Newsletter 8.9.2020
Date: 8th Sep 2020 @ 2:24pm
Dear Parents / Carers
As we enter the first full week since our return, I would like to thank you for your support so far. As you can imagine there have been plenty to consider and no matter how much we try to think of all eventualities there are always additional challenges! However, with your support we will overcome these and ensure that your children get the most out of their time at school.
Entry to and Exit from School
On my previous newsletter, I inadvertently confused matters by listing the start times for each session and not the arrival times. Having studied the arrival and departure times over the last few days, I feel that we need to make a few slight changes to avoid the spread of Covid-19. Listening to the news today, where there has been a significant rise in the number of cases, I am sure that you will understand the reasons for doing so.
On the table below I have outlined the arrival times for each group and the collection times. As parents we need you to adhere to these and not enter the school grounds before these times. In doing so we will prevent groups congregating and should increase the safety of all members of the school community. Please note that if you have requested to modify the times allocated, please read those appropriate to you.
|
Children with surnames beginning with: |
Parents / Children Arrive on site |
Children enter class |
Parents / Children Arrive on site |
Children leave class |
|
A - G |
8.35am |
8.40 am |
2.55pm |
3.00pm |
|
H-O |
8.55am |
9.00 am |
3.10pm |
3.15pm |
|
P-Z |
9.10am |
9.15am |
3.25pm |
3.30pm |
Individual Consultations
During the current times staff will meet with parents where possible in an outside location. However, should the need arise for you to discuss a matter in private we kindly ask that you wear a face covering.
Guidance
Although government guidance seems to continually change, we have been advised of the following, which we will adhere to until otherwise directed:
Should a child lose their sense of smell or taste, display a high temperature or develop a dry persistent cough, then parents will be advised to have them tested for Covid -19. No school closure or part closure will take place, unless a child or member of staff has a confirmed diagnosis of Covid-19. Should this happen I will follow the guidance specified by Public Health.
Should your child have a runny nose or slight cold, they will be permitted to attend school. However, parents will be advised to monitor their condition and should this develop into the aforementioned symptoms, the child should be kept at home and tested for Covid-19.
Microsoft Teams
I am pleased to inform you that during the next few weeks we will be rolling out individual email addresses for the children to use as they progress through the school. These together with the passwords provided, will also enable the children to log onto computers in school. We would therefore appreciate your support in helping your child to learn their email address and password.
Through the accounts created we will also be able to provide online homework more effectively and will be able to communicate with you and your children. We will also be able to run online lessons should we be forced to ‘lockdown’ again. Furthermore, parent / teacher consultations will be held through this medium later this term. The roll out will start with Year 6 and we will then work through the school. The older the child, the more autonomy they will have, the younger the child, the more we will rely on parents to support them with the accessing their accounts. Please note that this system is similar to the ones used by the Academy. It is secure and children won’t be able to access inappropriate content through it.
School Meals
Please note if you have a child in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2, then they are automatically entitled to Universal Free School Meals. These can be ordered by your child on a daily basis. We are currently on Week 1 of the School Menu, which is available on the school website.
Pupil Premium
During these difficult times, we realise that lots of members of the school community will have lost their jobs. Should you be in receipt of any of the following benefits, then you might be entitled to Free School Meals (and therefore Pupil Premium) for your child:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
- Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
- Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)
If successful in your request, then your child will be entitled to free meals for 6 years in addition to significant discounts off school visits once we restart them. To see if you are entitled to this, please call: 0300 123 7039 the process takes only a few minutes, but could save you a considerable amount of money.
School Visits
Each year we run a series of day and residential visits for the children throughout the school. This year we hope that we will be able to continue and will be sending out letters regarding these. At present I am looking into the different visits to see how we can ensure the safety of the children and staff. Where possible residential visits will involve the year group bubble visiting a centre where they are the only group on site. Further details will be distributed as the guidance from the government changes.
We are now permitted to restart day visits. These will be planned and thoroughly risk assessed. Where possible we will initially visit outdoor visits, for example a Y6 visit to the River or a year group undertaking a study of the locality. Furthermore, the children will only travel in a manner recommended by government guidelines and will remain in their class / year group bubbles.
Verdin Car Park
Thank you to all concerned for helping to improve the entry and access to the car park. Having studied the last couple of days there seems to be some improvement, although we have some way to go with this.
As promised, I have met will representatives from the Town and Borough Council and have suggested modifications to the timing of the traffic lights at the junction between Grange Lane and High Street. I have also suggested a mini roundabout at the entrance to the car park. These will be considered under short and long term plans for improving parking in the town. As previously mentioned, please forward any further suggestions so that I can pass them to the relevant bodies.
Should you have any concerns or wish clarification on the points made, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Kind regards
Mark Joule
Head teacher