Uniform Guidance

We’ve had all the children back at school for a few weeks now and it is a great feeling to think we’re slowly getting back to normal. With the warmer weather and clubs restarting, I thought it would be a good time to remind everyone about some key points from our uniform and PE policies.

Please remember that most of these rules are drawn from Health and Safety guidance. Our main priority is to keep everyone safe from harm at school.

1. Wearing Jewellery in school

a. Bracelets and necklaces: these should not be worn at all.

b. Earrings

• Rec/KS1 (up to and including Year 2) children should ideally not wear any earrings to school – if you do wish to have your child’s ears pierced, the best thing to do is to wait until the summer break so they have time to heal.
• KS2 (Years 3, 4, 5 and 6) children may wear simple, small studs. Hooped, dangling or large earrings are not allowed.

2. Wearing jewellery in PE

I have reminded the KS2 children this week about our health and safety rules governing the wearing of jewellery in school and in PE, which are based on guidance from the Association for Physical Education.

As a general principle, children should not wear ear studs when doing P.E. This is because of the possibility that studs can be accidently caught (by another child, for instance) and ripped out, or could be struck by a ball, driving the stud into the bone behind the ear. These are nasty injuries that can be easily avoided.

• Studs should be removed by the child before P.E.
• Children in either Key Stage who, for whatever reason, cannot remove their own studs will be given micropore tape so that they can cover their earrings themselves before taking part in PE lessons. The child will then remove the tape after the lesson.
• If a child cannot cover their own ear studs in tape (for example: they are allergic or they are too young to be able to do this) then they will not be able to actively participate in the lesson but will be given an observational/feedback role.
• Watches and fitness trackers should be removed.

3. Footwear

Footwear that is fit for purpose is essential for pupil safety around school as well as in PE. School shoes should offer effective grip, support and protection for general school activities, such as running on the playground. Shoes should be black and not sports branded.

We are seeing children in flimsy, badly-fitting lightweight shoes that were probably bought with summer weather in mind but which are not robust enough for school. Some injuries have occurred already because of this. Please check your child’s footwear to make sure it is fit for purpose.

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For more information on our uniform policy, please see the relevant pages on our website: https://www.southill.dorset.sch.uk/parents-carers/uniform/

If you have any further questions about our policy, please let me know.

Covid restrictions

From next Monday, restrictions are expected to ease a little more across the country. There are some implications for schools and we plan to stop arranging our classrooms in rows and to begin mixing our children a little more inside. Please note that face masks for all adults outside will still be necessary and that we do not intend to organise any event that will involve large numbers of parents gathering, except for the Y6 leavers’ assembly, for the rest of this term.

After-school clubs

It was a great to get clubs up and running again this week. Lots of staff have volunteered to run a club – it’s a demonstration of their commitment to the school that so many of them are willing to give up their time for the children in this way.

Demand for the clubs was very high and the office staff worked very hard to apportion places as fairly and to as many children as they could. I am grateful to everyone for the efforts in getting clubs off the ground again and trust the children enjoy taking part.

Marchesi House

Local residents will know that Marchesi House – the building on the corner of Sycamore Road and Radipole Lane – is going to be redeveloped into a number of flats and houses. We are told that some pre-demolition work has already begun. Pete Barrow, one of our governors, attended a meeting with the developers to find out how the work would affect access to and from school during the day.

The developer assured him that all works traffic will be using an access road off Radipole Lane, so there should be no obstructions in Sycamore Road at all.

We intend to keep a close eye on the building work as it develops and to remain in close contact with the site manager. His contact details will be made available to all so that you can get in touch directly should you have any specific concerns.