Summary of week twelve

Daycare provision:

The standard of provision in our Daycare Unit continues to be excellent.  More SEND and vulnerable children have joined the setting now, we have an average of 32 bookings per day for next week.  My thanks to the superb team who have made this support so effective.  Provision is using all Reception classes and the garden.

Return to school

We have a total of 37 Year Six children registered in four classes.

We have a total of 22 Year Five children registered in two classes.

We have a total of 39 Year One children registered in four classes.

The teaching and support teams have worked hard this week to offer excellent support to these children who are gradually getting used to our new normal.  It is lovely to see the children back in class.

Virtual learning

Review of experiences in Zoom lessons this week:

A survey of teaching experiences this week has confirmed very high general levels of engagement.  Fewer parents are now interfering with the lessons, and the children are much more used to the experience.  Most teachers confirm the children are behaving well to our expectations, and following the rules.  The average length of lesson is around 30 minutes, increasing for older children and the higher ability, and decreasing for the lower ability and the youngest children.  Previous problems with muting and unmuting are being resolved.  Many teachers are using the lessons to link to home learning, and many find this is an effective way of encouraging children to complete homework.  Most teachers offer differentiated lessons, which appears to be an effective way of pitching the lesson content and duration to the children’s needs. 

Range of Zoom lessons

Each child is invited to attend at least one English and one maths lesson each week.  We have PE lessons scheduled for years 3, 4 and 5, rotating over a two-week period.  High needs EAL and SEND children are being invited to more personalised lessons by our support team.  Our ELSA tam are also connecting to children for well-being support. 

Home learning

If any parent is having difficulty printing out home learning, they can either encourage their child to write out answers/responses in a school exercise book (available from our office) or we will be happy to print it for you.  Please gt in touch if you have any questions.

Transition to new classes

By the end of this term each teacher will have briefed the new class teachers on the needs and strengths of their classes in preparation for the new academic year.

All September class teachers will be inviting their new classes to a welcome Zoom meeting on our last INSET day – Monday 20^th July.  This is to replace our usual move-up afternoons, and offers a rich opportunity to the children to get to know your new teacher, to share experiences and ask questions.

Summer holidays

Each year group is preparing a Summer learning Project for the children to complete over the holiday period.  Resources are being ordered and packs will be created over the next two weeks, ready to give out in the final week of term.  We will invite the parents to come in to collect them as soon as they are ready to give out.  Each year group has created a stimulating spread of learning experiences for the children to engage with, that will support their personal and academic development.  Each year group’s content is different but nonetheless inspiring.

I am currently working on the assumption that the government will instruct all schools to return all children and staff back to normal in September.  This includes the closure of our Daycare unit.  There has been much said by the Prime Minister and Education Secretary on this lately, though there has not been an official confirmation that we need to do this.  Plans for a full re-opening are now underway, though thy cannot be actioned until a direction has been issued. I will keep you informed of all decisions as and when they are made.  Parents and carers need to continue to read the blog each week during August, to stay abreast of all news as it breaks.

Autumn term

Until we have a confirmed re-opening date we cannot issue details of term start dates, INSET days, meetings with parents etc.  These will be published as soon as the return date has been confirmed by government. 

The admission of Reception and Nursery children will be managed as fast as possible after our opening date.  The DfE confirmed yesterday that the promised introduction of the new Baseline Assessment test is being delayed until September 2021.  We will continue with our usual assessment procedures in the meantime.

The DfE recently issued news of new grants to schools to support children catching up to expectations and a targeted tuition service for disadvantaged children.  No detail has yet to be released, as soon as this happens we will consult on plans to make the best of these new monies.