FORTNIGHTLY NEWSLETTER  ISSUE 13:                            16.4.21

I hope you are all well and that you had a restful Easter.     It has been wonderful to have the children back this week.  They are enjoying being on the school field in the sunshine.   We are looking forward to the Summer term ahead and we would like to welcome the Blasebalk family to the school, that have joined year 4.

Class newsletters will be circulated at the beginning of term.  We will continue to deliver our catch-up curriculum supported by increased wellbeing activities, as well as our full curriculum.

We are pleased that the national climate continues to improve.  We are following the guidance for schools and Local Authority advice closely.  We are hoping the protective measures and restrictions will ease in due course.  In the meantime the virus is still present and we need to continue to be vigilant.  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.

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/

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 

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

(More events and dates to follow, once confirmed)

12^th April                              INSET Day

13^th April                              Return to school for summer term

16^th April                              Non uniform day – Oliver for most House Points last term

23^rd April                              Friends of Clavering ‘Break the Five Rules Day’

3^rd May                                 Bank Holiday

28th  May                              Break up for half term

7^th   June                              Return to school after half term

21^st July                                Break up for the summer

ACHIEVEMENTS

STAR OF THE WEEK

 Week ending March 19^th   

Reception           Willa – for using the Ipad to draw a fantastic alien with great independence

Year One             Kitty – for focus during handwriting practice

Year Two             Tilly – for a fantastic attitude to her learning and some super writing with week

Year Three          Oscar – for a wonderful free verse poem and consistent hard work

Year Four             Thomas – for persevering and always trying his best

Year Five              Miley – for improved effort and presentation of her work

Year Six                                Joshua – for his enthusiasm for reading and discussing the story

 Week ending March 26^th    

Reception           Elizabeth – for being so helpful and for her amazing name writing

Year One             Tilly P – for her excellent writing composing a descriptive sense poem

Year Two             Poppy – for being a helpful friend and always trying her hardest

Year Three          Trinity – for consistent hard work and progress in mental arithmetic

Year Four             Anna – for being a great talk partner this week and always being kind and helpful

Year Five              Luca – for wonderful descriptive writing

Year Six                                Brooke – for her descriptive writing on Northern Lights

Have a good weekend and thank you for your support.

Best wishes

Rosalind Allsop

Headteacher