Windrush Valley Private School Oxfordshire is pleased to announce the return to school of all Year groups on 29 June.
The Department for Education announcement on the 15 June, entitled; Primary schools to be given flexibility to bring back more pupils, confirmed that schools have the flexibility to decide which additional pupils to prioritise for return, provided guidelines are followed and protective measures are in place, including limiting primary class sizes to no more than 15 pupils.
In line with Government guidance, Windrush Valley Private School Oxfordshire has implemented a comprehensive range of policies and protocols to ensure a safe and secure environment for everyone. Furthermore, small class sizes are a central tenet of the school’s approach to delivering academic excellence. Our class sizes currently average 10 pupils. We are also fortunate in so much as the layout of the school, and its buildings, enables us to implement many of the new policies and protocols to the highest standard.
Three important reasons why we have decided to return all Year groups
First and foremost, our priority remains the safety of our pupils, parents, and staff. We are confident that the measures we have put in place make returning to school safe. Based on this premise we have made the decision that all Year groups should return to school for three important reasons:
1. Assessment of pupils academic standing before the summer break
Every family’s experience of lockdown has been different, each experiencing success and difficulty in different areas. Therefore, the return enables teaching staff to assess pupil’s individual academic standing prior to the long summer break.
2. Hit the ground running in September
The assessment of pupil’s academic standing before the long summer break is vital. It means that lessons, and if needed, bespoke programmes of learning support will be ready for September. The pressure of feeling the need to ‘catch up’ after a stressful period of isolation and lockdown should not be felt by the children but managed by the teachers by informed planning for the new academic year. Our objective is to ensure all pupils continue to excel and flourish despite the lockdown.
3. Pupil’s well-being and mental health
Classmates and pupil friendships are important aspects of school life. It is, therefore, important that these relationships are re-established and nurtured before they fragment. We want to restore those feelings of acceptance and belonging that are so important for children to be able to learn. Windrush Valley Private School Oxfordshire has an exceptional track record for delivering the highest standards of school pastoral care.
If you would like more information about the return to school, please feel free to contact me.
Mrs Amanda Douglas, BA(Hons) QTS
Headteacher
More information on the school’s revised governance, social distancing, hygiene practices and medical policies is contained within our recent announcement; Return to School – Governance, Teaching, Hygiene and Social Distancing