Frequently Asked Questions

Great Question! You are more than welcome to contact the teacher through the Seesaw. You can also email our Home Learning email address HomeLearning@abercarnprimary.org we will try and respond as quickly as possible.

Children will be encouraged and reminded to socially distance at all times even when in their “Bubble”. Children will be in a bubble with other children and their Teacher and Teaching Assistant. They will not have contact with other “Bubbles” but can wave etc to other children from a distance. Bubbles will have playtime, lunch, outside activities at different times. Bubbles will be no more than 8. WG Guidance states that bubbles with less than 8 can potentially “mix” although we will be encouraging and reinforcing social distancing.

We are splitting the class based on friendship groups and well-being. For the older children we are also trying to split the class so Year 6 children are together to support transition. We are also splitting classes to try and accommodate siblings.

No one can 100% guarantee safety at all times as there is risk in everything we do. I can put procedures and routines in place that reduces the risk and that is what I have done.

First aid would be administered. Allocated first aiders may need to wear PPE if in close proximity and for certain situations. We would comfort and reassure as much as we could as we usually do although PPE may be worn by staff.

Class sizes will vary depending on the size of the classroom and children attending – although some rooms can accommodate 12+ pupils our class bubble size will be a maximum of 8 and up to 10 for our Hub. Group size will vary up to 8 because we are trying to accommodate siblings on same days as well as friendship groups.

Desks, chairs and work areas will be spaced 2m apart. There will be floor markings throughout the school. Children and staff will work in Bubbles - working in bubbles allows a lot more flexibility with social distancing. Social distancing will be encouraged and reinforced both inside and outside the school. We have a range of games up our sleeves for playtimes.  

This depends on a range of factors and what restrictions are in place from the Welsh Government at the time for your circumstances. As long as the restrictions allow, usual drop off and collection is fine – although please make sure that whoever collects respects new procedures in place.

No - we are deep cleaning and preparing the site. We will be providing photos and videos to demonstrate what we have in place. We cannot have numerous adults and various times on site effectively as we all need to socially distance.

Not on 29th June 2020. We will welcome the children who should’ve started with us as soon as we can but it will not be on 29th June 2020.

No. There are no plans from Welsh Government to do this. Children will move up to their new class in September as planned.

Children and staff will be in “Bubbles”. Break times will be at different times for each bubble and they will have their own area. A range of social distancing games will be provided for each bubble.

Home Learning does need to continue and we need to ensure we continue with the excellent practice shown in the last 12 weeks. The week will be organised so that on a Friday all teachers will be fully online. Of course they will be online throughout the week although it will be limited as teachers cannot be in two places at once. The homelearning@abercarnprimary.org email will continue to help with any queries.

There are a range of methods including but not limited to: One-way system in place outside school for drop off and collections. Allocated drop off and collection times. Using class bubbles. Markings on floor and signage throughout the school both inside and out. Staggered break and lunch times. Supervised toilet use with cubicles/sinks allocated to each bubble and a one in one out policy.

We are doing our best to ensure siblings attend school on the same day and children are with friends.

There are adequate and allocated washing facilities for every class bubble. Every class will have soap dispensers and sanitising products.

Will there be a set day that the children will be given? Will my child be attending the whole month at school or different days/weeks to allow for others to go at different times?"

Yes – children will be given a set day every week and set drop off and collection times for each year group. This will either be a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.  

We will provide your allocated day together will allocated drop off and collection times as soon as we possibly can. We need to have all the information from Welsh Government and Local Authority. We also need to know whether parents intend to send their child as this will impact on bubble sizes and make up – we are still waiting for a number of parents to confirm whether their child will be attending or not.

We will follow Welsh Government and Public Health Wales guidance. If they are available and criteria is met then teachers will be tested. This is not a school decision – we follow the guidance and criteria from Welsh Government.

Yes – children will be in their bubble with their usual teacher and teaching assistant. There may be circumstances beyond our control that arise and an alternative teacher / adult may need to attend.

No. It is your decision whether your child attends. Welsh Government has made clear that there is no pressure to attend and no fines will be issued.

No. Current Public Health Wales guidance does not advise the wearing of masks. Therefore, no masks will be worn. If the advice changes, this may need to change too. Mask will be worn in line with WG Guidance for specific close contact tasks e.g. First Aid, Intimate Care.

No. However, teachers know your child well and will do their best to ensure they are with children they know / friends. We are trying to accommodate many factors e.g. Siblings, class sizes and friends etc

Yes of course. There will be playtimes for each class bubble throughout the day at different times, in different areas.

Yes. Children will be with other children from their current class. We will not be mixing classes.

We are working closely with the Secondary School and will provide possible transition tasks for Year 6 as well as information regarding their new routine etc. We will provide as much information as we can from the Secondary School. We do not know yet whether visits can be undertaken although virtual contact is being arranged. We have a dedicated page for transition on our website for all year groups including anything posted from the Secondary School.

If your child has an Additional Learning Need we may need to complete a Risk Assessment and provide PPE for their adult support. This is for the safety of both the child and the adult. Further details regarding this is being obtained from the Local Authority. We will be in touch and will talk you through everything. WG Guidance states that following a risk assessment it may be more appropriate for some learners to continue learning remotely

We will manage behaviour as we usually do. We do not have any physical contact with children.

Yes of course. Toys and games will be cleaned after use and at the end of each day.

Every child will be offered at least 1 day per week for the majority of the day. Times do vary as we need to stagger the drop off and collection times to reduce congestion and help with social distancing.

Yes. We are doing our best to ensure every child will be with friends and know other children within their bubble.

Toilet use will be supervised at all times. Children will sanitise before using the toilet and wash hands after each use. Toilets have been separated with a cubicle and sink allocated to each class bubble. Toilets will be cleaned after each use.

No. Current advice is that it is not necessary to temperature screen. Parents can check for the signs of a high temperature. Temperature screening will not identify all cases of COVID-19 and the means of checking temperatures may put children and staff at a greater risk of transmission. Staff will be vigilant for changes to children’s temperature and non-touch forehead thermometers are in each classroom and can be used to confirm a high temperature or sign of fever. If necessary, we will do this in a friendly and no intrusive manner and make it as fun as possible.

You must be prepared to collect your child from school. If your child is unwell, he/she will go with an adult to our Isolation room and exit through a dedicated door when you arrive. You must make arrangements for there to be a speedy collection from school if required. Please note that the adult with your child may need to wear PPE in line with WG Guidance.

Rooms will be re-organised so children can work / play 2m apart as much as possible. Furniture will be rearranged. There will be a zoned area for teachers.

Yes. There will be very limited movement around the school. This will support track and trace principles.

You will be provided with a drop off and collection time slot. You will need to drop off and collect at these times. Adults will be outside to help support and guide you. There will be an allocated area to wait if required.

Yes. We will provide lots of photos and videos so you can see everything in place.

As movement around school and corridors will be extremely limited, we will have a “Stop, Stand Back and Wait” policy in place inside school. This will enable children to use the toilet when they need to go as otherwise some children may need to walk all the way around school in order to go etc. A one-way system will be in place for drop off and collections.

Parents will be kept informed and in line with Public Health Wales guidance if a child or staff member tests positive the whole class bubble would need to isolate following WG / PHW Guidance. We would fully support test track and protect.

We are focussed on helping all children deal with these changes. We will focus on well-being during the contact days. All Teaching Assistants are trained in Child Mental Health. Our Thrive TA will also be in school to help with anxiety wherever possible. It is also important for you to play your part and prepare your child as much as possible. Social stories and resources will be made available

PPE is available in every room for close contact situations e.g. first aid, changing a child etc. It will not be worn for general situations. Adults may need to wear PPE including face masks and visors for certain situations – this cannot be avoided and is in line with WG Guidance. Children will not be required to wear PPE e.g. facemasks – Public Health Wales does not advise facemasks are worn.

Yes. We have lots of sanitiser for use throughout the school and in all classrooms and outside toilet facilities. We also have sanitiser outside to be used by anyone entering the site.

Yes. We will be working within bubbles in order to support track and trace (Test, Trace Protect). If a child becomes ill, we will easily be able to track their contacts by using the bubble system.

Yes. There is a plan with procedures and routines. I will publish the plan and our reasons along with the risk assessment as soon as possible. The plan is being worked on by all staff, Governors and taking account of Welsh Government Guidance / LA advice.

No there will be no breakfast club. Caerphilly Catering will arrange a delivery of boxed Cereal Bars to school that can be given to pupils to consume over the morning break in each bubble.

If there are multiple cases of COVID-19 in school then experts from across the NHS and local government will work together to prevent ongoing transmission within school. This will involve identifying those exposed, any child or staff member who is at increased risk and provide tailored infection control advice. Advice based on the assessment of each individual situation will be provided to support the school in preventing further spread. The process will be handled sensitively and in confidence. Further information and questions and answers about Test, Trace, Protect can be found on the Welsh Government website.