Consett Academy have informed us that they have posted out Welcome packs to children in Y6. In addition to these packs they have asked us to share the following links with you.

Parental Letter May 2021 -Primaries

Virtual Evening – We would like to invite you to attend a virtual evening hosted via zoom on the 29^th June where we will share relevant information that you may find useful in the lead up to September.  We will also be able to answer any questions you may have.  Please use this link https://bit.ly/2RB2Tf5 to register for this event.

Getting to know your Child, questionnaire –  As part of getting to know your child better we would ask that you complete the questionnaire using this link: https://bit.ly/3vdZsK5.  Following the information that you provide, we will arrange further opportunities for parents/carers to attend transition events specific to your requirements.

Today, Saturday 8th May 2021, we have been notified of a confirmed case of Covid-19 within our setting.

We have worked with Public Health England to complete a substantial risk assessment and contacts we believe hit the ‘definitions’ have been contacted and requested to isolate for 10 days.  If you have NOT received a school text or have NOT been contacted directly this does not apply to you, however, should continue to be vigilant and follow Covid guidance. Below are letters for all families to read. Please choose the one appropriate to your child.

Letter for families/adults/children of close contacts of Covid 19 at Consett Junior School – Year 3

Letter for direct and proximity contacts – Year 3

General letter to all school students / parents / guardians and staff

General Advice for those not in direct contact

For the children having to self-isolate, work will be set via Purple Mash, staff will be available to be contacted via the year group email. If you have any issues with passwords or access, please contact the main school office.

If a member of your household bubble has symptoms of Covid and you book a Covid test – the whole household bubble must isolate until the results are returned. 

21st May 2020

School re-opening Update – All families.

Dear Parents and Carers,

I wanted to give you all an update of where we currently are in terms of potential re-opening of the school to wider groups on the 1st June – other than Key worker/Vulnerable pupils.

I am sure you are aware that the Government has asked schools to reopen for certain year groups in primary schools – as we are a Junior school this, at present is this Only Year 6.

Before any wider re-opening is to take place, schools must first complete a risk assessment and ensure all guidance is followed, with the aim of providing a safe environment for staff and pupils.

We are in the process of completing the risk assessment and procedures for staff, pupils and parents; all of these consider government, Local Authority and Union advice. As I am sure you can appreciate there is a significant amount of information to consider, which in turn leads to practical changes on the ground.

The sole responsibility of choosing to reopen the school lies with the Headteacher, supported by the governing body.
I must be assured that when we reopen, we can in a way that protects not only the children and staff but their wider families.

Considerations:

We are located in the region with the largest current rate of infection.
That there are some discrepancies with advice/guidance from various sources.
The thoughts of parents and staff.
The mental and physical well-being of the children in our school.
The health of staff, children and their families.
Allowing cleaning staff, who have worked in school consistently since the COVID-19 outbreak to have a sometime off.

Taking these into consideration, I don’t at present feel able to widen the school offer from the 1st June. We need to make more preparations; ensure the environment and class rooms are adjusted to accommodate social distancing; ensure we have the right amount of stock for cleaning and hygiene until the end of term; make sure that we have PPE equipment for using in cases of administrating first aid. These decisions will be reviewed weekly by the school and governors – any changes will be shared with families.

Despite these concerns we will continue to plan and prepare for re-opening for the children in year 6, whose families feel it is safe to allow their children to return. The documents planning for this will be shared with all families. When I am satisfied that we are in a safer position and preparations are complete we will be contacting all year 6 families directly, to ascertain whether their children will return. This will be in a totally non-judgemental way – families must choose what is best, I will support families with whichever decision they make.

Moving forward I am aware, that we need to strengthen our contact with families;

• From the 1st of June, the aim for all families not in school to receive some form of regular contact, just to check in, to see how everyone is doing.
• We will be continuing the work packs for those children not in school.
• We are exploring a more streamlined way for parents and children to get messages to staff.
• We also hope to create some video hellos from teachers to the children.

In summary, we will be continuing with our Key worker/Vulnerable children child care – this I feel is a necessity to provide those who are in the most vulnerable situations with some consistent child care provision. We are very much putting safe and measured plan in place to be able to provide a wider opening, when ready. But, will not be reopening for Year 6 pupils on Monday the 1st June.

I hope everyone is well and keeping safe, as a parent I understand it is very difficult being at home and trying hard to support children in their home learning. Especially when children know this isn’t normal – I would rather you all try to achieve a little, than try to do it all and fall out.Please keep safe.

Paul Dixon

Head Teacher

Update Potential School Reopening – Parent Letter 21st May 2020

Due to the early morning snowfall and because the roads around school and the local area are not great, we have taken the decision in conjunction with Consett Infants and Beechdale Nursery to close the school for today.

We will reopen tomorrow, Tuesday 25th February.

Mr Dixon