Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.

• Videos to support children in Year 1 and 6 in coming back to school

  Fri 22 May 2020 Anna Cvijetic

  Please click on the links below or go to Berkeley Videos in the Children section of this website to view the videos made to support children in Year 1 and 6 in coming back to school.

   

  https://berkeley-primary-school.primarysite.media/media/returning-to-school-year-1

   

  https://berkeley-primary-school.primarysite.media/media/return-to-school-year-6

   

• Google form for Year 1 and 6 parents

  Fri 22 May 2020 Anna Cvijetic

  UPDATED 1.6.20 - THIS APPLICATION FORM HAS NOW CLOSED

   

  Dear Year 1 and 6 Parents and Carers,

   

  We are currently planning to offer Year 1 and Year 6 two days a week at school (Monday and Tuesday or Wednesday and Thursday). This will be from the 8th June 2020, pending any further Government instruction.
  
  Please complete the form below to inform us of your decision. Either decision will be supported by the school. Carers will not be fined if you choose not to bring your child to school currently. If you choose to not send your child to school we will continue to support you with Home Learning through Google Classroom.
  
  Please complete this by Friday 29th May, 2020 to aid us with our planning.

   

  Many thanks

  Anna Cvijetic (Headteacher)

   

• Classroom photographs

  Fri 22 May 2020 Anna Cvijetic
  Please see the photographs of the layout for some of the classrooms for Year 1 and 6.

  

• Our arrangements for opening to more children (Y1 and 6 in first phase) from 8.6.20

  Fri 22 May 2020 Anna Cvijetic

  Dear Parents and Carers,

   

  I have emailed parents (and also added to the letters section on school website) the arrangements we have made for opening to more children (Year 1 and 6 in the first phase).  Please read these carefully so you understand our plans and how you can help prepare your children to return, possibly on the 8th June (pending Government further instruction).

   

  Some photographs of the classrooms are on the school website in latest news.  Mr Dalgleish is just putting the finishing touches on a video showing how children will come in and leave the school to help you prepare the children to transition back to school.  This will be sent out as soon as it is finished.  

   

  I will shortly be sending a Google form to Year 1 and 6 parents asking whether you will or will not take this place.  The school will support whichever decision you make.  I hope the information we have sent will help you to make this decision.  Please take your time and complete the form by Friday 29.5.20.

   

  Best wishes

   

  Anna Cvijetic

  Headteacher

   

• Robinwood Trip- Refund

  Thu 21 May 2020

   

  We have now been given half of the money back from the Robinwood Trip. If you log onto your ParentPay account you will see you have been credited with £80.00. You will recieve the remainder once we have recieved it from our Insurance.

   

  To transfer the refunded amount back into your bank account please follow these steps:

  • Once logged on ParentPay there will be a notification that a refund of £80.00 has been issued, click continue.
  • Click on the 'Parent Account' tab at the top and press withdraw. (the refund may be shown in different transactions but this adds up to £80.00)
  • Type the amount you wish to transfer back to your bank account and click 'make a withdrawal'.
  • You may have to enter your details/ bank details in again at this point if your orginal payment method has expired.
  • Once the steps have been followed on the screen, a message should say 'withdrawal successful'

   

  If you have any issues then please contact us via email.

   

  Many thanks

• School closed over May half term holiday (25-29.5.20)

  Fri 15 May 2020 Anna Cvijetic

  Dear Parents and Carers,

   

  Following a Leadership team meeting we have held today, which included our Chair of Governors, we have decided that school we be closed to all children (including key workers and vulnerable children) over the May half term holiday week.  Home Learning will cease for this week, with no further work set or feedback given on the Google Classroom.  If you wish to continue the home educating please access the many websites shared.

   

  Our staff have worked exceptionally long hours for a sustained period without any breaks.  It is vital for the welfare and well-being of our staff that they have the period of leave they are entitled to this week.  This will enable us to plan and prepare for the re-opening of school, which the Government is currently intending to put in place for the 1st June for certain year groups.

   

  We have begun planning for this, taking into account the information and changing guidance that I receive on a daily basis.  As it is changing so frequently, I will not be able to share this with parents and carers until the end of next week.  I will do this in the normal way through email and the school website.  We have completed thorough risk assessments and we are working on maintaining 2 metre social distancing for all children and staff.  Each classroom is able to hold a maximum of 8 children.  To enable us to do this the year groups stated (Reception, Year 1 and 6) will likely be offered part-time places. 

   

  Key workers and vulnerable children will continue with a similar provision as is already in place (full-time and based on parent rotas).  

   

  Best wishes

   

  Anna Cvijetic

  Headteacher

• Keep reading everyone

  Tue 12 May 2020 Anna Cvijetic

  Click on the link below for a new message from all the staff at Berkeley Primary School.  

   

  https://berkeley-primary-school.primarysite.media/media/keep-reading-everyone

   

  

• Possible re-opening from 1st June

  Mon 11 May 2020 Anna Cvijetic

   

  11^th May 2020

   

  Dear Parents and Carers,

   

  The Prime Minister announced last night that from 1^st June at the earliest, primary pupils may be able to begin going back into school in stages, beginning with Reception, year 1 and year 6. I am sure you will have lots of questions about what the next few weeks will look like.  We have lots of questions that need clarification too. 

   

  I wanted to let you know that, in terms of school, the next few weeks looks just the same as it has done since lockdown began.  There is no change to the guidance.  We remain open for the children of key workers and those who are considered to be vulnerable;

  “Parents whose work is critical to the Covid-19 response include those who work in health and social care and in other key sectors.  Many parents working in these sectors may be able to ensure their child is kept at home AND every child who can be safely cared for at home must be.”

   

  THE MESSAGE IS STILL THAT IT IS SAFER TO STAY AT HOME

   

  The Prime Minister stated that the government have been working on guidelines on how to make the ‘workplace’ Covid-19 secure.  When we know what these guidelines are, we will have a much better idea of what is achievable in our school, and further action we need to take to ensure the safety of our staff and those children who are able to return.  So far, we have not received this guidance.

   

  The Governors and our Leadership team will work together, as we are given more information by the Government and the DFE, to see what we think might be safe and manageable to put in place at Berkeley Primary School on 1^st June.  We will keep you informed of our thinking and decision making.

   

  We need very clear guidance on how it is possible to social distance in school and keep our children, all staff and their families safe too.  Please be assured we will not be increasing the number of children in Berkeley or opening until we are 100% prepared. 

   

  The NAHT (National Association of Headteachers) has stated that:

  “School leaders are still the people who know their schools best. If the national guidance (once known) cannot be safely applied in your school, you will retain the power along with your governing body to make decisions regarding the safety of pupils and staff based on your own individual risk assessments. This may ultimately mean that schools are not in a position to expand pupil numbers in the way the government has indicated on the 1 June.” 

   

  Our ongoing plan is to keep providing the online Google Classroom learning activities and feedback, to keep in touch via text, email and the app, phone calls to some of our families, and to continue to support each other during these difficult times.

   

  Best wishes, stay well and continue to take care of each other.

   

  Anna Cvijetic

  Headteacher