Hi everyone!

I hope you are all well and enjoying the beautiful weather that we are having! Next Saturday I’m getting a new baby kitten. I’d really love one of you to choose her name. If you would like to enter the competition, please send a picture of yourself holding a piece of paper with the name on in large letters to consettjunior@durhamlearning.net

I will choose the name that I like the best and call her this. The winner will also receive a special prize as a thank you.

Good luck everyone!

Miss Waters

Aston H – Echo

Teagan H – Whiskers

Further to our post for FSM vouchers during this half term, link below:

https://www.consett-jun.durham.sch.uk/edenred-vouchers-half-term/

The DfE ARE now funding vouchers so there will be no break in the usual cycle you receive them, article below:

https://www.tes.com/news/coronavirus-dfe-u-turn-over-funding-free-school-meals-half-term

At present, the summer holiday provision of vouchers is yet to be decided.

DCC Headteachers received a press release yesterday – please see attachment below to read the information shared.

Durham County Council has provided the information after new scientific advice was published on Friday 22 May and due to concerns that key issues outside of its control have not yet been resolved. This provides further information to schools on plans for phased reopening.

Schools Press Release 27-05-20

I hope everyone is enjoying what would have been the half term and are taking a break from home learning.

I am in school this week and have noticed that many families have not collected their work packs for last week, with some families not collecting theirs from weeks before. If you no longer require them would you please email consettjunior@durhamlearning.net to be removed from the list for printed packs.

We appreciate that it is very difficult to work with your children at home and we know many of you are struggling, just do what you can and please don’t put to much pressure on you or your children, this is all very different. The work packs are accessible on your child’s class page if you prefer that to paper copies and there are also very good lessons and subjects on
National Oak Academy and Access BBC bitesize

I am in school most days and working from home (and ‘attempting’ to home learn my children) the rest so my time in school is extremely valuable and the resources to print the packs are expensive. Please consider this if you have opted for packs but are not able to collect them.

Stay safe and take care
Mrs Raine

Reminder to families who have previously received a text to state they are eligible. Your order for the free uniform MUST be emailed to consettjunior@durhamlearning.net before this Friday, 31st May. Late orders will not be processed.

Please see the original website link below for details about free school uniform eligibility for the next academic year.

https://www.consett-jun.durham.sch.uk/september-uniform-free-for-pupil-premium-children/

From 1st June we are changing the meal provisions in school. Our school as always been open for children of key workers and vulnerable children since the lockdown in March. At most, we have only ever had a maximum of seven children in school in any one day. Our kitchen closed in April, vouchers were put in place and children were required to bring in their own packed lunch.

Recently, all known key workers who were eligible for a place were contacted to see if they would need their place moving forward. We have 29 families who were eligible and a further four families will now need their place, with others needing theirs at the end of June. This means more children will be accessing the provision and we need to reduce the items brought into school to keep cross contamination to a minimum.

As previously informed we are working through our risk assessments to allow us to open for Year 6 as soon as it is safe to do so, in our risk assessment we have stated that all meals will be provided by our catering team, Taylor Shaw. Taylor Shaw are reopening most of their school kitchens from 1st June and we are one of those schools.  Not all schools are doing the same but we need to consider the administration of meals and minimise the risk of contaminated items being brought into school. Therefore, children accessing school, either for childcare or when the school reopens for wider groups, they must only bring in their coat. Bags, water bottles and packed lunches must NOT be brought into school.

Food vouchers for children coming into school will stop, as their meal will be provided for them. Families who pay for school meals will be charged for their meal on ParentPay. This process will be reviewed weekly as part of the risk assessment, if and when we feel able to change this, we will inform you in our usual ways. We understand that this may not be an option that you or your child may prefer, but this is to ensure the safety of all our children and staff.

Taylor Shaw will offer the following to all children,

Sandwich: bread or buns. Choice of ham, cheese, tuna.

Veg sticks – Carrot/ cucumber.

One of the following changing daily:

Crackers and cheese.
Pizza .
Pizza whirl.
Cheese scone.
Cheese pie.

Various fruit.

2 x pieces of sweet treats which could be:

Biscuits.
Traybake.
Shortbread .
Cake( various).
Fairy cake.
Jelly.

Any questions, feel free to contact the school office

Mrs Raine

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

Consett Academy have been working behind the scenes and uploading transition documents, videos and staff introductions to a specific page on their website. This will be an amazing help for all year 6 who are going there for the next step in their learning journey and also for their families in supporting them through these difficult times.

Consett Academy have asked that we work with them in sharing as much information as possible with you, which we will do using our app, website and text messages. We encourage you and your child to access the links and videos they have provided, to support the best transition possible during school closures. They will aim to upload and update information on this link every Tuesday and this is also shared on their facebook page.

https://www.consett-academy.org.uk/162/transition-2020

Why not start by viewing one of their three virtual tours…

Ground Floor –
https://youtu.be/SuKnNqXPG40
First Floor –
https://youtu.be/ApTLM0WQleU
Second Floor –
https://youtu.be/iPI1uZMkK10

NSPCC School Service – Covid 19: Summary of NSPCC guidance, advice and support for children, parent/carer and professionals.

Please see the document below for links to support your work with children, young people and their families in these challenging times.

Covid19 – NSPCC parents, professionals and children guidance and support summary May20 (1)