Latest News

COVID-19, Website Tab

Fri 20 Mar 2020

Please know that a new COVID-19 tab has been added under the Important Information header on our website to allow us to upload communications quickly. Here, you will find our daily updates regarding how School is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thank you for your continued support at this challenging time.

School Closure Announcement

Wed 18 Mar 2020

Dear Families,

Announcement by Secretary of State for Education: Gavin Williamson

Re: School Closure on Friday 20^th March 2020

This evening, we heard the announcement that schools will close at the end of the day on Friday. This truly is unprecedented.

The minister recommended that schools recognise the requirement that ‘key workers’ may need assistance during this challenging time and so schools should support this, also taking into account the needs of our most vulnerable children.

The government has indicated that they will publish the roles they believe are classed as ‘key workers’ by the end of the day tomorrow.

I kindly ask you all, as a matter of urgency, to complete the following Survey Monkey, to allow us to prioritise the needs of families. It will only take a couple of minutes, at most. If this could be completed by 3pm tomorrow afternoon- Thursday 19^th March, it will be much appreciated. This will allow us time, before we close the school on Friday, to contact the families who we need to prioritise and try to make provision for. The link to the quick survey has been posted on Whole School Dojo.

Please understand that this is a very challenging time for all of us. We will do all we can to do what is right, whilst all the time complying with government advice and recommendations regarding minimising the spread of COVID-19.

Please contact your child’s class teacher, if you have any specific queries. I will update you all more fully tomorrow to outline actions going forward, once data has been collated.

Thank you for your continued co-operation, especially given these extenuating circumstances.

Best wishes,
Helen Tantouri

Headteacher

Latest school operations, in light of the latest government advice on COVID-19

Wed 18 Mar 2020

Dear Families,

Latest school operations, in light of the latest government advice on COVID-19

Thank you to you all for all of your understanding and co-operation at this unprecedented time.

As I mentioned in yesterday’s update, attendance is being monitored on a daily basis. Our pupil absence has, again, doubled from yesterday and we have had a number of parents/ carers collect their children as the day has progressed.

Please know that my senior leaders and I have met with each individual member of staff and we have conducted a full personnel, risk assessment, adhering to the government’s guidelines. We are doing everything we can to help minimise the spread of COVID-19.

At a staff meeting last night, teachers agreed on a common format for sharing suggested home learning activities with you. Learning objectives and activities will be mapped onto a weekly planner and will be shared with you on a weekly basis, as long as this is required. These will not be posted on our website but can be accessed via Class Dojo. If you do not have access to Class Dojo, please leave a message for the class teacher at the school office and a login can then be generated for you.

I would like to take this opportunity to tell you all how very proud I am of our wonderful team of staff who have been absolutely magnificent, in the most challenging of circumstances. They, like you, are also concerned for their families and friends and have come into school each day, with real passion to ensure that the children feel safe, happy and ready to learn. By 9.30 am this morning, I had seen every child and had enjoyed a good sing-song with classes- keeping our spirits up as much as possible. All staff have reported that all the children have been brilliant.

I would also like to extend my gratitude to all of you- our amazing families who, like so many around the UK, are working (some in front-line NHS services) in the face of ever-increasing challenges, to help support and care for the most vulnerable in our community. It is reassuring to hear how families and friends are rallying together to ensure the highest level of care for our elderly relatives/ neighbours and those who may need a little extra support- be it practical, economic and also emotional. Keep up the great work everyone- thank you. Compassion, kindness and understanding are just as important as the day-to-day essentials that we need to get through this pandemic.

I understand that Scotland and Wales have made announcements this afternoon re: school closures. As of writing, I am confirming that school will be open tomorrow and kindly ask that you keep the office informed of your child's absence, as per school policy. Please rest assured that, if you have notified school already (that your family is now in self-isolation) you do not need to call school daily, going forward. If, however, your child’s absence is from tomorrow, then please do call the office and let us know. As you can appreciate, Mrs Kearney is dealing with many calls each morning.

In line with the government guidelines, please know that school will continue to send anyone home (child/ staff member) who shows symptoms: new, persistent cough and a high temperature. Please know that if your child requires short-term medication during the school day, it will no longer be feasible for staff to administer this- until further notice.

Best wishes to you all,

Helen Tantouri

Headteacher

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Latest information from The Department for Education (DfE): https://twitter.com/educationgovuk

DfE Helpline: 0800 046 8687 Monday-Friday, 8am to 6pm & weekends, 10am to 4pm.

Please note that there will be a high volume of calls, hence the addition of weekend hours.

Updates on COVID-19: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

Latest school operations, in light of the latest government advice on COVID-19

Tue 17 Mar 2020

Dear Families,

Latest school operations, in light of the latest government advice on COVID-19

Following the latest government advice, decisions have been made which will impact on the day-to-day operation of the school, going forward, from today. These are outlined below:

1. Breakfast Club and After School Club will be closed from tomorrow. N.B. Please let us know if you are a key worker so that we can endeavour to provide a skeleton service from tomorrow.

2. Assemblies have been cancelled.

3. All after school clubs have been cancelled. Mrs Parr has sent a message about tonight's Choir, via Dojo.

4. The forthcoming swimming gala/ football matches/ Y3 & Y4 show/ Diversity concert and all off-site events (including Forest School) have been postponed.

5. Swimming lessons have ceased.

6. All visitors to the school have been asked to postpone their visits/ clubs. This includes Musical Minds, Marine in the Community and additional support for individual children has also been postponed.

In line with the government guidelines, please know that school will send anyone home (child/ staff member) who shows symptoms: new, persistent cough and a high temperature.

Please be aware that we fully support families following the guidelines re: vulnerable groups and we are actively talking to those families who have underlying, chronic, medical conditions within their household, encouraging them to follow the guidelines. The advice can be found by clicking on the links below.

Attendance is being monitored on a daily basis. Our pupil absence has doubled from yesterday, which is completely understandable, so please do not concern yourselves with your child's absence if you are following the government's advice. I kindly ask that you keep the office informed of your child's absence, as per school policy.

Best wishes,

Helen Tantouri

Headteacher

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Latest information from The Department for Education (DfE): https://twitter.com/educationgovuk

DfE Helpline: 0800 046 8687 Monday-Friday, 8am to 6pm & weekends, 10am to 4pm.

Please note that there will be a high volume of calls, hence the addition of weekend hours.

Updates on COVID-19: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

Latest Update from School on Coronavirus, COVID-19

Mon 16 Mar 2020

Dear Families,

Latest Update on Coronavirus, COVID-19

As I am sure you are all aware, on Thursday last week, in response to national and international developments regarding the coronavirus, the government announced that we have now moved from the ‘Contain’ phase to the ‘Delay’ phase of the Coronavirus Action Plan. Full details of each stage in the action plan can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-action-plan.

To support the delay of the spread of the virus, the Department for Health and Social Care has asked anyone who shows certain symptoms to stay at home for 7 days, regardless of whether they have travelled to affected areas. This means that people should stay home and avoid all but essential contact with others for 7 days- from the point of displaying mild symptoms, to slow the spread of the infection. The symptoms are:

A high temperature (37.8 degrees and above)
A new, continuous cough

The advice is that you do not need to call NHS 111 to stay at home. If your symptoms worsen during your stay at home or if your symptoms are no better after 7 days then please contact NHS 111 online via 111.nhs. If you have no internet access, you should call NHS 111. For a medical emergency dial 999.

As of the latest update, current advice states that no education or children’s social care setting should close in response to a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case unless advised to do so by Public Health England.

Please know that we have drawn up a School Continuity Plan and we are keenly monitoring the situation on a daily basis, taking account of our school and local context, as well as adhering to the government’s and Public Health England’s advice and guidelines.

The most important thing we can all do to protect ourselves and each other is to wash our hands more often, for at least 20 seconds, with soap and water. Public Health England recommends that in addition to handwashing before eating and after coughing and sneezing, everyone should wash their hands after using toilets and travelling on public transport.

Last week, I reminded all the children of the importance of good hand hygiene. I also reminded the children about the NHS message of catching a sneeze in a tissue: ‘CATCH IT, BIN IT, KILL IT!’ I also added about washing hands after too. I have heard from some parents and carers that children have been sharing the ‘hand-washing song’ with families at home. Keep it up everyone. Thank you.

In order to delay the spread of the virus, I kindly ask that you all wash your hands before coming into school. Please know that we will be asking the children to wash their hands, at the end of the day too, before the children are dismissed at 3.30pm.

As of registration this morning, it is work as usual, at Valewood. In the event that a reduction of staffing levels compromises pupils’ learning and supervision, we do have continuity measures in place. In the event that school will close, we have been working on a plan of home-learning activities for each year group. Teachers will be ready to upload these learning activities onto Class Dojo and Year Group Pages on our website, as appropriate, if/ when the time comes.

I will endeavour to keep families updated via our school website and also via Twitter @ValewoodPrimary.

Thank you for your continued co-operation, especially during the coming weeks.

Best wishes,
Helen Tantouri

Headteacher

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Latest information from The Department for Education (DfE): https://twitter.com/educationgovuk

DfE Helpline: 0800 046 8687 Monday-Friday, 8am to 6pm & weekends, 10am to 4pm.

Please note that there will be a high volume of calls, hence the addition of weekend hours.

Updates on COVID-19: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

World Book Day

Fri 06 Mar 2020

Our whole school will take part in World Book Day on Friday 6th March. Our pupils are invited to come to school dressed as their favourite book character/ author or as a word. We look forward to seeing everyone's creations!

PTA Valentine's Disco

Tue 04 Feb 2020

The Valentine's Dsico in on Friday 7th February 5pm-6.30pm. Tickets are on sale from the School Office, £1.00 each. Please note all children must be accompanied by an adult. The Bar will be open and refreshments will be on sale during the event.