28th August 2020

Dear Parent/Carer,

Academic Year 2020-21

I hope this letter finds you well and that you have managed to have a good summer, connecting with family and friends with the lockdown restrictions easing. We welcomed the news of the grading of the external examinations reverting to centre assessed grades. It was the only way forward and I know it has made a significant difference to our young people and their teachers. Thank you to all in our wonderful community for your support and understanding as we navigate through this unique chapter in our lives. I know we will approach this next phase of reopening with a shared common purpose of welcoming our brilliant young people into their classrooms, actively learning together with their peers. This letter contains more details about our plans for return. Apologies, it is a long letter, but I hope helps you to better support the return to school routines.

We are really looking forward to welcoming students back to school starting next week. The wellbeing of our school community is of paramount importance and much planning, preparation and adaptation has already taken place to ensure we have taken all possible steps to minimise coronavirus risks. Essential measures from the Department of Education include:

  • A requirement that people who are ill stay at home – please ensure your child does not attend school if they are unwell with any one of the coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms, or who have someone in their household who has symptoms as well.

  • Robust hand and respiratory hygiene – all students will be expected to wash their hands or sanitise upon arrival, before and after eating and at the end of break times. We continue to promote the Catch it! Kill it! Bin it! strategy.

  • Enhanced cleaning arrangements – we are working closely with Hackney Council and our cleaning contractors to ensure our classrooms are cleaned to a high standard. Cleaning equipment, such as in PE and Design and Technology lessons, will be part of our standard classroom routines.

  • Active engagement with NHS Test and Trace – information on how to get a test can be found here or call 119 if you do not have access to the internet.

The Department for Education guidance ‘Formal consideration of how to reduce contacts and maximise distancing between those in school wherever possible and minimise potential for contamination so far as is reasonably practicable’ has been duly actioned. In my communication at the beginning of the summer holidays I set out how each year group is being organised.

All students are expected in full school uniform with the correct school equipment from the first day back. This includes the induction days which begin from Thursday 3 September for Year 7. Years 9 to 13 must bring their own equipment to school. The start times and our adapted timetable can be found here.

Face masks

At SNS, in preparation for the return of our school community, it was important we took all steps to keep everyone safe. Even before the guidance on face masks had changed, we had already purchased reusable masks for our community members to wear if social distancing measures are not possible, such as at transition times, small sixth form classrooms or in lessons where there are vulnerable individuals who are more at risk due to coronavirus.

Each student will receive a school face mask in a labelled small plastic bag. The bag containing the mask is to be kept in their school bag. These face masks are washable and are for school use only. Students using public transport should a separate mask to prevent any cross contamination.

Student expectations

Our students are expected to be the best of ambassadors for our school community. I am very proud of how our young people have modelled our school values during the SNS Home Learning phase. It remains imperative that our students meet our high standards of behaviour by following school rules, looking out for one another and importantly maximising the time in lessons. You can read our revised school expectations here. Please take time to go through these with your son/daughter in readiness for the start of term.

Parents and visitors

As you will understand, to reduce interruptions to the day, support social distancing measures and reduce transmission of the virus, you are asked not to drop your child outside of the school gate or to congregate outside of the school gate at the end of school. Please arrange a meeting point with your son/daughter away from the school gate. This is to ensure the safe arrival and departure of all our young people.

From September 2020, please do not to come to the school site to drop items for your child or arrive at the school without an appointment.

Please ensure your child is appropriately dressed for our changeable weather with a waterproof coat and remember that hoodies are not permitted. Unfortunately, with the new preventative measures students will need to be outside the school building should it rain, as we will not be able to keep our students indoors in the same way when it is a wet break or lunch. Students are advised to bring umbrellas when rain is forecast, as sheltered areas are limited.

After school and lunchtime clubs

At this moment we have suspended any clubs whilst we become accustomed to our new routines. We are keen to have our clubs up and running as soon as possible, and when we can cater for these, we will of course communicate this to you.

Parents’ wellbeing session

I know that for many parents, whilst the return to school is welcomed, there will naturally be some anxiety and worry about this next phase. Following parents’ requests for another session to help with students’ return, Nimisha Tanna, our Child and Adolescent Mental Health Practitioner, will be holding the session below for all parents. You are welcome to attend, even if you attended the one earlier in the summer. Should you wish to attend please email my PA Sophie Preedy on sop.pre@sns.hackney.hackney.uk.

Are you concerned about how your young person will manage in the transition back to school? Do you have any worries around their stress or anxiety levels and whether they might benefit from further support? Join Nimisha Tanna (Family Therapist, Hackney Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services) for an online session for Stoke Newington School parents where you can share concerns and learn more about how to manage anxiety. Wednesday 2nd September 3:30 – 5pm. “How to manage anxiety

Parent Partnership

During the closure, our school offer was regularly reviewed and in partnership with you, we managed to develop our provision with live lessons across our subjects. Our parent forums have helped strengthen our partnership and we will continue to hold these valuable forums even after we have returned, providing opportunities to discuss and consult on school initiatives, as well as to update you on educational matters. Communicating with you regularly has meant you are better informed and in a stronger position to support your child. Therefore, I will continue my weekly letters by way of keeping you updated.

It is vital we have up-to-date contact details for all our parents and carers, together with your child’s medical needs. Next week you will receive a copy of the contact details and the medical needs we hold for your child for checking. For health and safety reasons please kindly complete this task promptly.

I also want to reassure you that should there be a local or national local lockdown, we have plans in place to quickly move to an online learning platform, ensuring that learning continues. More details about this will be published soon.

You will also find national advice and guidance for parents and carers on school reopening via government and public health websites.

Lastly, it leaves me to wish you a lovely long weekend and once again thank you for all your support. Look forward to seeing our young people very soon.

With best wishes,
Zehra Jaffer