HEADMASTER, CLIFTON HALL SCHOOL

MARITAL STATUS Married CHILDREN Three step- children: Jessica, 35, Stephen, 33, Robyn, 24 and my own son, Amos, who is 13

MAIN SUBJECT Primary specialist with a degree in English

This has been a difficult time for children. Some might not have been too upset when the school first closed, but months without seeing many of their friends has been hard. After all this time, it’s understandable that children might be a little nervous about being back to school. The school counsellor is on hand for any individual child who is experiencing such anxiety.

Clifton Hall is following government guidelines to keep pupils and staff safe.

The school is being cleaned more often and hand sanitiser stations have been installed in every classroom. These spaces are well ventilated and the pupils are also having more outdoor learning.

Junior school children do not need to distance themselves from each other. In senior school, steps are in place to try to encourage children to physically distance as much as possible. Senior school pupils and all adults are wearing facemasks in corridors and communal areas.

A number of Clifton Hall staff have now been trained in Covid- 19 First Aid measures and, in addition, the school nurse has created an isolation room in the Sports Pavilion.

Sports clothing has been the school uniform initially, and families have been asked to wash this daily.

In any contingency, the school has plans in place to allow learning to continue. There are no changes to the curriculum, although some activities have been curtailed, for example, musical instrument tuition, choir, contact sports and swimming.

At lunchtime, food is served on compostable, disposable plates. We have also changed the queuing arrangements and all catering staff wear full PPE.

Staff and prefects are on hand to help pupils arriving in the morning; parents and carers are asked not to congregate in groups when collecting children. They also are asked to collect pupils at the correct time and should not enter the school buildings but communicate by e- mail or phone.