Headteacher Newsletter Issue 4
FORTNIGHTLY NEWSLETTER ISSUE 4: 22.10.20
Tomorrow is an INSET day during which the teaching staff will attend a curriculum conference with our local Consortium of schools. The school will therefore be closed to pupils.
We wish you all a restful half term. It has been a different half term but it has been wonderful to have the children back. Thank you for all your support in helping us to keep the school open safely and to all the staff for their hard work. We look forward to returning after half term.
Bikeability
This week Year 6 have had a two day Bikeability course Level 1 and 2. The class were split into two groups of 12 and over the two days they learnt the skills needed to ride their bikes safely on the road. Despite some very wet weather, both groups really enjoyed the experience and felt they had learnt a lot about being safe on the road. Well done Year 6!
Fun Run
The children have had a lot of fun over the last two weeks taking part in their Fun Run event. Thank you for supporting them with this and Friends of Clavering for organising it.
Open Morning Filming
The children enjoyed the filming this week for our virtual Open Morning which has been produced for new Reception families looking to start next year.
Thank you to the year 6 children and Ms Crosby for leading this and to Jonny Snelling for filming. Even Maisie, our Reading Dog, made an appearance! We will let you know when it is available on our website.
COVID updates
Essex Move to Tier 2 Covid Restrictions
You will have seen on the news that Essex has now been placed in the High Alert category.
This came into play last Saturday.
The key points are:
- No households mixing indoors (including private homes, pubs, restaurants)
- Rule of six will apply outdoors
- A childcare bubble can be formed but this must always be between the same 2 households “A childcare bubble is where someone in one household provides informal (unpaid and unregistered) childcare to a child aged 13 or under in another household.”
You can find full details of the new restrictions at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-covid-alert-level-high
Schools will remain open.
Please can I remind parents of the importance of social distancing with each other when collecting your children.
Thank you for your help with this.
Essex is now at the High Alert stage therefore it is very important we follow our protective measures as rigorously as we can so that we can ensure that the school stays safe, open for as long as possible and staff remain healthy to teach.
Please can we therefore remind you:
- to avoid meeting with staff at pick up or drop off. Please email or phone instead.
- for any adults (or teenagers) dropping off or collecting children to wear a face covering when on the school site, including at the bottom of the drive where staff are working and members of the school community are walking passed.
- 2m social distancing at all times including at the bottom of the drive.
- to keep to your drop off and pick up times to avoid congestion at key times
- to get a COVID test if you have any of the three symptoms (below). It is vital that we all do this:
COVID Testing
Please inform us by a phone call if your child receives a positive test result during the school week. If you get the result at a weekend, please email the email address. We will be checking this inbox on a Saturday and Sunday. It is important to remember that if anyone in your household displays symptoms and/or gets a test, the whole family should self-isolate until a test result is received and the next piece of advice is given.
COVID symptoms and ACTION – a reminder
To confirm, children are to stay off school if they are unwell with any virus, unless mild. If they or a household member develops or has symptoms of a high temperature, persistent cough or loss of taste/smell then they must have a COVID test. Whilst waiting for the test results, household members must isolate. The class bubble does not have to at this stage but siblings in school do. Please keep the school informed if any of your household has any of the three symptoms and of any test results. It is vital we all work together on this to keep everyone safe.
Proactive Information for Parents – What Happens in the Event of a Positive Case within an Education Setting
The Local Authority has received some feedback from schools that some parents aren’t sure what would happen in the event of a confirmed case of COVID-19 in an education setting and so they have provided some useful links: what happens if a child or someone they live with develops symptoms and one on what happens if there’s a case in the child’s bubble.
Self-isolation Fines
Sadly locally there have been some incidents reported where people have not followed Government guidance on self-isolation and knowingly attended school whilst symptomatic or have been living with someone who is symptomatic or that has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID19). Schools have been asked to inform parents/carers that to knowingly ignore the self-isolation guidance is breaking the law and they could be fined £1,000. You can find the latest Government information at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-legal-duty-to-self-isolate-comes-into-forcetoday
Supervision at the end of the day
Please can we make sure that the collection period is as quick as it can be and that younger siblings and children stay with their parents and are supervised at all times. Thank you
School Admissions – Primary and Secondary – Apply Now!!
To apply quickly and easily for primary and secondary school places go online to https://www.essex.gov.uk/admissions-to-essex-schools-for-the-next-school-year
Year 7 Applications for Current Y6
The new secondary school admission round is now open for parents of current Year 6 children to apply for a secondary school (Year 7) place for September 2021. The statutory national closing date for applications is 31st October 2020.
Applications can be made online at www.essex.gov.uk/admissions. You can find further information at: https://www.essex.gov.uk/apply-for-a-secondary-school-place
Please ensure you put your application in prior to the deadline at the end of October. Applications received after this date will be considered late and you may reduce your chance of being offered a place at your preferred school.
Primary and junior school places for September 2021
From 9 November 2020 you can apply online for your child’s school place https://www.essex.gov.uk/apply-for-a-primary-school-place
You must submit an application by the national closing date of 15 January 2021. Applications received after this date are considered late and will reduce your chance of being offered a place at your preferred schools.
Free School Meals Funding
You can register for Free Schools Meals Funding if you meet the criteria below.
https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals
Saffron Walden Choral Society Carol Competition
SWCS are running their annual Christmas Carol competition. The deadline is Monday 2nd November. If your child is interested in taking part, please email for further details. Thank you.
Uniform
Please can we make sure that children are wearing school uniform at all times. We have seen a variation of PE clothing, trainers instead of school shoes and bright coloured socks. http://www.clavering.essex.sch.uk/school-uniform/
Lost Property
Can parents please make sure jumpers and coats are named as we cannot keep lost property during this climate.
Mobile Phones
This is a gentle reminder not to use mobile phones whilst on the school site. This is part of our safe guarding policy for all of our children.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
23rd October INSET day – school closed to pupils
4th November Deadline for FOC pumpkin pictures
18th December End of term
4th January INSET day – school closed to pupils
5th January Spring term begins
INSET Dates for the academic year 2021 – 2022
Schools allocate five non-pupil days for staff training:
Wednesday 1st September 2021
Friday 22nd October 2021
Tuesday 4th January 2022
Tuesday 19th April 2022
Monday 6th June 2022
ACHIEVEMENTS
STAR OF THE WEEK
Week ending October 9th
Reception Wilbur – for using his phonics to sound out and read words
Year One Henry – for such a caring and considerate member of the class and his enthusiasm for learning
Year Two Frankie – for great effort with his descriptive writing
Year Three Tommy – for always being kind and considerate and working hard in all lessons
Year Four Joshua – for great understanding of negative numbers
Year Five Barnaby – for good listening and for contributing in all areas of the curriculum
Year Six Harrison – for his good understanding of fractions
Week ending October 16th
Reception Eleanor – for fantastic name writing
Year One Phoenix – for her independent working during phonic lessons
Year Two Lenny – for trying hard to independently write his Flat Stanley story
Year Three Martha – for fantastic work in all aspects of the curriculum, especially Maths
Year Four Robin – for great story writing
Year Five Jack – for working really hard and demonstrating great focus
Year Six Ted – for his positive attitude towards all his learning and excellent focus
HEADTEACHER’S AWARD
For children who have achieved their personal best:
Reception
Jaxon – fantastic listening
Consuello – working hard in number and writing
Year One
Alfie – very resilient whilst working really hard in phonics lessons to improve his grapheme choices for accurate spelling. He has also improved his accuracy when attempting to write a simple sentence
Phoebe – grown in confidence showing a great attitude to her learning. This is particularly so during Maths when she has demonstrated strong reasoning and problem solving skills linked to number and place value
Year Two
Daniel – putting in a lot of effort to improve his writing.
Esme – a great improvement in her Maths
Year Three
Darcie – for fantastic effort in maths and reading.
Toby – for consistent effort and improvement in maths and English.
Year Four:
Aurelia – Great enthusiasm and understanding in maths
Kayleigh – super effort and attitude towards her learning especially writing
Year Five
Will – for challenging himself in his learning
Charlie W – for improved focus and confidence
Year Six
Aiden – for trying to do his best work in all subjects
Elizabeth – for her positive attitude and keeping up with her learning despite recent obstacles
Have a good half term and thank you for your support.
Rosalind Allsop
Headteacher
