Over St. John's CE Primary SchoolHead Teacher Blog: Friday 31st March 2023
Date: 31st Mar 2023 @ 11:52am
We had a lovely morning in church celebrating our Easter Service earlier today. As ever, the children did us all proud with their singing, reading and behaviour and it was a real pleasure to be a part of. Thank you to those who were able to come and support the children and as I said in church, you were able to see what we as staff are privileged to see in action every day – the wonderful talents and behaviour of our children. George said to me at the end that the service was outstanding – the best one he has seen (and he has seen a lot!) so a huge well done and thank you to all involved in making it so special.
At the end of the service, we drew the winning tickets for our Easter Hamper Raffle. The winners were the McQuoid family and the Brunt family and you are able to collect your hampers from the school office – well done and thank you to everyone for your support as we managed to raise £150.
Leaping Lambs
I told you all in my blog last week about the fun that the children had had doing their sponsored Leaping Lambs event for St. Luke’s. A representative from St. Luke’s came earlier today to collect the sponsorship envelopes and we have been absolutely bowled over by the generosity of our families and friends. Whilst a finalised total is yet to be confirmed, it is in the region of £1100!!! We cannot thank you enough for your generosity in supporting this local charity who do so much good in our own community. From the bottom of our hearts – thank you.
Wake Up Wednesday
We can access new music and movies in seconds. We can get products delivered to our door the very next day. We can chat or play games with people on the other side of the planet. For all of the remarkable benefits, the digital age has brought us, it’s also presented us with a whole new raft of pressures and anxieties that, in truth, we’re all still learning to cope with. From continual notifications inflaming a fear of missing out to the risk of public embarrassment or slanging matches on social media, today’s children and young people have stresses to manage that previous generations simply never encountered. This week’s #WakeUpWednesday guide examines these uniquely modern worries, highlighting ways to reduce the anxiety that digital devices can bring.
In the guide you'll find tips on reducing push notifications from apps, avoiding social media arguments and spotting when a child’s been upset by something online.
Information from the Local Authority regarding the Easter Holidays
Holiday Activities and Food Programme, cost of living and Household Support Fund payments
The Council, alongside Edsential and a range of community partners, are running a wide range of fantastic activities for the Easter Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF) that will run throughout the school spring holiday.
The HAF Programme is funded nationally and provides funding for local organisations to provide activities for children and young people during the holidays, helping them to access healthy food and take part in fun activities over the school holidays.
Over the spring there will be a wide range of HAF programmes delivered across the borough by our local partners.
This year all provision for the HAF Programme can be found on the new dedicated west Cheshire area on the Edsential website.
Edsential
Community interest company, Edsential, is working with 54 organisations, including schools, community, voluntary and faith sector organisations, to organise 59 holiday activity clubs throughout the borough this summer period. The holiday clubs will provide local children and families with:
- healthy meals and snacks, along with family cooking sessions and nutritional/health education
- a variety of directly delivered physical activities such as, swimming, yoga, golf, judo, skateboarding, dance and drama workshops
- diverse enrichment activities, including arts and crafts, musical theatre, archery, street dance, mindfulness, forest school, and much more.
These sessions can be booked via the Edsential website.
Youth Zones for 11-16 year olds (up to 25 if SEND)
Youth Zones, operated by the Council’s Youth Service, will be providing eligible children and young people across the borough with an Easter offer.
All children and young people will be offered a healthy balanced hot meal or packed lunch.
Programme plans include Easter arts and crafts, Easter Disco, face painting, beat boxing, mc-ing and Rapping, Graffiti, Sporting activities including football, skateboarding, rollerskating and scootering and trips out.
For further information please email EHPChesterandRural@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk.
Provision for all children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
A number of organisations have been funded to deliver SEND specific HAF provision across the borough, the varied offer will include sessions for children and young people such as trampolining, mindfulness, a petting zoo, sensory and messy play, garden activities and forest schools and swimming sessions as well as activities for Easter. There is also provision across a number of school settings both mainstream and special schools along with the opportunity for a number of children and young people to have residential stays and a break away at two separate locations, this is in addition to the day time activities that are planned across the borough. A healthy meal will be provided at every session for the children and young people in attendance.
For more information, please email: AimingHighForDisabledChildren@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
Brio Leisure
Brio Leisure will be running various activity programmes from sites across the borough. The range of activities include multi-sport activities, Fun and Floats and Sports Camps, all of which will include a healthy meal.
If you would like more information, please email: info@brioleisure.org.
Criteria/Eligibility for the Programme
This holiday provision is for school aged children from reception to year 11 (inclusive) who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals and for all children with SEND.
Benefits-related free school meals (FSM) are available to pupils if their parents are in receipt of one of the qualifying benefits, and have a claim verified by their school or local authority.
The Council wants to ensure that the offer of free holiday club provision is available for all children who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals in the area as well as all children with SEND, though this does not mean we expect all to attend as the provision is voluntary.
If you have any questions regarding the HAF programme, please email haf@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk.
Cost of Living Support
Due to the cost-of-living crisis, families may be worried about the rising cost of energy bills, food and transport. They may need help accessing welfare rights, benefits and debt advice, support getting all the money they're entitled to, or simply want to know more about national recent support measures.
Whatever their money worries may be, the Council has put together some useful information to help. The web page includes a wealth of information including the Household Support Fund, the Council’s HELP Scheme, Warm Welcoming Spaces and much more.
- Visit: Cost of living support
Household Support Fund payments for children in receipt of Free School Meals (FSM)
The Household Support Fund has been extended for a further 12 months until 31 March 2024, supporting those households most in need due to rising living costs, particularly around the need for fuel. The council has agreed that we will continue to allocate some of the funding to support pupils in receipt of free school meals over the Easter holidays. The support to be provided for the remaining holiday periods up until 31 March 2024 will be provided to you all shortly.
The council has allocated £15 for each free school meal pupil and to ensure families have the necessary financial support for food during the Easter holidays, we request that this is distributed before the end of term.
School Dinners
School dinners cost £2.45 per day, £12.25 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 School Spider as we do not accept cash in school.
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 Spring Term 2023 – new dates highlighted
Week beginning 17th April: Dinners Week 1
Monday 17th April: School opens at the usual time for the summer term
Wednesday 19th April: Year 6 swimming begins at Brio Leisure
Wednesday 26th April: Class photographs
Monday 1st May: School closed for May Day Bank Holiday
Monday 8th May: School closed for the King's Coronation Bank Holiday
Tuesday 23rd May: Pupil Consultation Evening
Thursday 25th May: Pupil Consultation Evening
Friday 26th May: Year 6 SNAPTRAP session at Over Hall – details to follow
Friday 26th May: School closes at 3pm
Monday 5th June: school opens at the usual time
Wednesday 7th – Friday 9th June: Year 5 and 6 residential to The Conway Centre
Thursday 22nd – Friday 23rd June: Year 3 and 4 residential to The Tattenhall Centre
Saturday 24th June: Delamere Street Festival
Wednesday 5th July: Year 5 Come Play with the Halle at The Bridgewater Hall – details to follow
Thursday 20th July: School closes for summer at 2pm
I would like to thank you all for your continued support and hope that you have a lovely Easter and holiday.
Take care,
Mrs E Snowdon