Information from the DCC admissions team

The application process for the Secondary Admissions 2022 Intake is due to begin today, 6th September 2021.

There is a link below to the Secondary Admissions Preference Letter.

Parents can make their application for Secondary School online by visiting www.durham.gov.uk/schooladmissions and the School Admissions online application facility will be available to parents from Monday the 6th of September 2021.

The Closing Date for Secondary School Applications is the 31st October 2021.

If parents do not wish to apply online they can complete a paper application form, and these are available to print from our website (same website address as above) from Monday the 6th September 2021.

Alternatively these application forms can be requested by e-mail to schooladmissions@durham.gov.uk or by telephone from the School Admissions and Transport Team on 03000 265896.

Copies of the Parent’s guide “Primary and Secondary School Admissions in County Durham 2022/2023” will also be available from our website or on request from Monday the 6th September 2021.

School Places and Admissions Team

Secondary 2022 Preference Letter to Parents

This information has already been shared to families, however, it is very important that you understand what the changes mean for children in school.

One point to bring to your attention is that if your child has one or more of the symptoms of Covid, either evident in school or if you ring school to inform us of this, we will request a negative PCR BEFORE they can return to school. A negative LFT will not be accepted.

Whilst we appreciate this is inconvenient, especially for working families, but we have guidance that we must also adhere to. We hope that by making this clear to our families it will not be a surprise when it is requested.

PCR test results are usually returned with 24 hours and as long as no other family member has symptoms and have been double vaccinated, then only the child is to isolate.

Apologies again, but this will be enforced for all children with one or more symptoms.

https://www.consett-jun.durham.sch.uk/covid-19-information-for-families-from-september/

CJS Team

Please follow this link to access the first newsletter this academic year, our September 2021 newsletter.

School Newsletters

This newsletter contains a significant amount of information, we share a newsletter once a month alongside updates on our app/website for any other events or changes. Below is a list of things we have covered in this months edition. It is very important you read and make a note of dates that relate to your child.

Introduction
Drop off and Collection Times Reminder
Attendance
Covid-19 Information for Families
Contact Details
Appointments
School Dinners
Voluntary School Fund
Robinwood Residential Monday 16th – Wednesday 18th May 2022 
School Uniform for September 2021
OurSchoolApp and Weduc
Picnic in the Park to Celebrate Mr. Jacksons Life 
After School Clubs
Swimming Sessions – Important Update for Year’s 4 & 6 ONLY 
Inhalers in School for Children with Asthma 
School Photographs – Tuesday 14th September 
Flu Immunisation programme  
Term Dates
Bringing Bags and fidget toys into School
Dates for your diary – VERY IMPORTANT

CJS team

Please ensure your child brings an inhaler into school if they have a doctors diagnosis of Asthma. Children took their inhalers home at the end of term. Please check the expiry date and return one with them ASAP.

If your child needs an inhaler in school it must be prescribed by their GP, therefore have their name on. Labels are usually on the box, if you have disposed of the box you can put their name on the inhaler itself. You should also complete a school Asthma form, if you require this form please speak to Mrs Raine.

If your child is new to our school and you need support with this please ring.

Thanks
CJS Team

Good Afternoon Families,

We have just been informed that we are able to restart our swimming sessions again, this is great news as swimming is a vital skill that all children really would benefit from being able to do, and with so much time missed we need to ensure we restart ASAP.

I’m sure you are aware that Consett Swimming Pool is temporarily closed, as we have no date of reopening we have been offered an alternative provision. Until our local pool re-opens our children will be swimming at Catchgate Swimming Pool. Unfortunately, NO spectators are allowed.

We will begin our swimming programme with Year 4 and Year 6. It is organised so that only one class swims at a time. The sessions will commence next week, Tuesday 7th and Wednesday 8th September.

Year 4 children will swim on a Tuesday afternoon. Class 4 – 1.05 p.m. to 1.50 p.m. Class 3 – 2.05 p.m. to 2.50 p.m. This will replace their usual PE lesson on that day so Year 4 will need to come in wearing their full school uniform.

Year 6 children will swim on a Wednesday afternoon. Class 7 – 1.05 p.m. to 1.50 p.m. Class 8 – 2.05 p.m to 2.50 p.m. Year 6 must still come in wearing their PE kits on Wednesdays.

The coach will collect each class and take them to their session then return them to school straight afterwards, this means that the coach will collect Class 4 first at 12.45 p.m. and return them after their session to then collect Class 3. Then the same the following day for Year 6. The last class of children will be back in school for normal collection time.

We will ensure that all children in the school will have an opportunity to swim throughout the year.

Please ensure you make a note of your child’s swimming day as they MUST come to school with their bathing costumes (no bikini’s) and towel. This will not impact on Tuesday’s Karate sessions. Also, mealtimes have been accommodated to allow them time to have their lunch.

CJS Team

This is for information purposes only and does not impact on our school dates as the changes are actually within our summer half term while the children are off school.

Monday, May 30th 2022 – Spring Bank Holiday is cancelled

Thursday, June 2nd 2022 – Queen’s Platinum Jubilee (in lieu of Spring Bank Holiday)
Friday, June 3rd 2022 – Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

CJS Team

Local photographer, Mark Wilkinson, will be in school on the morning of Tuesday 14th September to take ‘individual’ and ‘siblings’ photographs of all the children in school.

In previous years this would have included siblings who do not attend our school, by means of an earlier session for family photographs prior to school starting. Unfortunately, due to Covid we are unable to offer these sessions this year. As an alternative for families who would like sibling/family photographs taken, Mark is happy to do this in his shop (Middle Street, Consett) by prior appointment. All proofs, whether taken in school or at his shop will be returned to Consett Junior School for ordering.

If you are a family where parents are separated and need two copies, please let Mrs Raine know (this is only really applicable to families that are new to our school)

Children will receive a proof order at a later date. All bulk orders can be made through school by a set deadline, alternatively, please make your order direct with the local shop (Middle Street).

Ordering details will follow after the 14th September.

Thanks
CJS Team

Dear Parents/Carers and all our amazing children

Where have the last six weeks gone? They seem to have disappeared in the blink of an eye and here we are ready to go again.  We hope everyone has had an amazing and safe break. Below are a few reminders and bits of information to read before starting back, but please also take time to re-read information already sent out regarding Covid-19 and also how the change to school day times for children come back – these links contain everything you need to know Covid-19 Information for Families; How we will be re-opening in September

First day back – School re-opens FOR YEAR 3 ONLY on Wednesday 1st September, children need to arrive in uniform that day for a short transition day. Parents/Carers can bring their children safely onto the school yard for 10.00 a.m. – if you arrive sooner you will need to queue from the yard gate. Your child’s class teachers will be waiting to greet you. If you need a reminder of your class teacher please visit our CJS Youtube page. Children will access the meal option you have already chosen for them (school meal or packed lunch), please do not include hot food; sweets/chocolate bars, nuts of any sort or fizzy drinks in their packed lunches. Their school day will end at 2.00 p.m. and parents/carers can once again queue to collect children from the yard then continue around the one-way system to leave the grounds. Don’t worry, staff will be on hand to support you all.

On Thursday 2nd September all children are to return to school following the times in the re-opening link above.  We have already sent out links to class timetables, to remind you of this please go to https://www.consett-jun.durham.sch.uk/our-classes/ Last term there were several occasions that children were picked up early due to other school staggered times. Please note, this will NOT be permitted this year.

School meals – Children must return to school on the same school meal arrangement they accessed before the holidays, unless you informed Mrs Raine otherwise. There is a two week notice period required for a change to school meal arrangements. If you change without notifying the office then your ParentPay account will be charged the daily rate. School meals are now £2.15. Children on packed lunches can access a dinner on a Friday as part of an on-going Fun Friday arrangement we run, but you must inform us of this.

School uniform – Please visit our website for the school uniform requirements. All children must be in the correct uniform, which includes shoes and P.E. kit. Our uniform supplier is Tots to Teams. https://www.consett-jun.durham.sch.uk/parents/our-school-uniform/ As previously informed, ALL children must be wearing the specified uniform, this includes school shoes. Children not in the correct uniform will be given a letter to take home to request that they do, if they continue to come to school in the incorrect uniform then parents/carers will be contacted. If their is a medical reason for not wearing the uniform then proof must be provided.

Appointments – All routine medical appointments, unless an emergency or exceptional circumstances, should be made outside of the school day. If they are during the school day, you must provide a copy of the appointment details.

Emergency contact information – If you have moved house, changed your contact number/email address, or your listed contacts change, please forward this information to Mrs Raine on the first day. If you are a family who require two sets of important information, you must inform us of this. If you are a parent who does not live with your child, we can post important information to your address, i.e. school reports/newsletters.

Water bottles – Children in year 3 will be provided with a school water bottle (and homework bag) on their first day. Additional water bottles can be bought from Mrs Raine for £2.00.

After school clubs – Some clubs will re-commence in the second week back to school (cross country information for years 4, 5 & 6 to follow). If you need your child in regular after-school childcare then please contact the Infant School as they operate this club and will collect registered children from our school at 3.20/3.30 p.m.

Payments to school – If applicable to you, dinner money and breakfast club payments MUST be made using ParentPay, if you are new and have mis-placed your activation codes then please let Mrs Raine know. No money is to be brought to school UNLESS your child pays their weekly school fund into the ‘money spinner’ OR you need to purchase a new water bottle.

School texts – If you need to contact the school to inform of absences, general enquiries etc., we have a school text number, 07537436638 . Alternatively you can send an email to consettjunior@durhamlearning.net . If your child is absent from school you must ensure you inform us, otherwise this is recorded as an unauthorised absence, which will result in an attendance referral if they hit the triggers. It is our responsibility to monitor and support attendance in our school. As previously informed, poor attendance patterns will be addressed, even this requires home visits.

We hope this information is useful, especially for those new to our school. Please contact us should you need any further help.

Looking forward to seeing and meeting you all over the next few weeks.

CJS Team

Please join us for the first in a series of planned events to celebrate Mr Jacksons life and music on September 5th at 2.30 p.m. in Consett and Blackhill Park. Bring along a picnic, enjoy the music and celebrate a life well lived. It is a ticket event but they are free and available as the poster describes or on the day from the park.

Just as a reminder, our goal is to raise enough money for a special bespoke seat to be placed in Blackhill Park, a place where he enjoyed spending time. We hope to go above and beyond in our fundraising so that we can also raise money for the Consett Salvation Army Band and Cancer Research. This is one of the first events of many throughout the academic year 21/22. Since starting this fundraising page on the 16th July 2021 after dedicating our end of year show to Mr Jackson we have raised an amzing £1,210. Thank you all so very much.

https://gofund.me/8df6bdf1

Dear families

As you may be aware, schools can open in September without most of the covid-19 rules that we have learned to live with over the last 18 months. However, please be aware that we must still follow guidance in keeping the spread of Covid-19 to a minimum. This means that although we can open in September without bubbles, we will still need to be vigilant.

What does this mean for families?

There will be no more ‘bubbles’, therefore assemblies can return, children can eat their lunch in the dinner hall, and we will no longer have the responsibility to request children to isolate. Whilst we may need to support NHS track and trace to identify contacts, this is no longer the responsibility of the school. If a child tests positive and they have been in school 48 hours before, it is the responsibility of the parent/carer to work with NHS track and trace to identify them as contacts. If any children or staff are identified as a contact and they have not developed symptoms, then they DO NOT need to isolate, however, NHS track and trace will ADVISE them to get a PCR test.

If your child develops one or more of the symptoms of Covid-19 while in school, we will still take their temperature and ask them to wait in a ventilated isolation room until a parent/carer is able to collect them. We will then request they have a PCR test BEFORE they can return to school. If you contact school to ask if your child can attend as they have a symptoms but you feel it is just a cold, we can and will refuse entry without a PCR test if we deem this necessary. LFT will not be accepted as evidence.

Just to clarify, families DO NOT need to isolate if we send your child home for a PCR test, unless they are told by NHS track and trace to do so (links to guidance below). But the child must isolate until the results are back.

If we, and NHS track and trace, identify that there is sudden increase in cases in our school then we will work with PHE and it might be necessary to temporarily re-introduce bubbles and other control measures. If this happens it will result in any after school clubs being postponed.

Please continue to keep us informed of cases that impact on your child attending school, and children should NOT isolate if a family member has Covid-19 UNLESS they too have symptoms. Keeping children off due to this will result in unauthorised absences and lead to further action. We will be placing a significant emphasis on attendance from September, any poor attendance levels will be addressed immediately. It is a legal requirement for children to attend school and patterns of absence will be monitored very closely.

Children with Covid-19 must isolate for the 10 days and complete remote learning (children in year 3 and new starters will need access to these systems once they start).

There is also lots of information in the DfE links below to help you, but hopefully this small(ish) amount of information narrows the bulk of it down and is also useful as we start the new academic year.

Ventilated rooms, regular hand washing, and stringent cleaning procedures are still priority. Please ensure that your child wears appropriate warm clothes under their uniform on colder days as we approach the colder months as all classrooms will continue to be ventilated.

DfE guidance

Individuals are not required to self-isolate if they live in the same household as someone with COVID-19, or are a close contact of someone with COVID-19, and any of the following apply:

• they are fully vaccinated
• they are below the age of 18 years and 6 months
• they have taken part in or are currently part of an approved COVID-19 vaccine trial
• they are not able to get vaccinated for medical reasons

Stepping measures up and down

when to self-isolate and what to do

COVID-19 symptoms

stay at home guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection