Headteacher Newsletter Issue 7
FORTNIGHTLY NEWSLETTER ISSUE 7: 11.12.20
It was good to see all the Christmas jumpers today to start off the Christmas season. I cannot believe we are near the end of term. Thank you all so much for your support, working with us to keep everyone safe and the school open. There will be a last letter of term issued next week.
Parent Consultations
Parent consultations have taken place over the last two weeks via Teams. We decided to spread the appointments out over two weeks this time to allow time for any technical difficulties, since this is the first time we have organised them in this format. We hope you found them informative.
Forest School – Reception
Reception Class have been enjoying on-site Forest School since half-term. We have been using the field, wood, allotments and reading circle. The children are learning to become more independent getting their waterproofs and boots on! They voted on their group name – The Busy Bugs. They have also been digging and creating animal homes and have enjoyed getting very muddy! The hot chocolate has also been very popular!!!
Thank you to Mrs Berrett and Miss O’Brien for helping us with our sessions!
A small group of children from Class 4 have also been attending Forest School on Mondays whilst Mrs Elliston completes her Forest School training. Thank you to Mrs Bond for her help with this.
Christmas Celebration Video
All the classes have been busy creating videos to celebrate Christmas. Miss Morton has kindly put it together for us all as one school production – even Ms Crosby, Miss Allsop, the Kitchen and Office staff have got in on the action with no time to rehearse! The video will be posted out to parents via class Teams. We anticipate for this to be available next Thursday afternoon after the children have had the premiere of all their hard work. We hope you enjoy it and it makes you smile!
To help keep children safe, we would like to respectfully remind you that the video MUST NOT be downloaded and shared on social media or any other video sharing platform. Thank you.
Christmas Cards
We are keen for children to be able to distribute Christmas cards if they wish, however, due to our COVID safety measures this can only be within bubbles, where they can be quarantined rigorously.
School Communication
Please could we remind you to only use the Teams account for homework and not for general contact with the class teacher or the school. Please contact the school office for any other communication. As per our safeguarding measures, children must not contact the class teacher via Teams.
Thank you for your support with this.
Bad weather
In the event of severe weather conditions and possible school closure a notice will be placed on the school website.
Parents will be notified via our school website or the Essex County Council on the ‘Emergency School Closures’ page: https://www.essex.gov.uk/education-schools/schools/dates/pages/emergency-school-closures.aspx
Please note that when the school is open in bad weather a path will be cleared to enable you to gain access to the school but care does still need to be taken.
Communication Chain
The school has a communication chain whereby agreed representatives from each class are contacted regarding school closure. Each representative owns a list of parents they subsequently contact. Just as a reminder, in order for the communication chain to be effective it is important that phone calls are made as opposed to emails or texts, in order to ensure contact is made. Normally the chain will be activated the morning of the school closure as the decision is made on the day, unless in exceptional circumstances we know of the need in advance. We will try to open where possible, hence the decision being made at the last minute, once we can assess the school site. We will endeavour to give you as much notice as possible, but as you are aware it takes some time for the communication to pass through.
Facebook can be used as a supplementary means of communication if requested to do so by a member of the leadership team but this is not part of the school process. ParentMail, the Communication Chain, the school website and the Essex link above are the school notifications.
Thank you again for your support with this process.
Open Morning
Normally at this time of year, we would be opening our doors to prospective parents considering our school for Reception 2021. As this is not possible, we have created a virtual tour of our school, which I wanted to share with you. A big thank to our year 6 pupils for leading the film, pupils and staff around the school, and especially Jonny Snelling who created the film, supported by Ms Crosby. We hope you enjoy it!
http://www.clavering.essex.sch.uk/school/
COVID updates –
Change to INSET days and last day of term – last day of term THURSDAY 17TH DECEMBER
As per our letter that was circulated this week, in order for us to be able to support the Track and Trace Team as instructed by the DFE the other day, and avoid Christmas Eve, we have been advised that face to face teaching needs to stop on Thursday 17th December. Schools will then need to be available for 6 days, leading up to and including the 23rd December to support the Track and Trace team manage any positive cases that may arise within our school community 48 hours after the end of term.
The school MUST be contacted of any positive cases linked to infection 48 hours after the end of term.
We would then work with the Essex Track and Trace team and contacts will be notified to isolate for 14 days.
In order to accommodate the actions above, we will be moving our INSET day that was scheduled for Wednesday 21st July to Friday 18th December.
Clubs
Now that we are out of Lockdown clubs can resume as they were before this period. Clubs for next term will be issued in our letter next week.
Protective Measures
Many schools around us in West Essex, and in Essex overall, have had positive cases in school. The infection rate is high. It is vital therefore, that we continue to keep our measures as rigorous as possible to keep everyone safe in and around Clavering, the school open and the staff healthy to teach.
Schools that have had positive cases seemed to have had different symptoms to the three main ones that are nationally recognised and trigger the testing process. Until this list formally changes, please can we continue to keep children off school if they are unwell with any virus, including colds and headaches. If one of the symptoms is linked to the three listed – temperature, loss of taste/smell and repetitive cough, then you MUST get a test and inform the school immediately.
Alongside this, it is vitally important that we keep our protective measures as rigorous as they can be.
Please can we therefore continue to remind you:
- For any visitors to our site to wear a mask, including parents and teenagers dropping off and picking up. This is not mandatory but has been stressed as good practice by the Local Authority.
- To avoid talking to staff, but email or call the office instead.
- To refrain from meeting with other parents at drop off and pick up and ensure that the 2m distancing rule is followed at all times, including at the bottom of the drive where staff are working and members of the school community are walking past.
- To keep to your drop off and pick up times to avoid congestion at key time.
- To keep to our one way system -coming up the path and down the drive
- To keep younger children with you and not let them run ahead down the drive
- 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.
In line with our Covid protective measures, please can we remind you that we cannot have items brought in from home unless this is exceptional, has been pre-arranged and is part of a rigorous quarantine process. This includes gifts that the children want to give each other for birthdays.
Travel Advice
The Government has listed countries and territories exempt from advice against all but essential international travel. However, this guidance also states that “the global coronavirus pandemic is ongoing. No travel is risk-free, and disruption is still possible”.
School Admissions – Primary – Apply Now!!
To apply quickly and easily for primary school places go online to https://www.essex.gov.uk/admissions-to-essex-schools-for-the-next-school-year
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.
If you have a child in Key Stage One and are receiving the free meal, which is part of the universal offer, you could be missing out on this additional funding for the school, which will support your child with their learning, if you meet the criteria below. You have to apply for this funding. If you think you meet the criteria below then please follow the guidance below and contact the school office.
https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals
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
11th December Christmas Jumper Day
16th December Best decorated bubble competition deadline
17th December End of term
18th December INSET day – school closed to pupils
4th January INSET day – school closed to pupils
5th January Spring term begins
ACHIEVEMENTS
STAR OF THE WEEK
Week ending November 27th
Reception Harris – for his perfect manners and for putting fantastic effort into everything he does
Year One Lottie – for her excellent independent writing when using adjectives to describe herself
Year Two Evelyn – for excellent effort this week in Maths
Year Three Ellie – for putting in a huge amount of effort with her non-chronological report and being kind to others
Year Four Chloe B – for consistent good effort in her work and always being kind
Year Five Rory – for good focus and working well independently
Year Six Rose C – for working independently and for being so focussed.
Week ending December 4th
Reception Lila – for joining enthusiastically with all the actions and words for our class poem
Year One Teddy – for his hard work learning his phonic sounds and writing CVC words of his own.
Year Two Ollie – for always putting in fantastic effort and being a kind friend
Year Three William – for showing great team work and effort in all aspects of the curriculum
Year Four Finley – for a great piece of descriptive writing in English
Year Five Martha – for excellent listening and for always being on task
Year Six Isla – for perceptive comments in PSHE
Have a good weekend and thank you for your support.
Rosalind Allsop
Headteacher