Headteacher Newsletter Issue 14
FORTNIGHTLY NEWSLETTER ISSUE 14: 30.4.21
We would like to welcome the Loveridge family to the school. They have joined classes 1 and 3.
Friends of Clavering – Break the Five Rules
The children thoroughly enjoyed the Friends of Clavering event last week ‘Break the Five Rules’ day. Friends of Clavering will update you all in due course with our fundraising.
Self-Testing for Families
Everyone in Essex is now able to collect self-test kits from participating libraries and pharmacies. Regular self-testing among school communities will help keep all children and their families safe as we move along the roadmap out of lockdown.
Please collect free packs of self-test kits for their families. Alternatively, you can order them online.
You can find out where to collect self-test kits near you on the Essex County Council website, or you can order self-test kits online from GOV.UK.
If you test positive from a self-test kit or develop symptoms, you should book a follow-up test on GOV.UK or call 119.
Please remember there is financial support available if they need to self-isolate. The criteria have recently been extended so that parents and guardians are eligible if they need to take time off work to look after a child or young person who is self-isolating. They must also meet the other criteria.
The social contact restrictions are still in place and have not changed.
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 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, all 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.
Attendance
Now that we are all back in school it is very important that attendance is as strong as it can be so that we can work with the children to get their learning back on track. Even though national restrictions are easing it is very important that holidays are not taken during term time. These requests will not and cannot be authorised. The Local Authority have increased their monitoring process and related paperwork for schools in response to this.
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/
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
(More events and dates to follow, once confirmed)
3rd May Bank Holiday
28th May Break up for half term.
7th June Return to school after half term
25th June Reception September 2021 Induction Morning – format to be confirmed
6th July Sports Day – format to be confirmed
7th July Parent Evenings – times and format to be confirmed
8th July Parent Evening – times and format to be confirmed
12th July Year 5 Harlow Outdoors trip
14th July Year 6 Harlow Outdoors trip
20th July Year 6 Leavers’ Assembly
21st July Break up for the summer.
ACHIEVEMENTS
STAR OF THE WEEK
Week ending April 16th
Reception Bailey – for outstanding name writing and confident reading
Year One Elise – for writing a thoughtful recount about her Easter break
Year Two Alexa – for being a kind and helpful member of the class
Year Three Teddy – for brilliant understanding of the fractions work this week
Year Four Isaac – for great understanding of subtracting fractions from whole numbers
Year Five Ethan – for super maths this week
Year Six Alice – for her good focus and effort in Maths
Week ending April 23rd
Reception Lila – for leaving spaces between her words in her sentence writing
Year One Christopher – for showing perseverance when improving his writing following feedback
Year Two Joseph – for a fantastic attitude to learning
Year Three Rio – for great effort with her learning this week especially in art and English
Year Four Poppy – for great thinking and effort in Maths
Year Five Harry – for demonstrating good focus and motivation
Year Six Ted R – for good focus and effort in booster on Monday
Have a good weekend and thank you for your support.
Best wishes
Rosalind Allsop
Headteacher