Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.
I am pleased to announce that we have been working with catering to enhance the choice of meals available. From next week, we will move to another menu bringing back some of the old favourites such as Big Breakfast and Chicken Curry. I know many of us are very excited about this!
I will be updating the menu and posting it on the website over the weekend. However, I can confirm that on Monday the meal is coated chicken, pasta with sauce option and veg.
As we reach the end of the first week, it has been another long week filled with issues to solve and ways to make learning accessible.
PLEASE DO NOT STRESS OVER THE HOME LEARNING - simply do what you can. There are no expectations. There is no pressure, especially for those parents having to work from home. It is very difficult, near impossible, to try to do both of these things at the same time and we recognise this. There may also be conflict over bandwidth, access to devices and space to work at home with everyone being there together.
The powerpoints do have audio clips and your children should be familiar with this as it is what we use in class. Simply hover over the speaker, or click to hear the instruction. Work can be recorded in one notebook or on paper. We will also be saving worksheets in Word to enable pupils to record directly onto them rather than rely on a printer. Please send photos of work to the teacher on dojo so we can see how well you are doing and give feedback and the praise deserved.
We do not have broadband in school so cannot live stream at present. However, we are trying to find a way to have some interaction with pupils at home over the next few weeks to make contact with all pupils and to check how they are.
We are able to give hard copies of work if needed, and will be collating a list of interactive sources of work ideas and include more creative aspects for pupils to use independently. We have ordered workbooks too that we aim to make available for those who prefer this option. Please inform your teacher via dojo if you feel you need or would like this option.
I fully realise how difficult this situation may be for families at home and we aim to make this as easy as we can. Any learning that your child does - reading, watching educational TV/internet clips, drawing, using maths, writing diaries/list/letters to their teacher, baking, exercising - is good for them. But I also do not want parents to feel under pressure when things are already difficult enough.
Take care, stay safe, stay healthy.
SCHOOL IS CLOSED FOR ALL PUPILS TOMORROW - TUESDAY 5TH JANUARY.
You may have seen tonight the announcement by the government of the closing of schools from tomorrow (Tuesday 5th January) until after February half term.
Tomorrow we will be contacting all families to see if you qualify for provision during this new lock-down period - this is if you are a listed key worker or if your child is receiving additional support by external services.
Please send a response back to this request which will be sent from your class teacher tomorrow morning via the dojo so that we can plan the new 'pods' and ensure safety.
We will send further details tomorrow.
Pupils who are not eligible will have work set via the website under the Children tab, scroll to the class page to find the work.
You may have seen tonight the announcement by the government of the closing of schools from tomorrow until February half term.
Due to the speed of the commencement of the government announcement and new guidance re lock-down, school will have to be closed tomorrow to allow staff to plan and organise safe provision for this lock-down period.
Work will be posted online from tomorrow for all pupils who are remaining at home.
Key worker children and vulnerable children will be identified and the families of these children contacted. For these eligible pupils, provision at school will commence again from Wednesday 6th January. This will, however, not include wrap around care.
These arrangements have been made in consultation and agreement with Parklands School.
We would ask for your patience tomorrow and ask you to refer to the website and dojo for updates. Your co-operation and support is appreciated.
As we currently stand - we will be open to pupils tomorrow, in line with the government requirements. This is, however, subject to change with very little notice.
Please remember that we will need to be introducing a new, tighter control of access into school. All pupils must be left at the wooden gates to enter the playground on their own. If you need to attend other schools, you will need to allow time to walk round - there will be no access through our playground. I will be at the Briar Gate entrance from 8:40 to allow pupils access and to therefore allow parents more time to walk to other schools. Staff may be wearing masks and we would ask all adults to wear face coverings too.
Pupils will be met and greeted by staff in the playground where they will be shown where to wait - an area identified for each class. Mixing of classes will not be permitted.
The playground will need be open for collection at the end of the day as we have to ensure pupils get safely to their families. Please wear a face covering when collecting your child and keep 2m away from others.
Please try to use the dojo to communicate with the class teacher as much as is possible to prevent unnecessary contact with staff.
I will be following the situation carefully and will inform you of any changes or updates. At present there is no news on provision for key worker children as primary schools are required to be open.
I appreciate this is a very frustrating time for us all and everyone will have their own opinion. All we can do is to try to keep our children, families and staff as safe as possible and would ask you to support us in this difficult time.
You may be aware that the return of pupils to school in January is proving to be a controversial matter. Over the last few days, there have been many meetings with between the Department for Education, the government and unions regarding the safe opening of schools in January. There have been many changes to the recommendations/guidance too.
As it stands at the current time of writing (Saturday 7:00 p.m) we will be open for all pupils on Monday 4th January. But this could change with very little notice.
I must, however, make you aware that this is being challenged regarding whether or not it is safe for primary pupils and their teachers to attend and is therefore subject to change, with very little notice. The current R rate does not take into account the mixing over Christmas and there is still a lack of clarity over the severity and level of infection with the new strains of the virus we are hearing about.
Of course, we want all pupils to be in school but we desperately want all of the children, their families and the teachers to be safe and this may mean new procedures. If we end up closing temporarily, all lessons will be put online.
I appreciate this lack of confirmation does not help with childcare arrangements but the health and safety of all our pupils, families and teachers is paramount.
I will be keeping track of this situation and will send another update tomorrow.
New procedures:
As a result, I have had to update and increase the procedures to keep us all safe.
As a reminder, pupils will need to attend school to enter classes and learning at the following times:
Y6 8:45
Y5 8:55
Y4 8:50
Y3 8:55
Please stick to these times - do not be late as pupils will miss the start of lessons.
1. Only pupils will be allowed entry to the playground at the start of the day - parents will need to leave children at the wooden gates where staff will be on duty. Pupils will then be chaperoned into areas/lines to wait for entry into their classrooms. This is to prevent mixing and cross contamination.
2. Parents/adults will be asked to wear a face covering when delivering and collecting their child - access will be allowed onto the playground for safe collection. Please keep your distance from others - 2m - and leave as soon as you have your child. Do not wait with others.
3. Pupils are able to wear face masks to enter and leave school, at break times and in communal areas.
Your co-operation is vital and appreciated in these difficult times.
Our last week before the winter break and there are a few reminders for you:
1. We have a new raffle this week - tickets 2 for 50p. Sold at breaktime with Mrs Clarke
2. Christmas party day tomorrow (Tuesday) - pupils can come in party clothes all day but DO make sure they have a warm jumper/cardigan AND A COAT as we will still be going outside for breaks. They will need to bring a party snack/food for the afternoon, separate to their lunch. Pupils can bring a bag of crisps, wrapped cake, chocolate biscuit. Drinks will be provided.
3. Wednesday is Christmas lunch for those who have already booked it. Sorry, but we cannot take any orders on the day. If you have not booked a lunch and your child is not eligible for free school meals, you will need to provide a packed lunch for this day.
We finish at normal home times on Thursday 17th December, with Friday 18th December being an Inset day so school is closed to children.