Update from Heads of School

2 July 2020

Dear Parents and Carers

We are writing to you to inform you of our current provision in school and plans for the final few weeks of term.

Due to a significant increase in the number of pupils from critical key worker families, we now have a fixed number of places allocated to each of our bubbles. These places will remain for the last two weeks of term. As a result of this, our teachers will continue to set interesting and engaging tasks for those children who are learning from home. This week will see a Live Learning lesson being taught to pupils in year 4 by Mr Reeves-Kemp and myself. We would like to thank all parents who are doing an amazing job with supporting their children whilst at the same time being receptive to our ongoing weekly wellbeing phone call check ins.

We are aware that we have asked for the return of all our loaned out chromebooks. This is so that we can quarantine them for a mandatory 72 hours before starting the reorganisation of them.

Please can all chromebooks be returned by Thursday 9th July at the latest.

We will be providing all children with Summer learning packs to replace them. In addition, when your child returns their Chromebook, they will be invited to school to collect any belongings that they left behind, along with their exercise books and Curriculum Chronicles. Collection of these will be on a daily basis between 10am- 2pm from Monday 6th July to Thursday 9th July. You do not need to make an appointment, please just call by school within the given collection period and wait at the main entrance, a member of staff will pass you your child’s books/summer learning packs.

Transition:

As the end of term is fast approaching we are turning our attention to transition for the new academic year. We do not yet know the details of what school-life will look like in September but we do know that the Government’s intention is for all school children to return. Things may feel slightly different in September as we have not been able to transition the children as we usually would in the summer term.  Children will move into their new classes in September but we will do everything we can to support them with settling in with new staff.  Each child will receive a personalised transition letter, detailing some key information for next year (teachers in the year group, classrooms etc) and this will be sent out towards the end of term.

We have been able to finalise which class teacher will be leading each year group:

Tiny Steps – Mrs Huggins

Nursery – Mrs Hannington

Reception (Ousegate) – Miss Wilkinson

Year 1 (Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate)- Mrs Eddon

Year 1 (Fishergate)- Mrs Gilmour

Year 2 (Nessgate)- Miss Starr

Year 3 (Gillygate)- Mrs McQuade

Year 4 (Fossgate)- Mr Robinson (until Miss Gordon-Wylie returns from Maternity leave in October)

Year 5 (Micklegate)- Mr Reeves-Kemp

Year 6 (Stonegate)- Mrs Malster-Hinett

As there will be two Year 1 classes, your child’s class teacher will be contacting you via telephone this week to tell you which class your child will be in.

Year 6 Leavers:

Our oldest children have been invited back to school on Thursday 9th July 1pm-3pm to say their final goodbyes to one another. They will spend time with their teacher and teaching team, enjoy fish and chips on the school field, receive their leavers’ books and write messages of good luck to each other.

Whilst we say goodbye to our year 6s we welcome back Miss Woodward who has been on maternity leave. Miss Woodward is extremely excited about returning to school and seeing everyone.  I would like to say a huge thank you to Mrs Winter who has done an amazing job in helping me to lead the school through such unusual circumstances.

Mrs Winter will be missed by all the staff team and the children.  We wish her the very best of luck with the many roles she has within Ebor Academy Trust.

School Reports:

We would like to say a huge thank you to all parents who have responded to say that they have received their child’s school report. Thank you for taking the time to do this and your kind words of support regarding the report has been appreciated by all staff. However, our biggest thank you goes to the children for working so hard and showing excellent attitudes to learning.

A Useful Set Of Links:

We have received a number of requests asking if there are resources or links that could be useful over the summer holidays. Apart from the more obvious year group books for English and Maths that can be purchased from WH Smiths or most booksellers, the Government have produced a useful set of educational links, many of them easy to use and access for those who want to carry on creating some learning schedules over the summer weeks for your children.

Here is the link to it. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-online-education-resources

Government Summer Food Fund:

For children in receipt of free school meals, vouchers will be provided throughout the summer holidays. A company called Edenred will be distributing the vouchers via email throughout the holidays, more information to follow.

School Closure:

School closes on Friday 17th July at 12pm and we will all return (all children unless otherwise directed) on Tuesday 8th September.

As always please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any queries or questions.

MRS MALSTER-HINETT AND MRS WINTER

Co-heads of School