Head Teacher Blog: Friday 16th October 2020

Date: 16th Oct 2020 @ 11:16am

Harvest

At this time of year, we usually hold a Harvest Service in church to give thanks for all that God has given us. For obvious reasons, we are not able to do this this year. Children will hold their own celebrations in class but we would still like to take the opportunity to support our local Foodbank. Now, more than ever, we are reminded of the importance of this vital service to all those who need it. As a school, we are able to offer foodbank vouchers to those who need them and collection of food can be done at St. John’s church. To that end, we are asking for donations to be brought to school if you are able, via your child to a collection box within their classroom. We will put these donations together at the end of next week, hold them in ‘quarantine’ over half term and then take them down to the foodbank after half term.

At the moment, Mid Cheshire Foodbank urgently need:

long life milk
long life fruit juice
tinned fruit
tinned vegetables
sponge puddings
cakes and chocolate
toiletries
tinned meat
pasta sauce
coffee

But they have got plenty of:

pasta
beans
tea.

Collection of children from Linmere

There have been some parental concerns expressed with regards to the collection of children from Linmere class at the front of school at the end of the day and how some adults do not feel safe. Please may I take this opportunity to remind everyone as to what we have on our risk assessment to keep everyone safe?

Parents must wait on the socially distanced lines on the inside of the school wall, wearing a face mask. Please do not wait on the pavement, especially by the gates – this is a public footpath and the number of people gathering there makes it very unsafe for the general public who need to pass as well as other adults who need to pass to come onto the school playground to collect children.

Mr Pasquill will open the door and will dismiss the children in an orderly way according to the next parent in line on the inside of the wall. Please may all adults leave promptly as soon as you have your child? Do not stay to talk to other adults.

I really appreciate your cooperation with this as it is impossible for me to be in two places at once whilst I am on the playground ensuring the safe dismissal of the other classes.

I will monitor this over the coming week to ensure that everyone feels safe. If this is not the case, I will have to alter Linmere’s start and finish times to 8.25am and 2.40pm using the main playground, in the same way as the rest of the school after half term. I will keep you all updated.

Childcare in Tier 2

Now that Cheshire West and Chester has moved into Tier 2, there are some new rules with regards to childcare that you may or may not be aware of.

The following people can provide childcare support in private homes and gardens:

registered childcare providers, including nannies;
people in your support bubble;
people in your childcare bubble.

A childcare bubble is where someone in one household provides informal (unpaid and unregistered) childcare to a child aged 13 or under in another household. For any given childcare bubble, this must always be between the same 2 households.

Friends or family who do not live with you and are not part of a support or childcare bubble, must not visit your home to help with childcare. Childcare bubbles are to be used to provide childcare only and not for the purposes of different households mixing where they are not otherwise allowed to do so.

Parents Evening

You will have by now received an e mail explaining our decision to change the way that we were going to run our Parents Evening this year as Cheshire has moved to Tier 2. Thank you so much to those who have expressed their support with this difficult decision. Whilst I understand that communication with teachers can be difficult at the moment because of our COVID risk assessment and people were looking forward to meeting class teachers face to face, we think that this solution allows you to do that in a safe and secure environment.

#WakeUpWednesday

Tellonym is a popular messaging app that gives users the ability to ask questions and receive answers anonymously. The app is free to download and was initially launched to help alleviate anxiety, deepen relationships and encourage social connections. However, concerns have been raised in the past due to the app facilitating online bullying behaviour. That is why National Online Safety have created this guide to help adults understand exactly what Tellonym is all about.

Applying for Secondary and Reception Places for September 2021

If you have a child in Year 6, the application round has now opened for you to apply for a secondary school place. It is very important that you do this before the deadline which is 31^st October, otherwise your application will be classed as a late application and could have a severe impact on your preferred school choice. Results are available from 12.30am on 1^st March 2021. Before making your application, it is important you view the Starting Secondary School booklet. To apply, you will need to create an account or log in if you have an existing online account.

As a school, we are a partner primary with both The Winsford Academy and Hartford CE High School which means that applications for children from our school are considered above some other categories, should the school be oversubscribed. Further details with regards to this can be found in the ‘Transferring to Secondary School’ information booklet in the link above.

If you have a child who is turning 4 years old between now and 31^st August 2020, or know of a child who is, then the application round is also open for them to apply for their Reception place. The timescale is slightly different for this and you have until 15^th January 2021, but like the secondary school place, before making your application, it is important you view the Starting School booklet. To apply, you will need to create an account or log in if you have an existing online account.

Reminders

School dinners cost £2.30 per day, £11.50 per week. Children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 receive free meals as part of the government’s Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM) scheme. Dinner money must be paid in advance via the School Money system as we do not accept cash in school anymore due to our COVID-19 Risk Assessment.

If you are in receipt of benefits and think that you may be entitled to free school meals, please click here for more information and support and how to apply. It is very important to apply for free schools meals whatever year your child is in, even if you receive the UIFSM in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2, as the school receives a sum of extra money to further help support your child and their education.

Absence During Term Time

Please may I remind you that schools are not allowed to authorise pupil holidays in term time. Any child going on holiday in term time will receive an unauthorised absence. Our registers are regularly checked by the Education Welfare Service and parents may be issued with a fine from the Local Authority for unauthorised absence, which is currently £60 per child, per parent and this rises to £120 if paid after 21 days but within 28 days.

Confirmed Dates for the Autumn Term 2020 – new dates are highlighted

Friday 23^rd October: School closes for half term

Monday 2^nd November: School reopens

Tuesday 3^rd to Friday 6^th November: Artist working in school in all classes

Wednesday 4^th November: Parents Evening 4pm – 5.10pm

Thursday 5^th November: Parents Evening 4pm – 5.10pm

Wednesday 11^th November: Parents Evening 4pm – 5.10pm

Thursday 12^th November: Parents Evening 4pm – 5.10pm

Friday 18^th December: School closes for Christmas – if government COVID-19 guidelines are still in place, finishing times will be as follows, but I will keep you updated:

Blakemere at 1:45pm

Linmere at 1:45pm

Oakmere at 1:50pm

Delamere at 1.55pm

Sandymere at 2pm

Hatchmere at 2.05pm

I hope that you all have a lovely weekend.

Take care,

Mrs E Snowdon

Files to Download

Tellonym Guide