Dear Parents and Carers,
I hope you are all keeping well and enjoying the sunshine this evening. Below is an update for you.
Covid 19
As a school staff we were as disappointed as I'm sure you were with the Government decision to pause the easing of restrictions. Whilst we fully understand why the decision has been made, we are all looking forward to getting back to 'normal' here at school. We are really missing the parental involvement in activities and events at school. We know though that cases are rising in our area and many of the local schools have had to close bubbles recently due to positive cases. We are doing what we can to avoid this.
When the Government made this decision we received correspondence from the Department of Education which made it clear that they expect us at schools to be cautious and to limit the amount of contacts children, staff and parents were making to help reduce the risk of spreading Covid 19. In their email on the 15.6.21 they stated:
"It is our priority that all education and childcare settings deliver face-to-face, high quality provision to all children and students. At a time when further easing of restrictions has been paused, the current system of controls should continue to be implemented in education and childcare settings. This means settings should encourage staff, and students, where applicable, to continue to test twice weekly and student bubbles, where they exist, should stay in place. Settings should continue to minimise mixing by keeping children in consistent groups..."
We have therefore continued to keep in place our procedures on our risk assessment, this will be in place until the end of term. Staff continue to test themselves twice weekly. The children and parents have been so supportive of ensuring these measures are followed, and I ask that you continue with this for a few more weeks, hoping that in September 'normal' can begin again. This includes all adults wearing a face mask on the school premises.
We have made plans in school to ensure that children can experience some of the activities they really enjoy, so that they don't miss out, it has just meant we have had to find ways to be creative to do them in different ways. Each class will have a 'mini sports days' (keeping in their bubble) in one of their PE lessons. Year 6 are recording a Leavers Assembly, so they can do still receive their best work folders and have a celebration and be able to share this with parents at home. We're trying to make the best of the situation as it is.
Our priority as always is to keep everyone as safe as we can.
Transition and classes next year
We have been busy over the last few weeks making plans for September 2021, allocating teachers to year groups and classes. Next week you will receive a letter informing you of your child's new teacher and which class they will be in (by Wednesday 7th July). Our current Reception and Year 2 children have been sorted into new classes. Our teachers are very skilled in placing the children into their new classes, making sure it is the right fit for them and that they all have children they are familiar with. Year 1, 3, 4 and 5 will move up with the same children in their class.
We are planning transition activities in the last few weeks. Children will meet their new teacher on Wednesday 14th July, spending the morning with them in their new classroom, they will go to their normal classroom first for register. Reception and Year 2 children will spend some time getting to know their new building. Many parents have said how useful the videos were last year showing where children will go to their new classroom, so we are busy making these at the moment too. We are also making transition booklets for children that need a bit of extra support with moving to their new class.
Whilst planning all these things we are mindful of Covid-19 precautions and considering these in our plans.
School Reports
Teachers have been busy writing each child's school report. These will be sent home to you on Monday 12th July. We would appreciate you completing the parent response form and sending this back in to your child's teacher. If you wish to discuss anything on the report, please request a phone call on the form.
Term Dates for 2021-22 and 2022-2023
The term dates for next academic year and the year after are on the school website, on the Useful Information page. Please note that the Government have put in an extra Bank Holiday next year to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, which means the children will attend school for 189 days instead of the normal 190 days.
A parent asked me this morning if we were winding down for the holidays, and we laughed together about this. School is busier than ever at the moment and we are trying to cram everything in.
As always, if you have any queries, please get in touch. Stay safe everyone.
Best wishes
Anna Cvijetic
Headteacher