Drop off and Pick up Arrangements for September 2018
Dear Parents/Carers,
We are looking forward to Trinity school being open from September 2018 and welcoming families from Nursery through to Year 1. When I started as headteacher 15 months ago, we didn’t have a school building, staff or pupils! In September we will have over 120 pupils and 15 members of staff and a brand new state of the art building to begin your child’s educational journey. I am extremely excited about this next step in the life of Trinity school, but I am also mindful that we are increasing our numbers at a rapid rate, which will have an impact on the surrounding Newcourt area.
As you will all be aware, the current access to the school is through Vernon Crescent. However, whilst this will continue to be a pedestrian access route, when the road leading from the Seabrook Orchards area of Newcourt reaches the school, our main school entrance will change creating a more flexible and manageable drop off area. We do not know the exact timescale for this, but it could be up to 2 years away. In the meantime, our Vernon Crescent entrance will continue to be the main pedestrian and vehicular access to the school and we want to ensure that there is minimum disruption to local residents, as well as ensuring the safety of our pupils and parents.
As with all schools, morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up times add to the traffic flow in the area and although many of our families will be walking or cycling to school, there will be an increase in cars during these times. From the hours of 8.30–9.15am and 2.45–3.30pm our school vehicle gates will be locked to ensure the safety of pedestrians travelling to and from the site. This will mean that parents will not be able to drive into our school at these times and the surrounding area will be used for parents to park for a very short period of time whilst they walk their children into school. Parents who are using the extended schools service will be able to drop off their children from 7.30-8.30am and pick up from 3.30-6.00pm using the school car park. Priority access for disabled drivers is available. Please contact the office for further information.
Although this will mean an increase in traffic in the area, we do not anticipate any parking issues, as parents will only be dropping off and collecting and not staying all day. However, to ensure minimal disruption during these times we will be monitoring the situation carefully and would ask that parents can be as considerate as possible by not parking directly outside the school gates or across resident driveways as this will cause unnecessary congestion.
Bikes, Scooters and Dogs
We are working with Devon County Council and the Sustrans team to promote safer and easier travel. Encouraging children to walk, cycle and scoot will reduce congestion and pollution around the school gates. It will also help your child’s mental and physical health. Teachers find that pupils who walk, scoot and cycle arrive at school more relaxed, alert and ready to start the day than those who travel by car.
From September, due to the single entrance that we currently use, we would ask that all pupils and parents dismount from their bikes and scooters at the main gate and any dogs will need to be secured away from the main entrance and not brought onto the school premises.
Active mornings
As part of promoting an active and healthy lifestyle in school, we will be starting each morning with a healthy activity at 8.40am (10 mins before the start of the school day). These sessions are free of charge and are open to all parents and children. Please see below for details:
Monday – Wake up & Shake Up – Music and dancing led by the Early Years Team
Tuesday – The Big Sing Up – Fun action songs led by our Music Consultant Laura Loft
Wednesday – Fun and Fit – Fitness workout led by our St Lukes Sports Coach Matt Upston
Thursday – The Big Sing Up – Fun action songs led by our Music Consultant Laura Loft
Friday – Multi Fitness – Multi skills activities led by our Sports Coach Andrew Baylis
Our Active mornings will start the w/b 10th September and will take place in the Reception and Year 1 waiting area.
Arrangements for the first week back
Wednesday 5th September 8.50am - School starts for Year 1
Thursday 6th September 8.50am – School starts for Reception Children
Monday 10th September 9.00am – School starts for Nursery Children
There will be members of staff at the gates to direct you to the correct drop off areas.
In the meantime, if you have any concerns or would like to discuss any issues, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Further information can be found on our website and if you are in reception or nursery a final induction leaflet will be sent outlining the timings and information for your child’s first day at school.
Have a lovely summer break and myself and the Trinity Team look forward to seeing you all in September.
Thank you for your continued encouragement and support.