Coronavirus Update 01.07.20
Dear parents/carers and wider community of St Bernadette’s,
School opening
Under the current guidelines, it is not possible to open our school safely to more pupils however following the Government’s recent announcement regarding September returns for all pupils, we are making plans to facilitate all groups again to start next academic year.
- We are currently receiving Year 1, Year 6 and children of critical workers and vulnerable children only in school.
Children who fall into the critical worker/vulnerable group may only come to school if you have first authorised this with Mr Conway/Miss Brady.
Only in exceptional circumstances can a child be in school before/beyond our interim times. Mr Conway/Miss Brady must authorise these cases prior to commencement of each week (where agreed normal charges will apply).
Recovery Curriculum
Due to the reduction of pupils attending school during the Covid-19 pandemic, it will be necessary to re-evaluate our schools approach to the provision on offer for our children as and when all children return to school (hopefully in September).
All school’s within our Trust will plan individual ‘Recovery Curriculum’s’ so our curriculum will be very different for at least the first half term. Re engagement with our original school 20/21 planned curriculum will resume as soon we feel children have adjusted and are ready.
The Recovery Curriculum Framework is based upon the work of Barry Carpenter and the Evidence for Learning team, which sets out the importance of recognising the trauma and loss that children will have been through during the Covid-19 pandemic. The primary focus of the recovery curriculum is to ‘help children to recover from their loss of routine, structure, friendship, sleep, opportunity and freedom’.
The Recovery Curriculum Framework is built on the 5 Levers, as a systematic, relationships-based approach to reigniting the flame of learning in each child. The levers are:
- Relationships – rebuild relationships with peers and staff
- Community – understand school context and wider community
- Transparent curriculum – address gaps to reassure parents and children
- Metacognition – reskill and rebuild confidence of learners
- Space – rediscover self and find voice again through exploration
We will focus on reaffirming basic skills (Literacy/Numeracy); understanding new rules and our school values; restoring children’s mental wealth and rebuilding the resilience of our pupils to allow them to become effective learners again by. Our quest is to journey with each child through a process of re-engagement, which leads them back to their rightful status as a fully engaged, authentic learner.
Successful transition for our children will enable them to once again become efficient and confident learners. This time will reinforce our very high expectations of all children and our Recovery Curriculum for the start of the next academic year will ensure children catch up academically, socially and emotionally. Many children will have regressed as a result of not being in school however we will do everything we can to ensure each child quickly progresses as appropriate. This work will be made so much easier by your dedicated support for our home learning materials since March 23rd – thank you and well done!
Video calls
After last week’s successful trial with Y5 and Y6, teachers in Reception, Year 1-Year 4 have invited all children via their school emails to a whole class video invite this week or next. If you need support setting up your child’s school email please contact your child’s class teacher.
As we have issued child emails this week to you all, it would present as a perfect opportunity to discuss/demonstrate how to use email safely and also set some ground rules with them. See https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/advice-centre/young-people/resources-3-11s for up-to-date, relevant guidance.
General notices
Y5 Parent meeting (Trinity Transition)
I was delighted so many parents indicated their intention to consider Trinity as the next phase in education for their Y5 children in the recent Trust (Step 7) survey. As a passionate Catholic Headteacher I can see the positive impact the wider Trust is having on Trinity. Mrs Dwyer, the new Headteacher at Trinity is facilitating a meeting on Tuesday 7th July to speak to interested Year 5 parents. This meeting will now take place at 9am in the school hall (not in the Year 4 classroom as previously communicated).
End of year reports
We will issue an adapted end of year report for parents on Monday 13th July. They will be emailed to parents. If you do not receive a report on this day please inform school immediately. Within the report there will be a summary of attendance, progress and attainment.
Socially distanced picnic
Attached with this letter are details of a socially distanced picnic that Mrs Pennick is organising. As we are unable to allow attendance to school to more year groups before September we would love to offer a socially distanced meet with your child’s class over the next two weeks. Mrs Pennick is organising various class meet ups on our school field (weather permitting) to allow children time to visit school again before the summer. We hope this experience lessens some children’s anxiety about returning to school and allows opportunity to engage positively and in person with their peers and their teachers. In the event of poor weather we will unfortunately have to cancel so pray for a two lovely Tuesdays!
Parish reopening plans
Monsignor Hogan has written to parishioners this week to outline plans for facilitating a partial St Bernadette’s Church opening. It is hoped that in the not too distant future, when the necessary equipment ordered by the Diocese comes to hand, the Church will hopefully reopen for a limited number of Services provided that the stringent measures required can be implemented and managed. There will be many changes to how St Bernadette’s will look. For this to be implemented and to cover the many other controls, the Church will need teams of stewards and cleaners. Monsignor Hogan is asking for volunteers to support in this process.
Volunteers cannot be aged 70 or over and or from the identified, health based, high risk groups. The number of Services which will be offered will be limited by the ongoing medical advice Monsignor Hogan is receiving and also by the number of volunteers which will be required for the teams available. Those who act as Stewards will be expected to wear hygiene masks. Those cleaning will also be required to wear plastic aprons, gloves, and a face shield – over and above the need for a hygiene mask. It is also important to bear in mind that despite our natural instincts, stewards will be unable to help those entering, worshiping, or leaving the church by the designated route – the need for social distancing cannot be compromised.
If you feel as though you could support the parish effort to bring back some limited Services as either a steward/cleaner, then please e-mail [email protected] for more details.
And finally,
Summer holidays
I am now in a position to inform you that our school will not be open over the six weeks holiday. School staff, like many key workers, have worked without holidays since March and need time to recuperate on what has been an emotional and stressful period for us all. In this respect, we would encourage children to have a break also. As such, home learning resources will end wb 13.07.20 – thank you for engaging in this vital learning during this period of enforced school closure – your support has been vital.
We expect and are really excited about the prospect of all children returning in September but cannot guarantee this until further Government guidance is available. At this stage, we hope all children (Nursery-Year 6) return to school in September so would encourage you and your children to prepare for this. School will look different for a period of time and it is likely we will need to have staggered times (start and finish times, break and lunch times etc) throughout the day to manage continued appreciation of social distancing. However, as you will appreciate by now, the situation and advice changes with regularity so I give you fully up to date information and guidance on how a fully open school will look in late August. At this time I will share appropriate risk assessments and attendance expectations.
God Bless,
Mr P Conway [email protected] / [email protected]
St Bernadette, Patron of our School, Pray for Us and Help Us
Blessed Nicholas Postgate, Pray for Us
