17^th June 2021

Sports Day

Dear Parents/Carers

As you will be aware from the weekly news bulletins, our planned sports days are fast approaching.  As with everything we do in school, the safety of the children and the whole school community is paramount and so we have thought very carefully about sports days this year.  We must of course follow Government guidance and must not promote mass gatherings or mixing of bubbles.  We are also aware that many schools have made the decision not to invite parents/carers to sports days at all. 

However, sports day is a time for all children to shine and with your support, we would like to find a way to safely provide this opportunity for the children.  We have therefore reviewed Government guidance and assessed risks with regard to our specific setting carefully to enable us to plan for all children to take part in a sports day and to share this with a member of their family.

We are fortunate to have a large site and so with the cooperation of parents and carers, we feel able to safely run sports days within year group bubbles.  In order for the planned sports days to go ahead, I must outline the safety arrangements and procedures that will be in place in line with the risk assessment for the event.  For everyone’s safety, we will enforce these strictly so please ensure you are willing to adhere to them before attending:

• To comply with Government guidance and to enable families to share in this event, one adult per pupil is invited to attend.  Please do not put staff in the difficult position of having to ask adults to leave by more than one adult attending for your child. We are saddened to have to insist upon this but it is the only way we can have any adults on site during the event, our only other option is to run sports days without any parents/carers attending.

• If at all possible, we ask adults to make alternative childcare arrangements for younger siblings. Where this is not possible, please ensure young children are safe and do not compromise the safety of others by keeping them close to you.

• Before attending please complete the form below to let us know who will attend to support us with track and trace.

• On the day, no adult should attend, nor should any children attend with them who have Covid-19 symptoms.

• Entry to sports day should be punctual and via the Marlow Road gate (next to the High School). Adults will leave via this exit also. We would ask that you wear a face mask on entry until you find a spot within your designated area. Face masks should only be removed once seated.

• Each year group will have a designated area where the children will carry out events in the centre of the area and their adult can watch them from a designated safe distance.  Whilst watching your child, it will be your responsibility to maintain social distance from other adults.  For everyone’s safety, please do not gather in groups. You may wear a mask if you wish to do so.

• For safety, we are unable to provide seating but adults are welcome to bring their own camping chair or blanket to sit on in their designated area socially distanced from other adults.

• Adults must not approach their child, before, during or after the event.  Should there be a need for medical help/comfort at any time we will invite you to a safe space to see your child.

• As with all school events, please remember dogs are not allowed on site, smoking or vaping is not permitted and no alcohol is to be brought on to site.

• There will be no toilets available to visitors (children or adults). School children will access their usual bubble’s toilets supervised by staff.

• Should any visitor become injured on site this can be reported to the school office on 01473 741249, where you will need to give the affected person’s name and location and a member of the school’s First Aid team will be deployed to assist.

• Parents/Carers may take photos of their child, but this must be for their own personal use and not be posted on social media if it contains any other child or adult.

• Once sports day has finished, visitors are asked to leave the site promptly and not to approach their child. As the event is taking part during the school day, your child will remain with their class teacher and be dismissed in the usual way at the end of the school day.

• Please can we ask that parents/carers talk to their child about sports day in advance so that they are equipped and prepared to take part and understand how we are safely running the event this year.

• We are hoping for sunshine so please ensure your child has sunscreen applied before they come to school and that they have a named hat and water bottle.  The children need to come into school in their PE kit on their allocated sports day.

Please see below for arrangements for each year group.

I hope this information reassures you as to how our planned sports days can be an enjoyable time for the children still and something that we can share together safely. Please complete the form overleaf for your child to advise who will be attending.

Thank you for your continued support.

Mrs Hall

Headteacher