Dear Parents/Carers,
Hope everyone is well and enjoying the first week of the summer break with the lovely weather. I wouldn’t normally be sending out newsletters during the summer holidays, but given the strange times we are experiencing at the moment, I would like to keep everyone updated as we go through the next few weeks and move towards the planned return in September.
Summer Catch-Up Scheme
We have now completed the first week of the Summer Catch-Up Scheme and have had around 50 pupils attending each day for catch-up learning, art and craft and then sport and outings to the cricket ground/local park in the afternoons. It has gone very well so far and it has been wonderful to see the children enjoying their time here but also fully engaging in all the activities we have offered. Again I am very grateful for the many staff who have volunteered to help during the scheme and give up the first two weeks of a well-earned break. The scheme will finish next Friday 31st July.
Uniform
I know many of you will be planning to buy uniform in readiness for the new school year in September and we also want to sell uniform to the families of our new pupils who will be starting in Year 3. We are next going to be selling uniform in September from Wednesday 2nd to Friday 4th September (9:00am to 3:00pm each day).
End of Year Reports
We still have a few reports in school waiting to be collected. Any report not collected by the start of next week will be posted out or e-mailed.
September Re-Opening
Last week I set out a detailed plan to receive all our pupils on Monday 7th September. This is based on the current government guidelines and as we have learned things can change quickly. Our overriding aim is to keep the school day as normal as possible, do as many things as we would normally do while keeping to the guidelines and restrictions. At the moment we are still planning the arrival and departure times which I put in last week’s newsletter. We will have staggered arrival and departure times for the lower school (Years 3 and 4) and the upper school (Years 5 and 6). The times I am currently looking at are Years 3 and 4 arriving at school between 8:30am and 8:45am and departing at 2:45pm. The Years 5 and 6 arriving between 8:50am and 9:05am and departing at 3:05pm.
We will resume both the Breakfast Club from 7:45am to 8:30am and the After School Club from 2:45pm to 6:30pm. I will be giving more information about how you can book places in the clubs nearer the time. I would like to make the clubs more affordable, particularly when many families may have been severely financially affected during the health crisis. So not only will we not be increasing the prices but we will be offering places at reduced prices in September. Breakfast Club will be £2 per day (currently £3) and After School Club will be £5 per day up till 4:30pm and £10 per day up till 6:30pm (currently £7 and £14) with a reduced rate of £40 if you book for the week (currently £50). I would also like to use some of the additional funding which schools are being promised next year for pupil catch-up to provide some free places in the ASC for targeted children with an element of catch-up learning included. Again more details of this in September.
Refurbishment Work
As you will know, we were able to complete most of the refurbishment work in school during the first part of the lockdown period when we had the key worker/vulnerable pupil group in school. This included new lighting in all the classrooms, and halls plus the removal of asbestos in all the Year 3 and 4 classrooms and main hall with new ceilings being put in. The last part of the work will be the removal of asbestos in the lower school corridor and toilets plus my own room with again new ceilings and lighting then being installed. This work is due to take place during August, after the Summer Scheme is finished and before we return in September.
Year 6 Leavers’ BBQ
I am still intending to hold a Year 6 Leavers’ Disco and BBQ on Thursday 3rd September at 5:00pm. We weren’t able to do any of the traditional leavers’ events this year but I want to mark their time here before they all start secondary school.
Project
I have attached two fliers for projects being run by one of our parents and governors. If you are interested in any of the projects advertised, then the website and contact details for information and bookings are on the fliers.
Finally, as always I wish you all a happy, safe and nice summer with your families. As I mentioned at the start of the newsletter, I intend to send out regular communications through the summer to keep everyone informed.
Yours sincerely,
J Alexander (Head teacher)
