weeks, we expect to find out more with regard the timings of other year groups returning to school although it was suggested in the statement yesterday, it would be unlikely to be before 15^th March. When I know more about this, I will be in contact with you.

You may have questions, concerns or general queries about this phased return. If so, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me on 01595 807020, paulthomson@shetland.gov.uk or through the Monday afternoon Vscene video chats – https://app.vscene.net/r/HYWhPQ5Z4S

Best wishes,

P. Thomson

Paul Thomson, Head Teacher