And this week’s STAR certificates go to all parents who have worked relentlessly to establish new routines in your homes, to cater not only for changes in your own work patterns but to suddenly become Zoom, Google Classroom and Tapestry experts as well as managing to keep multiple children to their schedules and most of all, to approach all glitches or links not working, with smiles and laughter! We appreciate your hard work to embrace this with enthusiasm (albeit with slight trepidation!), and a special thanks to Mrs Weston, Miss Hawken and Mrs Kellow who have discovered technological skills they never realised they had: they will be headhunted by Google and Zoom without a doubt! And, Mr Hick has managed to visit homes and give 1:1 tutorials to families to support setting up email accounts, making routers and dongles work to ensure that everyone can access the online learning. What a team effort!

Every day this week, we have had 97% of our children access tutorials (Y1-6) and engage through Tapestry (EYFS) on a daily basis, which is just incredible. The majority of Zoom sessions are taking place without technological difficulties, and if they are, they are easily solved! Please can we request that you ensure that your child has their name visible so that it is clear who we are letting in the session.

We are also really grateful to those parents who have reduced their child’s time using school provision by altering hours at work – we really do appreciate your efforts to keep our numbers as low as possible: thank you.

I think we are all aware that sadly, Remote Learning is here to stay for a while. It has been crucial that we have spent this week ensuring that all families are set up and ready to go. Please continue to let us know when and if situations crop up – whether it is techie problems, family difficulties, learning challenges or you just wanting to touch base with us: you know where we are!

In these challenging times, we have thought about being kind in our weekly assemblies. Whether we be thinking about the ‘Smartest (or kindest) Giant in Town,’ or Mother Teresa, we are thinking about how we can affect other people’s lives by the words we use and the actions we take: 

“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa.

Ms Teagle

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Updated information on Covid-19

We have updated all our information on the website giving advice on many aspects of the global pandemic. CLICK HERE  for up to date information. 

For updated information about Remote Learning and our guide for parents and carers CLICK HERE.

Increasing data allowances on mobile phones

We are aware that some children are connecting to the internet via mobile phone, which uses your allocated data allowance quite quickly. There is a scheme available that temporarily increases data allowances, to support families that are finding this is an issue, which you may be eligible for. TPAT (our academy trust) will communicate with the DfE directly to arrange this and if you feel this is required for your family then please complete the form  by following the link. CLICK HERE

The Trust also can request some 4G wireless routers for children who are experiencing disruption to their face to face learning because of problems accessing the internet. The Trust has ordered more of these but there is currently a very limited supply. If you feel that you need this option, you can contact Mrs Weston, who can then liaise with TPAT and Mr Bagley, and we may be able to help.

Accessing Google Classroom on Xbox and Playstation

We have been informed that you can access Google Classroom on XBox and Playstation. We have found these instructions to support you, or may already know other ways!

CLICK HERE

We have received additional laptops from members of our community to use for our children who may be disadvantaged by the lack of technology at home. Your kindness is incredible and children will benefit from this immensely. Thank you. 

Free School Meals

An email was sent via ParentPay on Thursday to inform parents that the Government has now made the national voucher scheme available for those families entitled to Free School Meals. This scheme uses the same Edenred platform that we used during the first Lockdown and the vouchers will be worth £15 per eligible child per week. We will therefore move to this scheme from next week and vouchers will cover the week beginning 18th January through to the week beginning 8th February.  

Our intention is to provide vouchers in two week blocks (£30 per eligible child). Unfortunately the online portal will not allow us to order anything until next week so there may be some delay in the vouchers coming out, therefore it is more likely that they will become available at the end of the week but we will get them sent out as soon as we possibly can – thank you for your understanding with this. 

Despite the nationwide negative social media frenzy this week on this subject, thank you to the parents who passed on kind messages to the kitchen for organising our bundles over the last week.

Everyone in EYFS, Year 1 and 2 are entitled to Universal School Meals – a free meal when they are at school. This is not the same as claiming additional support if you are on benefits. If you are unsure how the system works and whether you could be entitled, please phone the office to talk it through. In times when you are away from school, it is crucial to ensure that families have all the support you need, and everything everyone is entitled to. 

Many family situations are changing due to this ongoing pandemic. If you are needing support and unsure whether you are eligible to claim for Free School meals, click on the link below to find out more. We currently have 20% of our children eligible for Free School meals – the current economic crisis is tough – please seek help if you need it. CLICK HERE

Maths Zoom check in with Mr Hick!

We all know how much Mr Hick enjoys maths! Well, he is keen to spread mathematical love to families too! Responding to a few questions from families whose subject knowledge when dealing with Y4/5/6 maths is a little sketchy, he has decided to put on weekly sessions for the next 4 weeks – Monday evenings at 7pm. The first session will be based around fractions and will be very much responsive to your needs. It will not be a presentation, but an opportunity to bring questions and to work through things together. The link will be on the Y4/5/6 timetables for next week.  Please join him – he is very excited about this!

Other teachers are keen to do other family information sessions in the coming weeks, for different subjects and different age groups, enabling you all to support your children in the best possible way.