Please see the attached letter below for the information regarding our class structure for next academic year. I felt it only fair that everyone receives this letter digitally so as neither the group in school or at home are at an advantage.

We are hoping, as is everyone, that it is business as usual in school in September and we can have the classes in the way we’ve planned out here.

The letter also explains that you will still receive end of year reports for your children but obviously we can’t arrange parents’ evening under current restrictions. If you do want to discuss your child’s report, please contact school for a telephone appointment. This is only necessary if you are unsure about something.

class structure letter 2020

 

Please see below an attached letter for parents/carers and pupils about our plans for opening further on 15th June. It contains all of the important information you need to know before coming back to school such as: timings, group arrangement, uniform, lunches, learning and safety measures. If the letter does not answer all of your questions, then please contact me.

Remember, at the moment, this is only for pupils in nursery (who are starting school in September), reception, year 1 and year 6. Once the government decides to add in pupils from other year groups, we will make new plans to accommodate wherever we can.

If you initially said no to returning, but feel differently as more and more restrictions are lifted, please get in touch with school via phone, dojo or email to discuss your current situation.

Home learning will continue for all pupils not in school after the 15th June. As I explained, it may look a little different, due to the teachers being full-time in class, but it will still be provided each day.

For those children requiring childcare, the situation hasn’t changed. School is open every week day for eligible pupils. Please get in touch with us if you haven’t yet used the service but feel you may need to given the change of circumstances.

Assuring you of our full support,

Mrs Alison McDonough

parent and pupil information for partial reopening

 

 

 

Hi everyone

As you know, the government have made it a statutory duty of all schools to make provisions for children eligible for free school meals during this unprecedented time.

To ensure that all of our eligible children receive provision of food during the crisis, we have signed up to the DfE supermarket voucher scheme.

You should receive an email (to the same address you provided for your login to class dojo) with an e-code which you need to redeem within one month. THIS IS NOT THE SUPERMARKET VOUCHER- you use the code to then choose which supermarket you would like to redeem it from. You then have a certain amount of time to spend it, depending on each supermarket but most of them are at least 1-2 years.

At the moment the supermarkets included in the scheme are: Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Waitrose, M&S and Sainsbury’s. The government are working hard to negotiate and get other supermarkets on board.

You will receive £15 per eligible child this week (by 3rd April) and then each week of closure from the 20th April. No vouchers are issued during what would have been the school holidays as this is only to provide substitute meals from term time.

PLEASE NOTE- THIS IS ONLY FOR CHIDLREN ELIGIBLE FOR FREE SCHOOL MEALS, NOT UNIVERSAL INFANT FREE SCHOOL MEALS.

Vouchers can not be redeemed on age-restricted products such as alcohol and cigarettes. We do ask that you use the vouchers responsibly to ensure the eligible children are fed.

If you believe you are eligible for free school meals, but are not yet in receipt of them, contact school via my email      a.mcdonough101@durhamlearning.net

and Mrs McGowan will be in touch to apply for you.

We hope you agree that this is a very appropriate and responsible approach to ensuring the needs of all of our eligible children are met. The packed lunch delivery was not going to be practical long-term as this puts our staff and yourselves at risk through unnecessary journeys now that an alternative has been reached.

Please use the link below if you need further information or have any other questions

https://www.edenred.co.uk/Documents/DfE/DfE_FreeSchoolMeals_ParentCarerFAQs.pdf

Mrs McDonough

 

UPDATED 20th March 2020 at 8.30AM

THE SCHOOL WILL CLOSE FOR EDUCATION PURPOSES AFTER FRIDAY 20TH MARCH 

SATS TESTS IN YEAR 6 HAVE BEEN CANCELLED FOR THIS YEAR

I can now give you information about who we are allowed to have in school and the conditions around that as set out by the government. PLEASE CONTACT SCHOOL URGENTLY VIA PHONE OR MY EMAIL a.mcdonough101@durhamlearning.net if you think at any point in this crisis you could require childcare. It would be helpful for us to know anyone who works in any of these sectors now so we can forward plan potential provision

GOV.UK statement states:

1. If it is at all possible for children to be at home then they should be
2. If a child needs specialist support, is vulnerable or has a parent who is a critical worker, then educational provision will be made for them
3. Parents should not rely on those in the stringent social distancing category for childcare such as grandparents, friends or family with underlying conditions.
4. Parents should do everything they can to ensure children are not mixing socially in a way which can continue the spread of the virus. The should observe the same social distancing rules as adults. 

If your work is critical to the COVID-19 response, or you work in one of the critical sectors listed below, and you cannot keep your child safe at home then your children will be prioritised for education provision:

Health and social care

includes but not limited to: doctors, nurses, midwives, paramedics, social workers, care workers, other frontline health and social care staff including volunteer, support staff required to maintain the health and social care sector and those working in the supply chain to health and social care including producers and distributors of medicines and medical ppe.

Education and childcare

includes nursery and teaching staff, social workers and specialist education professionals

Key Public Services

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

 

Local and National government

 

Food and necessary goods

includes those involved in food production, processing, distribution, sale and delivery as well as those essential to the provision of other key goods

 

Public safety and national security

includes police and support staff, MoD officials, armed forces personnel, fire and rescue services, border security, national crime agency staff

 

Transport

includes those who keep air, water, road and rail passenger and freight transport modes operating and those working on transport systems

 

Utilities, communication and financial services

includes staff needed for essential financial services provision (banks, building societies, financial market) oil, gas, electricity and water sectors, IT and data infrastructure, civil nuclear, chemical and telecommunications workers (field engineering, call centre staff, 999 and 111, postal services and delivery, payments providers and waste disposal sectors

 

KEEP BEING MINDFUL OF THE SYMPTOMS AND FOLLOW GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE ON SOCIAL DISTANCING AND ISOLATION

a)  a fever (37.8) or a new ‘continuous’ cough; 

b) anyone in their household showing symptoms (raised temperature 37.8 or a new continuous cough) the ENTIRE HOUSEHOLD should be isolated for 14 days. 

 

Communication with school during this time is going to be crucial and there are several ways to keep in touch with us, depending on your enquiry.

• The school website- (this post will continue to be updated and class pages)
• via class dojo which all parents will have a login for by the weekend- this will be where children access future learning
• my direct work email- a.mcdonough101@durhamlearning.net
• the school telephone number- 0191 5843805 (messages will be picked up regularly when we have access to the building)
• teachers2parents text messaging system

There may well be potential going forward to allow time-slots for parents to collect printed work packs from school but because of how uncertain the future of this situation is, it is crucial that you remain in communication with us to find out about arrangements.

 

Please do not contact any of the staff through any personal means such as messenger or social media.

 

This is an unprecedented time, and I am really grateful for your patience and cooperation. We can’t wait to get back to normal teaching and learning!

 

We will keep you updated via this post and text messages if, and when, things change.

You can also follow the links below for more guidance:

https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-educational-settings-about-covid-19/guidance-to-educational-settings-about-covid-19