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

• Half term holiday contact tracing arrangements

  Wed 27 Jan 2021 Anna Cvijetic

  Dear Parents and Carers,

   

  Schools continue to play an important role in contact tracing for those pupils and staff who continue to attend their school.   Where pupils or staff still attending their school test positive having developed symptoms within 48 hours of being in school, the school is asked to assist in identifying close contacts and advising self-isolation, as the individual may have been infectious whilst in school. 

   

  During half term I will still be checking my emails to ensure we pick up any emails from staff and parents where children who have been attending school have tested positive for Covid-19. If your child develops symptoms please ensure you get them tested swiftly and let me know any positive cases by replying to this email or emailing head.berkeleyprimary@northlincs.gov.uk.  I will then take the relevant action.  Staff, parents and carers should follow contact tracing instructions provided by NHS Test and Trace. 

   

  Please email me if you have any queries.

   

  Best wishes

  Anna Cvijetic

  Headteacher

• Covid-19 testing for our school staff twice a week

  Fri 22 Jan 2021 Anna Cvijetic

  Dear Parents and Carers,

   

  The Department for Education has recently announced that it will start a programme of asymptomatic Covid-19 testing for staff (not children) in primary schools.  Along with the other protective measures we are taking, testing will allow us to take further measures to help our staff and children to work in as safe an environment as possible.

   

  Up to one in three people who have Covid-19 have the virus without symptoms so could be transmitting the virus unknowingly. Tackling the pandemic requires identifying asymptomatic, infectious individuals. By testing, we will help to reduce the spread in schools.

   

  Lateral Flow Device (LFD) tests have been widely and successfully used to detect COVID-19 in asymptomatic individuals. No test is perfect, but the speed and convenience of LFD tests supports detection of the virus in asymptomatic individuals who would not otherwise be tested. They are clinically approved and are crucial in the fight against the virus.   As the tests are more sensitive with higher viral loads, there is a risk of returning a negative result when viral loads are low (e.g. in the early stages of infection). This is why Public Health England recommend two LFD tests 3 to 4 days apart, or regular testing, to enhance detection by picking up any cases which were not detected during the first test and to catch any new infections.

   

  We have received these tests at Berkeley Primary School yesterday and have trained and distributed them to our staff who will begin using these tests next week.  We will be testing ourselves at home twice a week.

   

  As we are currently already doing, if there are any positive cases of Covid-19 in school, we will inform anyone who has been in contact with that individual.   This may include a year group bubble of children and staff, and they will be informed to self-isolate for a stipulated amount of time. 

   

  I would like to remind you that it is very important that if your child or anyone in your household displays Covid-19 symptoms you should all self-isolate, ring 119 or go to www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test and book a Covid-19 test for the person with symptoms.  The symptoms are:

  • High temperature
  • A new, continuous cough
  • Loss or change to your sense of taste or smell

   

  I wish you all well.

   

  Best wishes

   

  Anna Cvijetic

  Headteacher

   

   

   

• CBBC and BBC2 timetable for w/b 18.1.21

  Mon 18 Jan 2021 Anna Cvijetic

  Morning Everyone,

   

  I have attached this weeks timetable for the BBC programmes.  There is some good things on this week so I would recommend you have a look.  I really rate the Horrible Histories programmes which are on at 10.15am each day and I've heard really good reviews of the celebrity supply teachers too.

   

  Good luck with the home learning this week.  Keep at it and don't forget to do some reading.

   

  Best wishes

  Anna Cvijetic

  Headteacher 

  

• Reading resources

  Mon 18 Jan 2021 Anna Cvijetic

  Good morning,

   

  Here are some reading resources you can use at home. 

   

  These resources are mainly stories being read aloud online. 

  1. Booktrust storytime - this has books that you can read and also links to books read by the authors https://www.booktrust.org.uk/books-and-reading/have-some-fun/storybooks-and-games/
  2. Storyline online - this is an American site with celebrities reading stories aloud https://www.storylineonline.net/
  3. Goodnight with Dolly - Imagination library - Dolly Parton has recorded some stories available on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tT9fv_ELbnE
  4. Cbeebies bedtime stories - celebrities reading stories via bbc iplayer https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b00jdlm2/cbeebies-bedtime-stories

   

  Also, Oak Academy has launched a library.  Via their website they have an author of the week (this week is Jacqueline Wilson).  One of her books has been scanned to read online and there are downloadable activities to accompany the book.  It also has an interview with her and her son.

   

  I hope you all have a good week.

   

  Anna Cvijetic

  Headteacher

• CBBC and BBC2 educational programmes

  Tue 12 Jan 2021 Anna Cvijetic
  Please have a look at CBBC and BBC 2 (Year 6) in the mornings as they are showing educational programmes every day and have some great 'teachers' leading the learning.

  

• Please stay at home so we can reduce the number in school

  Mon 11 Jan 2021 Anna Cvijetic

  Dear Parents and Carers,

   

  We have a significant number of children accessing in-school provision which is concerning us.  The numbers in school are much higher than the last lockdown.  The clear Government message is to stay at home if at all possible to reduce the number of contacts.  This will help to keep our school families and staff safe.  Please seriously consider whether you need to use a school place and only use us when essential around your work pattern.   

   

  North Lincolnshire Council have sent the following message out:

  To help prevent the spread of Covid-19, schools are closed to most pupils and are providing remote learning instead.

   

  The only children that must be in school are those with a social worker or an 'education, health and care plan'.  All other children should remain at home.

   

  It may be possible for your child to have some time in school if you work in health, social care, emergency services or other jobs deemed critical in the response to Covid-19.  Even if you are in one of these roles, please think carefully about whether you really need a school place at this time and keep your children at home if you can.  

   

  Stay home, protect the NHS, save lives.  

   

  The link below gives more information about alternative childcare by making a childcare bubble:

  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/making-a-childcare-bubble-with-another-household

  

• Primary assessments for infants and juniors

  Fri 08 Jan 2021 Anna Cvijetic
  As you are aware the Prime Minister announced earlier this week that primary schools should move to remote provision, except for vulnerable children and the children of critical workers. They have further announced  that due to the further disruption caused by this change, key stage 1 (KS1) and key stage 2 (KS2) national curriculum assessments cannot continue as intended.  
  
  The following assessments, scheduled between April and July 2021, have been cancelled:

  • KS1 teacher assessments
  • KS2 tests and teacher assessments
  • phonics screening check
  • all statutory trialling

  
  As a school we will continue to use assessment to inform teaching, to enable us to give information to parents on their child’s attainment in their annual report and to support transition of KS2 pupils to secondary school and within school. 
  
  These arrangements will apply for summer 2021 only, and the Government are planning for a full programme of primary assessments to take place in the 2021/22 academic year. This will include the introduction of the statutory reception baseline assessment and multiplication tables check for Year 4 children, as previously announced.

• January 2021 plans

  Tue 05 Jan 2021 Anna Cvijetic

  BERKELEY PRIMARY SCHOOL Arrangements for partial school opening Effective Wednesday 6th January 2021

   

  I hope that you and your family are well and thank you once again for your continued support over this very challenging period.  As you read this newsletter, with the changes and adjustments, please be assured that the safety of children, families and staff is our priority and is always at the forefront of our decisions.  The school’s leadership team, including governors, recognise the importance and the seriousness of the decision to close schools once again to the majority of pupils.   At all times, we will continue to be guided by Government and Local Authority advice and our overriding focus will be on ensuring that school is as safe as we possibly can make it for those who continue to attend.

   

  To ensure that we are fully prepared to receive your children kindly support us with the arrangements and expectations cited in this letter. As we once again try this out, there may be changes along the way and we must be flexible to adapt. This newsletter is to be as transparent as possible, with our community, in our procedures during this period. We ask that you read it carefully and discuss this with your children in a child friendly way so they understand what the expectations of them and their behaviour will be and to prepare them to come back to school.  These procedures will be in place until further notice.

   

  Home Learning

  For the children that will not be attending school we will be using remote learning to provide education for children.  This will be done using Tapestry for Nursery and Reception.  For Years 1 to 6 this will be done using Google classroom, using the links the children had previously.  Support for this will be on the school website on the Home Learning page, we are just setting this up and plan on the first lessons being ready tomorrow.   Next week, Monday to Thursday, we will begin ‘live’ lessons each day.  Y1 and Y2 will be story-telling, show and tell, checking in with any queries on work, etc.  Y3 to Y6 will be more formal input for Maths and English.  Maths will be on a Monday and Wednesday, English will be on a Tuesday and Thursday.  The times for these are:

  	Oak	Holly	Beech
  Y1	2pm	2pm	2pm
  Y2	2pm	2pm	2pm
  Y3	9.30am	10.15am	11.00am
  Y4	1.10pm	1.50pm	2.30pm
  Y5	9.30am	10.15am	11.00am
  Y6	1.10pm	1.50pm	2.30pm

  We have tried to stagger times to allow siblings to access the live lessons.  It may be you have siblings at the same time, if this is the case please contact us so we can see if we can solve this issue.  If you cannot access the live lesson at this time, the recording of it will be available afterwards for you to look at.  We will be setting three lessons every day (English, maths and a foundation subject) which should take at least 3 hours a day.  We will provide feedback at least weekly for English and maths activities. 

   

  Government essential measures include:

  • a requirement that people who are ill stay at home
  • robust hand and respiratory hygiene
  • enhanced cleaning arrangements
  • active engagement with NHS Track and Trace
  • formal consideration of how to reduce contacts and maximise distancing between those in school wherever possible and minimise potential for contamination so far as is reasonable and practicable. 
  • Children will be in year group bubbles but we cannot guarantee they will be 2m apart from each other.
  • Staff to maintain distance from pupils and other staff as much as possible.

  • Our staff may choose to wear some form of PPE.

   

   

  Please do support the decisions that we make, even if they negatively affect your own arrangements. The logistics have been very difficult to pull together, taking various factors into consideration. Sincere gratitude, once again, for all your support and patience at this time.  Take care and continue to stay safe; you are all in our thoughts. 

   

  Anna Cvijetic (Headteacher)

   

   

   

  Kindly adhere to any markings/signs around the school – thank you!

  Critical Workers and Vulnerable Children attending school
  Children’s Groups
  Each child will be placed in a year group bubble.  Nursery and Reception will be in a bubble together. Children will be encouraged to keep a reasonable distance from their peers and staff.
  Office/Communication/Contact with Staff	Start and End of the Day
  Carers are NOT allowed to enter the school building and the main office will be CLOSED to visitors. Any communication you have for a member of staff e.g. Class Teacher, SENDCo, Family Worker, should be made by either telephoning the school office or by email. This will be passed on to the relevant staff who will then make contact with you. There will be no contact with staff at the start and end of the school day. Any issues please see above point. There will be no meetings with parent / carers and external services within our premises.  Where possible these will be done through telephone / video conferencing.	The day will start at 9am, but the doors will be open from 8.50am to allow a staggered start into school.  The day will finish at 3.15pm. Please ensure you are on time to drop off and pick up each day. Parents must wear masks at all times when on school premises and maintain 2m distance from other families and staff.
  Health and Hygiene	Entrance for the start and end of the day
  Each classroom has access to a sink which children will frequently use to wash their hands.  They will wash their hands each time they enter the classroom and before they eat. Each classroom has tissues. ‘Catch it, bin it, kill it’ approach is promoted. Each classroom has cleaning cloths and spray disinfectant which will be used as and when required during the day. Tables will be cleaned before lunch time. The Local Authority’s cleaning service will continue to support with cleaning at the end of each day. Our staff may be wearing some form of PPE. Long hair should be tied back to avoid touching around the face. Children should not wear PPE equipment (as stated by the Government) in school.	Infant carers may access the infant playground.  Junior parents must drop off and collect from the junior car park and will not be allowed past the entry gates onto the junior playground. There will be a one way system through gates for Reception and Nursery to enter and exit the playgrounds, please follow the signs.  You will enter past the infant building entrance, round the side of the infant building, past the school kitchen and exit through the top junior car park gate.  Nursery will be taught in the Reception building.  Year 1 will enter and exit through the main infant entrance. There will be a one way system through gates for Year 2 to enter and exit the playgrounds, please follow the signs.  You will enter through the ‘Mickey gates’ and exit through the top junior car park gate.  Year 2 will enter and exit through the Year 2 door at the back of school off the quad. All Year 3 classes and Year 5 children will enter and exit through the gate past the Junior kitchen.  Year 3 will use a door at the side of the building to enter and exit. Year 5 will go in through the cloakroom door by Mr Leek’s classroom. All Year 4 and 6 will enter through their ‘normal gate’ by the junior bike sheds.  Year 4 will go in the Y4 entrance and Year 6 will go in the cloakroom door by Mr Spencer’s classroom.  Carers must ensure ‘social distancing’ from other carers, children and staff. To reduce the number of people around school, please send only one adult to drop off and collect your child.
  In the Classroom	Lunchtime
  In Y1 to 6 the children will sit at tables facing the front of the classroom and will be distanced from each other. Early years classrooms will be as normal. Children will spend most of their day at their table. We aim to keep year groups together. This means children cannot mix with other year groups whilst in the school building. Lessons will involve a lot of independent learning and staff will be at the front of the class keeping social distance. All items that children need will be provided for them. They will each be given their own stationery, e.g. a pack with writing tools, scissors, etc. Children should not bring their book bag or any other equipment. Children should have a drink with them, no water fountains or water dispensers will be in use.	All children will eat at their tables in their classroom. School meals will be available to purchase, and this will be a cold or hot grab bag which will be delivered to their classroom by kitchen staff.  Those that are entitled to free meals will not pay. Nursery, Year 1 to 6 children may bring their own packed lunches. Reception to Year 2 are entitled to a free school meal. Any child who has a packed lunch must be able to manage the contents of their lunch box without adult intervention (e.g. they must be able to peel their banana, or open their yoghurt pot or sachet themselves). It is advisable to send a disposable spoon for yogurt pots as these will not be available from the kitchen. They will also need to bring a drink. The children may go on the playground at set times in the allocated play space for their group – they must remain within this space during outdoor playtimes.
  Lates and Early Pick-ups	Behaviour
  We will allow flexibility in drop off and pick up times to fit work patterns.  Children should only attend whilst you are at work.  As soon as you finish work your child should be collected. Please go to the main office to drop off a child that is later than 9am or you will collect before 3.15pm.  The office staff will arrange for your child to be brought whilst you wait outside the building.  You must collect your child by 3.15pm and must not be late.	The school’s website has an appendix to the main school policy on behaviour; please take a moment to read this. To stipulate, ANY child who does not adhere to an adult’s instructions, does not keep a reasonable distance when instructed to do so, will have a consequence to face. It is vital that all staff and children are kept safe at all times. There will be no positive handling or physical restraints of any child except in an emergency. If positive handing techniques have to be used on a child, this will be noted and the parent will be informed. There is a limit to how often this can happen especially as the close proximity to the child and intense communication poses more risk to both parties – adult and child. Again, ALL children and staff must be kept safe.
  Around School	Activities
  There will be next to no movement by children out of their classroom within the school building.  They will not be sent with messages to other classrooms or to the offices.	Children that are attending school will be completing the remote learning tasks set.  Additional tasks will be set by staff that are supervising them if necessary.
  Uniform	PE / Outdoors
  Children are to come to school in clean school uniform daily (see PE). If children wear shoes with laces, they MUST be able to tie these themselves. Those who can’t, should come to school in shoes without laces.	Children will be allocated a PE/Sports slot a week.   Tuesday – Year 2 and 3 Wednesday – Year 6 Thursday – Year 1 and 5 Friday – Year 4 Children should attend school in their PE kit on this day.  This will be outdoors, but contact sports will be avoided and equipment will be sterilised.
  Display of Symptoms	First Aid and Medication
  We will not accept any child who is displaying any signs of illness, especially Covid-19 symptoms. Any child displaying symptoms will need to be collected immediately and the family must isolate following the Government guidelines.  Children are eligible to be tested and parents can arrange this.  The child will need a clear test before returning to school. If someone else in your household is displaying symptoms, your child / children should not come to school and we should be informed immediately. The family must isolate following the Government guidelines.  We will follow DfE and Local Authority guidelines on next steps for the class in which the child has been working in if there is a positive test. Our website has a lot of Government information on COVID-19.	If children fall over or have a toileting accident, they will be encouraged to change themselves and clean their scrape or cut under adult direction.  This is to encourage independence.  If it is not possible for the child, due to the age and level of maturity, to clean themselves in the event of an accident, then our usual procedures apply. Any child with a serious illness or underlying condition should follow the Government guidance. If your child uses an inhaler, they should come to school on the first day with one in a clear, plastic zip wallet, labelled with their name. This will be kept in their classroom in a lockable cupboard and they will be expected to self-administer. We will not be able to administer any other medication at school apart from inhalers or where it has been agreed under a medical plan. This is different to our usual policy.

   

   

• Partial school closure plans

  Tue 05 Jan 2021 Anna Cvijetic

  Dear Parents and Carers,

   

  Key workers

  I received the Government guidance just before 11pm and having had a few productive working hours planning arrangements, I can confirm that we will be able to open on Wednesday 6th January 2021 for key workers and vulnerable children of Nursery to Year 6.  We will be offering child care between the hours of 9am and 3.15pm, our normal school hours.  Nursery will be able to attend during our normal nursery hours (Monday and Tuesday 9-3.15, Wednesday 9.00-11.30am.   We will not be able to offer breakfast club during the lockdown period. 

   

  A google form will be sent out during the morning for parents of key workers to complete, applying for a place if they need one.  I ask that you complete this as quickly as possible and you will be contacted later in the day to confirm your place.  Please do not telephone school as we will need to keep the lines clear to make outgoing calls and staff will be busy helping with this.

  Please only ask for a place if it is a necessity.  The Government have been clear that they need to use every lever at their disposal to reduce all contacts outside households wherever possible.  Limiting attendance is about reducing the number of contacts that all of us have with people in other households.  If there is another adult in your household that can care for your child, this should be your first option.  Childcare bubbles are also still allowed in this lockdown (If you live in a household with anyone aged under 14, you can form a childcare bubble.  This allows friends or family from one other household to provide informal childcare).  A current list of key workers is listed at the bottom of this email.  

   

  Children attending school will be accessing and completing the online learning that is planned for the whole class in school with the support of school staff.  As last time, we will be flexible with hours and you should only use us on the days and for the hours that you are working.  

   

  Free School Meals

  During the period of national lockdown, we will continue to provide meal options for all children who are in school. Meals will be available free of charge to all infant pupils and pupils who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals who are in school.  Those parents who normally pay will be expected to do so as normal.  Children attending school will also have the option to bring a packed lunch. 

   

  The Government have also instructed that we will continue to provide food parcels for pupils who are eligible for benefits related free school meals who are not attending school.  Guidance on free school meals has been produced by the Lead Association for Catering in Education, Public Health England and the Department for Education. It sets out some general principles for putting together a food parcel which will allow parents and carers to prepare simple and healthy lunches for their children at home across the week.  Food parcels must be distributed in line with guidance on social distancing at all times. As soon as the kitchen have the bags ready we will inform families and make arrangements for them to collect their parcels ensuring social distancing measures are in place.  The Government have not made arrangements for vouchers this time.  

   

  Remote Learning

  There is an expectation by the Government that children that are at home should continue their learning using remote education.  Our staff are now well prepared for this, having had training and we have systems in place to facilitate this.  We will begin this on Wednesday.  The Government expects schools to:

  • set assignments so that pupils have meaningful and ambitious work each day in a number of different subjects
  • set work that is of equivalent length to the core teaching pupils would receive in school, and as a minimum in primary, on average, 3 hours a day, across the school cohort
  • provide frequent, clear explanations of new content, delivered by a teacher or through high-quality curriculum resources or videos
  • have systems for checking, at least weekly, whether pupils are engaging with their work, and inform parents immediately where engagement is a concern
  • gauge how well pupils are progressing through the curriculum using questions and other suitable tasks, and provide feedback, at least weekly, using digitally facilitated or whole-class feedback where appropriate
  • enable teachers to adjust the pace or difficulty of what is being taught in response to questions or assessments, including, where necessary, revising material or simplifying explanations to ensure pupils’ understanding

   

  We need every parents' support in making the home learning a success and ensuring our children engage with this.  We will be contacting those parents who may need resources to help them access the online learning.

   

  We understand this is a very concerning time and you will have many questions.  We ask that you bear with us while we put the necessary plans in place.  I thank you again for your continued support that we receive through these difficult times.  We at Berkeley Primary are still here to support our children, families and wider community.  

   

  Best wishes

   

  Anna Cvijetic (Headteacher)

   

  List of Critical workers

  Parents whose work is critical to the coronavirus (COVID-19) and EU transition response include those who work in health and social care and in other key sectors outlined in the following sections.

  Health and social care

  This includes, but is not limited to, doctors, nurses, midwives, paramedics, social workers, care workers, and other frontline health and social care staff including volunteers; the support and specialist staff required to maintain the UK’s health and social care sector; those working as part of the health and social care supply chain, including producers and distributors of medicines and medical and personal protective equipment.

  Education and childcare

  This includes:

  • childcare
  • support and teaching staff
  • social workers
  • specialist education professionals who must remain active during the coronavirus (COVID-19) response to deliver this approach

  Key public services

  This includes:

  • those essential to the running of the justice system
  • religious staff
  • charities and workers delivering key frontline services
  • those responsible for the management of the deceased
  • journalists and broadcasters who are providing public service broadcasting

  Local and national government

  This only includes those administrative occupations essential to the effective delivery of:

  • the coronavirus (COVID-19) response, and the delivery of and response to EU transition
  • essential public services, such as the payment of benefits and the certification or checking of goods for import and export (including animal products, animals, plants and food), including in government agencies and arms length bodies

  Food and other necessary goods

  This includes those involved in food:

  • production
  • processing
  • distribution
  • sale and delivery
  • as well as those essential to the provision of other key goods (for example hygienic and veterinary medicines)

  Public safety and national security

  This includes:

  • police and support staff
  • Ministry of Defence civilians
  • contractor and armed forces personnel (those critical to the delivery of key defence and national security outputs and essential to the response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and EU transition)
  • fire and rescue service employees (including support staff)
  • National Crime Agency staff
  • those maintaining border security, prison and probation staff and other national security roles, including those overseas

  Transport and border

  This includes those who will keep the air, water, road and rail passenger and freight transport modes operating during the coronavirus (COVID-19) response and EU transition, including those working on transport systems through which supply chains pass and those constructing or supporting the operation of critical transport and border infrastructure through which supply chains pass.

  Utilities, communication and financial services

  This includes:

  • staff needed for essential financial services provision (including but not limited to workers in banks, building societies and financial market infrastructure)
  • the oil, gas, electricity and water sectors (including sewerage)
  • information technology and data infrastructure sector and primary industry supplies to continue during the coronavirus (COVID-19) response
  • key staff working in the civil nuclear, chemicals, telecommunications (including but not limited to network operations, field engineering, call centre staff, IT and data infrastructure, 999 and 111 critical services)
  • postal services and delivery
  • payments providers
  • waste disposal sectors

   

• School closure 5th January 2021

  Mon 04 Jan 2021 Anna Cvijetic

  Dear Parents and Carers,

   

  Most of you will be aware that tonight the Prime Minister has announced a new lockdown for England.  This includes closing schools for children except those that are vulnerable and children of key workers. 

   

  Our school will be closed for all pupils tomorrow whilst we make our arrangements and receive the Government guidance (Tuesday 5th January 2021). We will be ready and able to open on Wednesday 6th January 2021 ready to take in key worker and vulnerable children.  

   

  Tomorrow we will be sending out a form for you to apply for key worker places if you are eligible.  We will contact vulnerable families tomorrow to offer places.  Please do not email or phone school to apply for a place as it will need to be done this way to ensure no applications get lost.  We will work as swiftly as we can to ensure good communication over the next few days.

   

  We are deeply disappointed that we shall not be seeing most of you for a while.  Look after yourselves, stay safe and thank you for your continued support.  

   

  Anna Cvijetic (Headteacher)