BISL 2021 Reopening Procedure Guidance

Last updated Friday 12th February

Dear Parents,

Following the news of primary schools and final year of high schools restarting on Monday 15^th February in Slovenia, please find out key information below regarding our plans to transition students safely back to the building.

We are delighted with this news and look forward to welcoming our students back into the building, learning with one another, and enjoying face to face lessons.

During this block break, we have had another deep clean and have been working hard to ensure that our excellent hygiene standards have been maintained.

Further information of the plan for our returning classes will be emailed to parents individually and we will continue to review this provision daily. This will involve our usual high standards of hygiene, health and safety guidance, and the use of small class sizes.

All teachers will be required to wear masks in the classroom.

At BISL, we are following the guidance to test all teachers (showing a negative test) before they teach on site and will continue to do so on a regular weekly basis or until guidance changes.

Please check your email for regular updates, read the Update from the Principal at the end of each week and our School Newsletters for Primary and Secondary for further information.

Kind regards,

Paul Walton

Principal

As always, we plan for a staggered start to allow groups of students to come back to school in a calm, organised and steady manner. Our Year groups will return as follows:

Safety is our number one priority. We continue to monitor the situation closely and will follow guidance from the Ministry of Health, WHO, as well as Orbital Education.

Hand sanitisers continue to be available around the school, and students will be encouraged to use these regularly throughout the day. Instructions on the correct way to wash our hands and use sanitisers are also shared with students and staff around school.

Assemblies will not be held in the assembly hall, and where necessary, classes will be split into smaller groups. School lunches will continue to be served in the classrooms accordingly.

Following the requirements by the Ministry of Health, teachers are provided with masks to wear in school. The guidelines for students wearing masks remain the same.

Our cleaning company have been in school performing a deep clean to maintain our high standards of hygiene. Additional cleaning has taken place and the cleanliness is being assessed and reviewed daily. Extra resources for hygiene including hand-wash, wipes, sprays and sanitisers are available at school. The whole has been inspected according to our hygiene standards during the week of 8th - 12th February. We are very happy with the standard of hygiene and cleanliness throughout the building.

Before students can return to school, their parents will have to complete a Parent declaration form for this reopening (2021). This should be printed out and handed in on the first day OR downloaded and signed electronically and emailed to reception@britishschool.si.

Here are some of the procedures from our Reopening Plan

• Ongoing daily clean
• Declaration Form for students will be needed upon return before entering the building
• Extra resources for hygiene (sprays, wipes, gels, hand sanitisers, masks etc.)
• Daily temperature checks for staff
• All teachers will be required to wear masks in the classroom
• At BISL, we are following the guidance to test all teachers (showing a negative test) before they teach on site and then weekly checks
• Coronavirus Prevention guidance posters displayed around school
• Smaller classes where necessary
• Staggered break times and zones to keep students separated
• Students will remain in the same ‘home’ classes for lessons
• Lunches and snacks will be served in classes (Students will not gather in the canteen/Assembly Hall)
• Sport will be conducted in smaller groups of up to 10 people and activities will be non-contact
• No other after school activities will be organised or external teachers used
• There will be no changes in procedures for kindergartens and the first three grades of Primary school
• Meetings and events continue to be held online
• Daily Review of all procedures by the Leadership Team

Students and staff must wear a mask adhering to the following guidelines whilst in school:

Staff are required to wear masks at all times in school. Students up to and including Year 9 are welcome to wear their masks at all times if they choose but are only required to wear them in common areas / corridors. Students in Years 10 - 13 are required to wear masks at all times in school.

• All students must follow the mask guidance above.

• All students must have a signed declaration from their parents to allow them to return to school.

• Main entrance opens at 7:15am.

• Where necessary, we aim to divide students into smaller groups to adhere to current guidance.

• All students should bring in their own resources, including water bottles, pencil cases, technology, headphones, etc as normal.

• Toilets will be cleaned frequently throughout the day. They will be used on an individual basis (one at a time) only, upon teacher’s permission.

• Students must follow health and safety guidance as per the posters displayed around the school.

• All teachers must wear masks at all times in school, including wearing masks in the classroom. Teachers that need a replacement mask will be provided one by the school.

  At BISL, we are following the guidance to test all teachers (showing a negative test) before they teach on site.

• Class teachers must make sure all students in school have a signed declaration from their parents.

• Teachers will ensure that classroom doors will be kept open and classrooms are well ventilated regularly.

• All meetings will be held online between teachers to avoid larger gatherings.

• Teachers have access to hand sanitisers and sprays to maintain a high level of hygiene in the classroom.

• Toilets will be cleaned frequently throughout the day. They will be used on an individual basis (one at a time) only.

• Staff must follow health and safety guidance as per the posters displayed around the school and ensure that students do the same.

• Parents must provide a signed declaration before their child(ren) can return to school.

• Parents are advised not to enter the school building.

• Main entrance opens at 7:15am. Drop-off and pick-up procedures will operate as normal, but parents will not be permitted to enter the school building. Please scroll down to the FAQ section for more information about after-school provision.

• Parents with appointments with a member of staff or Early Years parents who are dropping off/collecting children must wear a mask.

• Parents are encouraged to pack an extra healthy snack – fruit or veggies. Lunches should be ordered as per normal.

• Parents must follow health and safety guidance as per the posters displayed around the school and encourage that students do the same.

• Drop off is from 7.15am and pick up starts at 2.45pm.
• Use the normal drop off zone outside the main entrance.
• Stay in your car as staff will assist to keep this as safe, efficient and quick as possible.
• If collecting students on foot, please use the walkways indicated by the cones.
• Name signs have been distributed this week for parents to display inside the windscreen to help staff with pick up of students at the end of the day.
• Please avoid parking up and reversing into traffic. The drop off procedure is there for the safety of all students.
• Please avoid taking masks off and speaking to other families in groups. We all need to maintain safe distancing and follow the guidance from the ministry. Let's continue working together.

Year groups who have returned to school will carry on with lessons as per their normal timetable.

Online lessons continue for Year groups who have not transitioned back to school.

Returning Year groups will be split where necessary to adhere to all health and safety guidelines.

At BISL, we are following the guidance to test all teachers (showing a negative test) before they teach on site.

Classes 5A, 5B, Year 7 and Year 13 will return to school.

Early Years – Year 4 will continue in the building as normal.

Year 6 and Year 8 will return to school.

Year 9 will return to school.

Hand sanitisers continue to be available around the school, and students will be encouraged to use these regularly throughout the day. Instructions on the correct way to wash our hands and use sanitisers are also shared with students and staff around school.

Online provision will continue for Years 10, 11 and 12, who will remain on online learning until further notice.

All students are expected to wear full school uniform when they return to school.

1. Will all students return on Monday 15thFebruary?

No, the school will organise a 'staggered' start for students returning to BISL. Please see 'Schedule of Reopening' section above. We will slowly bring back the year groups safely into school adhering to the guidance from the Ministry of Health.

2. Will all staff return onMonday 15thFebruary?

Yes, all staff teaching the year groups in the building will start back at school on Monday 15th February. At BISL, we are following the guidance to test all teachers (showing a negative test) before they teach on site. Other staff with online lessons will continue to work off site to minimise the number of adults in the building and this will be reviewed daily depending on the requirement of the students and school procedures.

3. Will there be any After School clubs, Assemblies, Trips or Adventure Days?

No, we will focus entirely on the safety of the students and the staff in school. This fits in with the government guidance of a shorter school day. No large gatherings/meetings or opportunities for large groups of students will occur. Students will be in lessons with teachers. No after school extended provision is offered during this time.

4. Have the pick-up and drop-off procedures changed?

No, pick-up and drop-off procedures continue as usual, but parents will not be permitted to enter the school building.

5. What are the procedures for Early Years pick-up and drop-off?

Doors will open from 7:30. EY parents should use the separate Early Years entrance as usual. Primary and Secondary students should be dropped off at the main entrance.

EY students should be picked up promptly between 14:45 - 15:00. Primary and Secondary students will picked up promptly between 14:45 - 15:00. Parents are asked to stay in their cars and NOT assemble at the main entrance (unless collecting their child on foot).

For parents entering the building at any time, health and safety measures apply at all times.

6. Should parents fill in any forms before they send their children back to school?

Yes, a completed and signed Parental declaration is compulsory before your child can return to school.

7. What happens if I have not filled in the Parental declaration for my child to return to school on their first day?

Students will not be permitted back into the school building without a signed Parental declaration.

8. Can I print and send the form in with my child on their first day back?

Yes, your child can bring the printed and signed form with them on their first day, but must immediately give it to their teacher. We however advise parents to return the completed form electronically via email to reception@britishschool.si prior to the first day of returning to school.

9. What are the expectations of families that choose to not allow their children to come back into school?

We respect the wishes of parents in this situation as some might not want their children back at school immediately. Please send an email to reception@britishschool.si to notify us of your decision.

10. How many students will there be in a class?

We aim to divide students into smaller groups to adhere to current guidance.

11. Will students and teachers be required to wear masks?

Students and staff must wear a mask adhering to the following guidelines whilst in school:

Staff are required to wear masks at all times in school. Students up to and including Year 9 are welcome to wear their masks at all times if they choose but are only required to wear them in common areas / corridors. Students in Years 10 - 13 are required to wear masks at all times in school.

12. Can students use outdoor play equipment?

Students are not permitted to share outside play equipment unless this has been cleaned after each use.

13. Will students go outside for break?

Students will be spending time outside, with careful consideration of adhering to safety distance. Students can play outside with the same group of students they share class with, supervised by the same member of staff as in the classroom.

14. Should students bring in water bottles?

Yes, water bottles filled with water should be brought from home.

15. Can students share resources?

No, students should continue using in their own resources, including water bottles, pencil cases, technology, headphones, etc as normal.

16. Will classrooms be ventilated?

Yes, classrooms are ventilated regularly, and classroom doors remain open at all times.

17. Will there be hand sanitisers in every classroom?

Yes. Hand sanitisers are also available at the entrance and in common areas.

18. Will the school be cleaned before the opening?

Yes, our cleaning company have been in school over the block break performing a deep clean of the school. Additional cleaning has taken place. The cleaning has been assessed and reviewed. Extra resources for hygiene including hand-wash, wipes, sprays and sanitisers have arrived at school. Staff have been in school preparing and we are confident that our school is clean and well prepared for our students to return safely.

19. Will online lessons continue during the day for students who choose not to return or are not yet due to return?

Our teachers will return to the normal timetables and teach the students in school. They will continue to upload work onto Canvas for students who are not in school at the end of the day. If a Year group has not return yet, their online lessons continue until that Year group returns. Once the Year group has returned to the school, the teacher will teach during the day and assist those absent by continuing to upload some resources from the school day.

20. Where is the information about which Year groups are returning to school and when?

The diagram of our 'staggered' start is included above in this article (Schedule of Reopening).

21. How will returning classes be structured?

Teachers will adapt their teaching environment to ensure that social distancing and sanitary guidance can be observed. Students will stay in their 'home' classroom only.

22. Will specialist lessons go ahead (PE, languages etc)?

Provisions will be provided to individual classes, prioritising the health and safety of all students, as we move forward in Block 5.

23. What are the uniform expectation as student return?

All students are expected to wear full school uniform when they return to school.

• PE Uniform

A provision for PE will be provided to individual classes as we move forward in Block 5.

24. Will school lunches be available?

Yes, lunches will be served as packed lunches and delivered directly to classrooms, adhering to the guidance from the Ministry of Health. Please order online as per usual.

25. What upcoming online events can we attend for further information?

The next Coffee with the Principal is scheduled for Friday March 5th, from 9:30am on Zoom, where Mr Walton, will give parents some detailed updates and plans about upcoming announcements, school events and discuss some of the key areas that we are focusing on as a school from a pedagogical point of view.

26. Do all teachers have to wear masks in the classroom?

Yes, all teachers will be required to wear masks in the classroom. We are in direct communication with the Ministry of Education and Health regarding updates on safety guidance.

27. Are teachers getting tested before they return to the building?

At BISL, we are following the guidance to test all teachers (showing a negative test) before they teach on site. We are in direct communication with the Ministry of Education and Health regarding updates on safety guidance.