Wider opening:
We look forward to welcoming more children back to school from Monday 15th June. We have reopened the Junior building and the nursery and classrooms have been rearranged ready for pupils’ return. All parents who have already indicated to us that their child is returning have been informed of the arrangements for opening. Our 2 key worker bubbles are now full; we have 15 children in each bubble split between two classrooms in the infants and two classrooms in the juniors. Other children from nursery, reception, year 1 and year 6 will return gradually from next week. We have spent much time preparing so that children can return to school as safely as possible. Please do not send your child to school unless we are aware of their return, as they won’t have a place in the ‘bubble’ and may be turned away. Please get in touch if you now feel you would like your child to return to check if there is space to do so.
Wider opening for other year groups:
You will have seen on the news last week that the Government have announced that schools will not be able to accept other year groups back before September. I know this has caused quite a bit of confusion. If you recall, the Government’s original plan was for schools to welcome pupils from nursery , reception, year 1 and year 6 as well as opening for pupils of key workers and some vulnerable pupils. This is what we are doing from 15th June. They also wanted the other year groups ( i.e. Year 2, year 3, year 4 and Year 5) to return before the summer holidays. They have now abandoned this plan , as there is simply no way to fit these other year groups into school and still maintain 2 metre social distancing. They have now said that they want all year groups to return only from September . However, there are no plans yet on how this is going to work ! So hopefully there will be clearer guidance in the next week or so , so I know what we are planning towards. At this moment in time, if social distancing remains ( even 1 metre), I cannot see that there will be a way to fit ALL year groups back to school in September without rota systems in place as currently .
Summer holidays:
We have also been asked by many parents if school will remain open over the summer holidays. The answer to that was provided by the Government on Wednesday when they announced there were no plans to keep schools open over the summer , including for children of key workers. However, they are also talking of helping some pupils to ‘catch up’ over the summer, but once again there is no guidance on what this might mean. Very unhelpful for us all !
All of this leaves us in the situation currently. I know how hard it is for parents and carers as time ticks on and children are out of school for more and more time. This must be especially hard when there is now no chance that pupils in the other year groups can return before September. The strain for children and families is immense. I know that for some children this will come as a hard blow, when so many want to be back to school , to see their teachers and their friends. We can only hope this happens soon.
Home learning:
We want to help as much as we can , especially with home learning. Many parents are telling us its getting harder as time goes on. You’re not alone ! Many of our staff have their own children at home at this time , and they too say how hard it can be to get the children to complete their work. But please get in touch with your child’s teacher, by email, or ring school if you need any help with any aspect of home learning. We are here to help.
From Monday , the year groups will be basing their planning for home learning around Oak National Academy online content . We hope that lessons can be delivered by staff in school for the children in the priority year group bubbles and with the key worker bubbles. Hopefully, the other lessons can be delivered at home on the days when pupils are not in school. Everyone at home can follow the lessons too. Thank you to everyone who has sent work to staff and sent it into our Facebook page , it amazes us all what the children and parents have been up to ! Please keep doing this . Remember, a little learning everyday is great, reading is very important, as well as learning outdoors and at home completing everyday tasks. Try to make learning fun if you can.
Transition:
I am acutely aware that the normal transition activities are not taking place currently. This must be very concerning for parents and carers and of course for children. Year 6 will be contacted by their secondary schools direct , and transition activities and work should be completed. Nursery pupils transferring into Reception will be able to view our videos from next week which will show them around school. We are working on completing a video for year 2 pupils transferring to year 3. All pupils will find out their new teachers for next year very soon- however, I am waiting on more detail from the Government about September arrangements before I finalise the staffing for Autumn term. Uniform can now be ordered online for September, please see the website page on the school uniform policy for details. Order by 1st July for free delivery to school.
Staff have produced reports for pupils for the two terms they were at school. These will be shared with parents by email before the end of term.
Staffing:
Lastly, a few staffing updates. Mrs Leslie will be leaving us to go on maternity leave from June 22nd and we wish her well. Mrs Richardson will be returning from her maternity leave on the 22nd June , and will be working with Mr Soler in Year 4 from September. Mrs Dodds will also be returning from her maternity leave in July, and Mrs Gillham will be returning to Nursery from 22nd June.
Kind regards, stay safe.
Mrs Glass
