Headteacher Newsletter Issue 12
FORTNIGHTLY NEWSLETTER ISSUE 12: 19.3.21
I hope you are all well. It has been wonderful to have the children back and they have all settled in extremely well. I would like to thank you all for being really excellent at drop off and pick up. It feels really slick and well spaced out. Please continue to stick to the allocated time slots and help us all stay as safe as possible.
Staffing
We are sad to announce that Mrs Abusham will be leaving us at the end of this term to pursue other ventures. We wish her well and would like to thank her for all her hard work and support over the years.
We have two relief LSAs that will be filling this role over the Summer term. Mrs Bond and a new member Mrs Stevens.
Red Nose Day
Mrs Tokeley and Miss Morton would like to say a huge THANK YOU for all the kind donations towards Comic Relief. The children wore red and had a great time having fitness fun whilst bopping along to the music! It was great to see each class getting involved and doing their bit for this worthy cause. Well done!
COVID updates
Unfortunately schools are still getting cases of COVID and one recently has been a fairly local school. This serves as a reminder, that although rates are very low, the virus is still out there and we need to ensure we abide by the social distancing guidelines. Please also make sure that if anyone in your family displays COVID symptoms, you ALL self-isolate and get a test as soon as possible.
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 passed.
- To keep to your drop off and pick up times to avoid congestion at key times ie avoid being too early or too late.
- 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 keep to the one family support bubble
- 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.
Home testing
The household testing guidance has been updated to reflect that individuals can and should order their homes testing kits online, whereas previously there was an expectation that households should not order online if they could get a test through other methods. The guidance now states “You can order 1 pack of home test kits containing 7 tests for home delivery. Your tests should arrive within 2 days”.
Information for parents
COVID information for Parents and Carers of children attending early years settings, schools and colleges during the coronavirus pandemic, has now been pulled together into a single collection for ease.
Message from Essex County Council – Financial Support
If you’ve tested positive or been asked to self-isolate it is really important that you stay home to stop the spread of Covid 19. Essex County Council has secured an extra £3m from Government covid funds to provide financial support to residents who need to self-isolate. The funds have been given to borough, city and district councils to provide one off £500 support payments to people unable to work and who do not qualify for the Government’s Test and Trace support payments. To apply for either the Government or discretionary grant see https://www.essex.gov.uk/test-and-trace-support-payment
Part of the COVID Winter Support Grant:
- Essex Essential Living Fund
Households struggling to pay food, fuel or water bills and for other essential household goods such as fridges or cookers can apply for an emergency grant from Essex Essential Living Fund (EELF).
Anyone can apply but EELF will advise on eligibility and what you could get.
Apply online or call 0300 7900124 between 8:45am – 5:00pm
- Essex Family Wellbeing Service
On behalf of Essex County Council and the NHS, Virgin Care and Barnardo’s provide a range of child and family services throughout Essex that are free at the point of delivery.
https://www.essexfamilywellbeing.co.uk/
Internet Safety
You can find an easy to use parent guide to protecting children from hate, extremism and fake news online –
http://www.clavering.essex.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Parent-toolkitonline-issues.226771329.pdf
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.
Clubs for the Summer Term
We are still restricted to class bubbles and staff that are attached to these groups. We are sharing out the clubs across the year groups as much as possible. Once the restriction ease we will be able to extend our offer.
Clubs will commence the week beginning 12.4.21 in class bubbles with our internal sports coaches, outside. Please note the school is CLOSED ON 12.4.21 for an INSET day.
| MONDAY | |||
| Football | 3.15 – 4.15 | Year 6 | |
| TUESDAY | |||
| Fitness/Running | 3.15 – 4.15 | Year 2 | |
| WEDNESDAY | |||
| Fitness/Running | 3.15 – 4.15 | Year 1 | |
| THURSDAY | |||
| Football | 3.15 – 4.15 | Year 4 | |
ACHIEVEMENTS
STAR OF THE WEEK
Week ending March 12th
Reception Reggie – for a fantastic return to school and his brilliant writing
Year One Hattie – for her excellent measuring skills identifying different lengths
Year Two Penny – for a positive attitude towards the return to school
Year Three Matilda – for working hard in Maths and persevering with perimeter
Year Four Sidney – for great improvement in fluency with reading
Year Five Holly – for super writing on rivers
Year Six Claudia – for good effort with her writing
HEADTEACHER’S AWARD
For children who have achieved their personal best:
Reception:
Thomas – for great progress in writing, maths and reading
Seren – for excellent reading and writing
Year One:
Isabella – for her huge progress in reading fluency. Isabella has grown her vocabulary base recognising many unfamiliar subject specific words and is beginning to infer and give opinions about the text she is reading.
Phoebe S – for her progress and continued excellent level of writing. Phoebe thoughtfully writes her in a well structured and accurate way using correct punctuation and spelling.
Year Two:
Mollie – for great progress across the curriculum
George – for great improvement in reading
Year Three:
Max H – for making progress with writing and reading by working hard in phonics.
Harry – for showing great progress in reading, spellings and maths. Having a positive attitude to learning.
Year Four:
Amelia – for good progress and understanding in maths and great effort in challenging herself.
Robin – for great effort and progress in maths especially times tables.
Year Five:
Olivia A – for careful, conscientious work, pushing herself to complete tasks
Joseph – for continuous great effort and progress
Year Six:
Lani – for the good progress she has made in all areas of the curriculum this term.
Olly – for his focus and trying to do his best work in every lesson.
House Point Winners for the Autumn term – Oliver. There will be a non-uniform day early next term for the winners.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
19th March Red Nose Day
23rd and 24th March Parent Consultations via Teams
26th March End of term
12th April INSET day – school closed to pupils
13th April Summer term begins
Have a good weekend and thank you for your support.
Best wishes
Rosalind Allsop
Headteacher
