Pupil ‘bubbles’, social distance and staggered start times: It’s school, but not as we knew it...

INNOVATIVE WAYS TO KEEP ALL SAFE AS SOME PUPILS RETURN

PRIMARY school teachers have had to be creative and find imaginative ways to help younger pupils make sure they social distance in their first week back at school.

All nine of the schools in the Inspiring Primaries Academy Trust were back open on June 1, with around half of Reception children back on the first day, along with 45 per cent of Year 1 pupils and 58 per cent of Year 6.

The group comprises nine primary schools – All Saints in Sapcote, Claybrooke Primary, Dunton Bassett Primary, Gilmorton Chandler, John Wycliffe in Lutterworth, Sharnford Primary, St Margaret’s in Stoke Golding, St Mary’s in Bitteswell and Ullesthorpe Primary.

Trust leader Marie Sandford said: “The health, safety and wellbeing of all of our children and staff is paramount and we’ve erred on the side of caution with all actions to offer the best possible protection to our children, staff and families.”

One way teachers are encouraging the younger children to social distance is by getting them to stretch out their arms and picture themselves in a bubble, and then to try not to burst one another’s bubbles.

A total of 369 pupils were back in classes on the first day, with some major differences to how the schools operated before lockdown.

The centres have created “protective bubbles” of no more than 15 children, limiting interaction between groups of children and staff teams.

A bubble is taught together, has playtime and lunchtime together and is cared for and taught by consistent staff.

The children are taught the “catch it, bin it, kill it” approach for coughing and sneezing and they regularly hand wash, using a variety of rhymes to ensure they do it for at least 20 seconds.

Pupils can only bring in a sun hat, sun cream to apply themselves, a water bottle and a packed lunch if required.

Each child is allocated their own seated space and set of equipment to use, which remains in school at all times.

Ms Sandford said: “Children are encouraged to wear sport-style shoes and clothing as we are spending as much time outdoors as possible, and this removes the need to change clothes and shoes.

“We also discourage laces if children cannot tie them by themselves.

“All outdoor play equipment is carefully chosen and it is wiped after use.