Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.

• Hot chocolate Fridays

  Fri 02 Oct 2020

  Hot chocolate Fridays

   

  Some of you will remember that before lockdown I used to invite a child from each class to have milkshake and biscuits with me on Fridays as a very special reward and to motivate everyone to have better behaviour.

   

  This was introduced as part of our new behaviour strategy to focus on rewarding positive behaviour and to reward children for going 'above and beyond'. Each week staff would choose the person they felt most deserved this. This was often children who behave brilliantly all of the time, for being consistently ready, respectful and safe and doing their best with their learning regardless of the outcome.

   

  We also try to recognise children who have managed to improve their behaviour but this has to be consistently better for a significant amount of time before we recognise that in this way (there are lots of other ways we do this too).

   

  Sadly because we are trying to keep classes apart due to COVID I can no longer do this but Alana in Zebra Class made a suggestion that inspired me to find another way to say well done.

   

  From next week I shall be sending home a little bag to a child in each class that include some goodies for your child to enjoy - a hot chocolate, some marshmallows and biscuits - and it shall include a certificate explaining what they have been noticed for.

   

  This isn't quite the same experience as milkshake with me (some may prefer it though!) and I will really miss chatting to the children and saying well done in person but I thought it would be the next best thing.

   

  If your child receives one of these bags please make sure you say a huge well done as this is a very special reward for a brilliant achievement - something I would be extremely proud of if my own children received it.

   

  Mrs Martin

  (I will wear gloves and a mask when I prepare these in a sterile area and it would be advisable to let them self clean for 72 hours.)

• Changes to drop off and pick up

  Fri 02 Oct 2020

  Please see below the changes we have had to make and any updates to drop-off and pick-up;

   

  Tiger Class drop-off and pick-up will change to the door that is by the scooter and bike shelter near the office.  This will be at the same time and will hopefully make the playground less congested.

   

  Lion and Panda parents please use the whole playground to wait in at these times rather than just the front part.  The tyres are just guidance for the children at playtimes.

   

  We are having lots of reports of children playing on equipment before school so Mr Jones and I will be in the playground reminding children not to do this as it compromises our zoned areas at playtimes. We don't want to stop children using this equipment during the day but will have to if it doesn't improve.  I know it's so hard but please teach all of your children, including younger and older siblings, that they need to stand by you and not use it. If you arrive just before the doors open and leaving promptly this should be manageable.

   

  Please only go out of the front entrance if you are taking a CCJ pupil to school. Please keep to the left if you are doing this. I know the playground is congested and tricky to get through so if this is the case then please double back on yourself from the playground and leave by going past the office and Zebra Class.  This way should be quieter.

   

  Only one adult per family must come onto the site please - I do understand why more come as it is lovely to drop off and collect your children but if you want to join them for the walk please then wait outside the gates while the other adult deliver them to the classes.  This will make the site much quieter.

   

  Cheetah Class will be better to go past the office and around Zebra Class now that the timings have changed and hopefully this will ease congestion by Crocodile Class.

   

  Please can all parents and carers think about where they are standing to let other people through.  

  Everyone is welcome to wear a mask if they feel vulnerable and just remember that although you may not be worried or vulnerable, someone else may be. Please try to maintain social distancing at all times. 

   

  Remember this isn't forever and you all play a part in making this run more smoothly.  Sorry to be a nag!
  Mrs Martin

• Y2 Leavers hoodies- order now!

  Mon 21 Sep 2020

  You must now order your hoody via the Initially Yours website, giving permission does not order your hoody!

  www.initiallyyours.co.uk

  Please include your child’s initials in the messages box when proceeding through the checkout. Maximum of 3 initials are permitted. If no initials are provided, the hoody will be produced without.

  · We will be doing 2 orders this year, the first deadline will be Friday 25th September. The second will be Friday 18th December.

   · The first order of hoodies are expected for delivery by the beginning of Term 2.

  · The hoodies are £14.50, optional initials an extra £2.40. T shirts are £6.90, optional initials an extra £2.40.

  Please do not hesitate to contact us with any further queries.

   

  If you would like us to use your Pupil Premium funding, then please contact the school office who can assist

• New Reception 2021 admissions

  Mon 21 Sep 2020

  YR21 Admissions

  Do you have a child who is starting school in September 2021? If you do and live in South Glos, the admissions portal is now open, if first time logging on you will need to register: South Glos Admissions

  Our school unfortunately will be unable to hold an open evening, we will have a virtual one loaded onto social media, YouTube and our website, hopefully by the end of September. We will also be holding a virtual presentation, with Q&A on the 4th November at 6pm. Please register your interest here: YR21 Virtual Presentation

  The deadline for 2021 admissions is 15th January 2021.

• School Improvement Priorities 2020-21

  Fri 18 Sep 2020

  School Improvement Priorities

  2020-21

  Each year we look at how successful the school has been in the following four areas; Quality of Provision in the Early Years Foundation Stage, Quality of teaching, Quality of provision and Quality of assessment, feedback and support.  Last year proved to be successful in many ways but obviously progress towards some targets was held back due to the Lockdown in March and many children not returning until September.  We have carried some priorities over to this year’s School Improvement Plan (SIP) and will be focusing on filling any gaps for children who have missed any learning, whilst supporting their well-being with a recovery curriculum.  Our biggest priority for 2020-21 is to improve reading and phonics.  This is not to say this is not good enough but we feel it could be even better and we’d like to raise standards even higher. We can also see some quite large gaps in the children’s learning in phonics since lockdown due to this being such a specialise skill to teach for parents and carers. Our new reading books and phonics scheme will really help this and our staff are really focused on making sure our children make excellent progress. 

• Y2 Leavers Hoodies - ACTION NOW

  Wed 16 Sep 2020 Cath Evans

  As yet you have not given your permission for your child's name to appear on the back of this years leavers hoodies.

  If you would like your child's name to appear on the reverse of the hoody please complete this online form:
  https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=JUsrfCLjsEqTVLApi5DMRyByB5eA8Z5LlV4fWWQInDpUOElWRlo4MTBPSDE0WVJMT1dPNkRaSEtOOS4u

  PLEASE DO THIS ASAP AS THE DEADLINE HAS NOW PASSED. FAILURE TO DO SO MEANS YOUR CHILD'S NAME WILL NOT BE ADDED.

• PE has now started!

  Mon 14 Sep 2020

  PE has now started for all of our year groups.  Check the school calendar and app for the correct dates for your children.  
  reminder that PE kit consists of:

  -royal blue t shirt (logo’d or plain)

  -navy blue hoodie (Logo’d or plain)

  -navy joggers, shorts or leggings

  -trainers

   

  Please no bright coloured tops or bottoms as this is still a uniform day, but just wearing your PE kit!

• NUT free school

  Sun 13 Sep 2020

  Can we remind everyone that we are a NUT free school. No nuts should be brought in for snacks or as part of the children’s lunch.  We do have allergies and would ask that you help support us in keeping all children safe.

   

  Thank you.

   

• Reception have started!

  Mon 07 Sep 2020

  It was lovely today having half of our reception children in school.  They all looked so smart and they were all so brave!  
   

  But do be mindful this week they will be learning lots of new things, how to line up, where to sit, remembering all the other children’s names and the teachers names, to name just a few things!  So they maybe a little tired! 

   

   

  If you have any worries or concerns then please do speak to the class teacher. 

• Information from the Council for schools and parents/carers

  Tue 01 Sep 2020

  Message from South Glos council:

   

   The following are now recognised symptoms of COVID-19: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/symptoms/

  -              a high temperature

  -              a new, continuous cough

  -              a loss of, or change to, your sense of smell or taste

   

  If your child has these recognised symptoms, you must inform the school and then get tested. Please book a free coronavirus (COVID-19) test through the online booking portal. This will then give you a range of testing options available in your local area.

   

  These are:

  -        test centre – booking a test at a drive-in test centre is likely to be the fastest way to get a test and the nearest ones in South Gloucestershire are: Bristol (Bristol Airport) or Gloucester (Hempstead Meadow) online booking portal

  -        home test kit – parents or carers can order a home test kit for their child or young person online booking portal

  1. All schools, including our own have been given a very limited stock of home test kits. These will onlybe issued to parents and carers for a child or young person in exceptional circumstances.  If you have access as a parent or carer to the internet at home, it would be expected that you would book a test through the online portal in the first instance please.
  2. We ask that if your child is symptomatic and has a test, if this is negative, you must still notify the school immediately of the outcome.  They will then notify Public Health South Gloucestershire to update their records in line with their standard operating procedures.
  3. We ask that if your child is symptomatic and has a test, if this is positive, you must notify the school immediately of the outcome.  They will then notify Public Health South Gloucestershire, the Education department of the Council and the regional PHE health protection team to advise anyone who has come into close contact with your child to self-isolate in line with national guidance; this will be managed sensitively.
  4. If there were to be any confirmed case with a child or young person in our school, then our leaders will work with Public Health South Gloucestershire, the Education department of the Council and the regional PHE health protection team to advise anyone who has come into close contact with the confirmed case to self-isolate in line with national guidance.