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30th March Keeping in Touch Newsletter
Mon 30 Mar 2020Please click the link below to read our first 'Keeping in Touch' newsletter during this school closure period.
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22nd March Emergency Childcare Update
Sun 22 Mar 2020Dear Parents / carers,
Emergency Childcare Provision (22nd March Update)
The school is ready to admit ELIGIBLE PUPILS for Emergency Childcare tomorrow.
We have received a very large number of requests for childcare, resulting in large numbers of pupils at school every day from Monday.
I appreciate we are a large school but please can I remind everyone:
- every child whose parents are not key workers must remain at home, schools closed Nationally on Friday,
- for those families with a key worker, your child should only be at school on the days you are at work when no-one else in the household can look after them,
- if a parent is ‘working at home,’ your child must stay at home with you wherever possible.
This is the clear guidance from the Government to ensure we prevent the spread of this deadly virus within our communities. It is our responsibility to follow this, particularly when we know how easily this virus spreads. It is much safer for your child, other pupils, staff and your families if your child stays at home with yourselves.
Everyone at Witton wants to support our key worker families to the best of our ability who have critical roles to fulfill in the COVID-19 pandemic. I have spoken to many families personally and know that you are trying to keep your children at home with you as much as possible, so thank you. However, in order to protect all pupils, staff and families, I have decided to ask all key worker families bringing pupils to school, to email office@witton.worcs.sch.uk with a photo of their ID badge or some form of identification (where possible) evidencing their employment within these sectors and roles.
Arrangements for Monday
Only children who have had confirmed places will be allowed into school. If you have not had an email confirming a place, and the arrangements for Monday then, regretfully, we cannot accommodate your child. Any pupil arriving unexpectedly will be asked to go home and we will contact parents / carers.
Eligible pupils with confirmed places, are asked to arrive no earlier than 8.25am. They should wear sports / active clothing so we can undertake physical activities. Children should bring their own snacks and drinks.
Children in receipt of Free School Meals will be given a hot meal at lunchtime. Other children should bring a packed lunch. Our usual safeguarding arrangements are in place, and we will have the same expectations of pupil behaviour and conduct.
It is essential we have current contact details for parents / carers in the event of your child becoming unwell.
Finally, can I respectfully remind you that we can only continue to offer this provision if our staff stay healthy. It is important to keep pupil numbers low, and for us to review daily our ratios for supervision whilst retaining smaller class sizes and keeping social distancing rules in place.
If, at any time, we do not have sufficient levels of staffing to maintain the provision safely, then we would have to close the school completely.
Children who are in receipt of Free School Meals, but who are not at school are eligible for food vouchers. Please email office@witton.worcs.sch.uk if you think you should received these.
Additional information can be found here:
Closure of educational settings: information for parents and carers - GOV.UK
Information for parents and carers about the closure of schools and other educational settings following the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19).
www.gov.uk
Please notify us if your circumstances change. Thank you in advance for working so closely with us, and for your ongoing support.
Yours sincerely,
Suzie Bourne (Headteacher)
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Emergency Childcare Provision
Fri 20 Mar 2020Thank you for your patience during what has been one of the most extraordinary weeks we have experienced at Witton.
I would like to take this opportunity to remind you of the current situation, and the Government guidance that we are following. We must all remember that the purpose of the school closure is to prevent the spread of the infection, particularly by reducing the number of pupils and staff who have contact with each other. This is why the Government has stated that “if children can safely stay at home, they should, to limit the chance of the virus spreading. Schools remain open only for those children who absolutely need to attend.”
As you will know, we have been making preparations to close the school of this afternoon. The school is now an Emergency Childcare Provision but ONLY for eligible children.
At Witton, eligible children are:
- Those who have an EHCP plan
- Those are supported by social care
- Looked After Children
- Young carers
- Children whose parents work in critical roles as defined within the Government guidance issued on 20th March.
We are in the process of contacting all parents / carers of eligible children to confirm arrangements from Monday. In some cases we may contact you to gather further information around your specific role, or ask you to evidence this. The guidance sates that “If workers think they fall within the critical categories they should confirm with their employer that … their specific role is necessary for the continuation of this essential public service.” Please note that the Headteacher reserves the right to refuse any pupil’s provision in school if we cannot meet their needs or guarantee their safety.
It is important that you understand that our staffing levels in school are also affected. We will be operating on vastly lower staffing levels than usual, and must ensure we keep pupil numbers low in order to make sure we can continue operate to support those children who really need us the most.
Please remember that for all other children, school remains closed. Unfortunately if children who are not eligible for childcare arrive at school during this period of closure, they will be asked to return home and their parents / carers will be contacted. Learning activities have been posted on our school website under the ‘Children’ heading, School Closure Learning and then each year group. Teachers will be adding tasks each week, so keep checking in for updates. We ask that parents supervise online tasks carefully and support their child to either mark their own work or do this alongside them. Answers are available for all activities (but no peeking until you have attempted the tasks!)
If you believe your child is eligible for childcare and you have NOT heard from us, then please email office@witton.worcs.sch.uk and we will contact you at our earliest opportunity. Could I ask for your help in only ringing the school if it is urgent, as we anticipate being very busy on Monday, and will not have the usual levels of staff in the office.
Finally, can I thank you for the many supportive and positive emails that we have received from parents to date, they are much appreciated. I thank you for your continuing support and will continue to keep you updated with information should there be any changes.
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School Closure Update
Thu 19 Mar 2020As you may well be aware, the Government has now announced new measures that will apply to schools as of the end of the school day on Friday 20th March 2020.
The information so far indicates that all schools in England will be closed to pupils except for those who are the children of key workers, and children who are vulnerable and require additional support.
Please be reassured we are working to put plans in place to implement these changes as of next week, but at the moment we need to gather more information in order to put this new model into place properly.
As soon as we know more details, we will write to parents and carers and post information on our website.
In the meantime, school continues as normal for ALL pupils, unless they, or their family are unwell or self-isolating. Please contact the school on the office number 01905 773362 or email office@witton.worcs.sch.uk if your child is unable to attend.
We sincerely appreciate your continued support and patience as we respond to the changing picture.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs Bourne (Headteacher)
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Coronavirus update (17th March)
Tue 17 Mar 2020A letter has been sent home via email today. You can also see it on our 'Letters' page of the website. -
Coronavirus update (13th March)
Fri 13 Mar 2020A letter has been sent home via email today. You can also see it on our 'Letters' page of the website. -
Coronavirus update
Wed 11 Mar 2020Please see the latest guidance from the NHS regarding the Coronavirus via the link below for your information.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
http://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/coronavirus
In addition there is an NHS video on washing your hands effectively which we know is the best way to stop germs from spreading – please practice and share this with your child, singing along to happy birthday TWICE!
There is no need for children to bring hand sanitiser into school. We are encouraging the children to wash their hands at appropriate times throughout the day, and our cleaners are using antibacterial products.
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/best-way-to-wash-your-hands/
Please be assured we are receiving daily updates from the DfE and Public Health England and are continually monitoring the guidance. Should we need to change any policies or procedures within school we will notify you of this.
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Witton's World Book Day
Thu 05 Mar 2020Children and staff thoroughly enjoyed dressing up or guessing the clues to their favourite books or characters today on World Book Day. Well done everyone!
