Email update 11/01/2021

Dear Parents/ Carers

I would like to thank you all for your hard work and commitment to engaging with online education for your children.  It is not an easy job!

We fully appreciate that this is not an ideal situation and that it presents difficulties for some of you with other children and your own commitments.

we understand that you may not be able to attend all of the sessions online.  If you are having any issues or difficulties, or would like some additional support for your child's learning please do not hesitate to either contact me, or email the class teacher and we can arrange for online sessions outside those planned for everyone.  

I am waiting for the laptops which we are offering for loan, there was some additional problems not initially identified and so these are taking a little longer than expected.  I will notify those who have requested to borrow one as soon as they are available.  

For those children in the Nursery and Reception Class who are in school could I ask that they come in wearing warm clothing.  They will be spending a considerable amount of time outside in the fresh air, they can wear their normal polo shirts and sweatshirts or cardigans if they are in Reception, but may well benefit from either joggers or some kind of warm trousers.

We are no longer having deliveries of snacks and milk in school.  If you would like to send a snack and drink in for them to have at morning break we would be happy to make sure they have the opportunity to have these.  

If there is anything else that we could possibly help with then please let me know and we will try our best to accommodate your wishes.

Stay safe and well!

Vanessa Coleman

Email Update - 03/11/2020

Dear All

We hope you all had a safe, healthy and restful half-term break, and that you refreshed for this coming half-term.

I just wanted to update you with information for this coming half-term:

HOT DINNERS

As notified last half-term, we are now serving hot dinners again.  The menu is attached for your information, it is also on our website.  The children who are having hot lunches will eat in the hall, they will remain in their bubbles and there will be a limited number of children at each table.  The different bubbles will be kept separate and will enter and leave the hall at different times so that they do not mix.  Reception children will remain in their classroom to eat their hot or cold lunch as we feel they will be more comfortable doing this.  

ONLINE READING

The online reading system was set up so that the children could read books at an appropriate level without having to send books back and forth and have to keep them safe for further circulation, we need to have a 72 hour gap between circulation.  You should have received the email before half-term with instructions and details for use, if you need this again please let me know.  We have noted that many of the children have logged on and have been reading, if your child has not accessed this yet please encourage them to use the system and keep reading.  This is a vital skill and important for their progress going forward.  The system provides quizzes which evaluate their understanding of the text they have read and allocates books for them based on this.  The more the children read and answer questions quickly, the more they will progress through the books, it is really important that you support us in doing this.  The children from Reception to year 1 will continue to take books home.  If there is anything you wish to feedback on please feel free to email me or call the school.

REMOTE LEARNING

We have been busy planning for the provision of remote learning.  We are in the final stages of finalizing this and I will send you further information later this week.  We will be using a mixture of access to videos, live teaching, set tasks and opportunities for feedback.  This provision will be for any children who are not attending school, those who are isolating for whatever reason.  We hope that anyone who is isolating will engage fully with the opportunities that will be offered.

KEEPING SAFE

As you will be aware, the Government announced last week that as from Thursday we will be entering a second period of national lockdown.  The Government have made it clear that schools will remain open and children are expected to continue to attend unless they are isolating or ill.  With this in mind we want to do everything we can to ensure that we keep the whole school community safe and well, and so we ask that if your drop off or collect your children from school and come to the gate with them that you wear a face mask.  The staff at the gates will be wearing masks when you see them.  

ILLNESS

If your child has any symptoms of Covid-19 then please follow the guidelines in the attachment below.  If you would like to discuss anything then please call the school and will be happy to help and advise.  If your child is unwell with anything else then please let us know so that we can correctly record their absence.  Can I just remind you that should your child have sickness or diarrhea they will need to stay off school for 48 hours following the last bout of this.  This is to ensure that your child has fully recovered and to reduce the risk of the spread of any bugs to other children.  Thank you in advance for adhering to this expectation.

INTERIM REPORTS

WE have been busy preparing your child's interim report and will be offering a consultation following this being sent to you next week.  The consultations, because of the national lockdown, will now be held via online meetings.  Further details will be sent with your child's report.

If you have anything that you would like to discuss with me please feel free to call the school or email and I will be happy talk to you.

Kind regards

Vanessa Coleman

Transfer to Secondary Schools 2021

The closing date for receipt of applications for the above is 31 October 2020.

Email Update - 11/10/2020

Dear All

Thank you!

We are lucky in school that we have been able to manage without any Covid-19 suspected or positive cases so far.  We are continuing to take care and follow procedures to manage the risks as far as possible, and very much appreciate your efforts and support with this.  The children have been amazing and we will continue to remind and work with them moving forward.  The cases in Bedford Borough have risen, as they have across the country.  We are continuing to consider and monitor this situation, supported by information and guidance from Bedford Borough Council.

Hot Meals:

I have been in discussions with Caterlink regarding the re-introduction of hot meals.  We have a plan to return to providing hot meals following the half-term break.   More information and menu choices will be provided shortly.

The Arrival of Winter:

As the weather moves towards winter and begins to get colder and wetter please make sure that your children have a coat in school, it can change over the day.  Could you also ensure that your child has the appropriate PE kit in school, particularly as we are trying to go outdoors as much as possible to keep any Covid-19 risks to a minimum.

Helpful Infromation:

Please find attached information which may be useful in supporting your child's learning.

Digital Safety for your child:

I have been working on information about internet safety and documents will shortly be uploaded to the school website, i will send you notification of when this is completed. Please look out for this as it will help keep your children safe and provide you with support  and guidance of how to do this.

WELCOME BACK 

Dear all
I just wanted to tell you all how proud of all of your children I am! They have been amazing today, even after such a long time out of school for many of them.
Thank you too for your support and engagement with the processes we have put in place, and for preparing the children for their return to school.
I hope you have enjoyed some piece and quiet at home and had a bit of a rest after spending so long teaching and supporting your children.
Thank you also to all of the staff who have been committed and excited about the return of the children.
WELL DONE EVERYONE, YOU ARE FABULOUS!

Vanessa Coleman