Tuesday 26th October 2021

I hope you are all having a safe holiday.  You should have received the documentation regarding the changes to school from Monday 1st November.  Copies of the letter, timings and risk assessments can be found below.

 

Take care

 

Alison Frost

Saturday 4th September

Everyone should have received the information about reopening. If you have any questions please talk to class teachers first of all.  Any changes will be shared as soon as possible.  Any positive cases will be dealt with by NHS track n trace who will notify close contacts.  If contacted please follow the guidance you are given.  If your child(ren) are displaying symptoms they should remain at home and a PCR test must be completed.  All staff will be following the same rules and will continue taking LFTs to ensure safety for all.

When dropping and collecting your child(ren) please do not use this as a socialising time, we still need to minimise contacts.  If you wish to continue wearing face coverings you may do so, many staff will continue doing this.

If you wish to speak with a member of staff please contact them via phone or email first to arrange this.  Please do not enter the school buildings without prior agreement.

 

Thank you for your understanding.

 

Alison Frost

Wednesday 7th July 2021

Please remember that if your child is showing symptoms the whole family should isolate and a PCR needs to be done.  This information should be shared with school, even if at the weekend.  Until 19th July we are still responsible for test and trace in the school.

Wednesday 3rd March

I hope everyone is looking forward to all children being back in school on Monday 8th March?  I am sure there is some apprehension about the amount of children and contact that will be happening.  As per usual we will be doing all we can to ensure safety and limit the contact everyone is having.

All risk assessments have been updated using the latest Government guidance.  Please have a read through and if you have any questions, queries or worries please let us know.

Take care

If you have any concerns or questions about remote learning please contact your child’s class teacher.  The best way to do this is through email and all email addresses and be found on class pages.

If you have any further concerns about the quality or quantity of remote learning then please contact Alison Frost on the email details on the contact page.

Monday 18th January 2021

We have been provided with some SIM cards which will provide the user with 30GB of free data.  This data has a 90 day limit for it's use.  So, if you are using either a smartphone or a smart laptop/dongle for completing home learning and you need more data please get in contact.  Please email afrost1@educ.somerset.gov.uk if you need one of these and I will be in touch with collection details.

We will hopefully have a small amount of laptops, 7, being delivered to school to help vulnerable pupils with home learning.  Again, if you think you require the loan of a laptop then please email afrost1@educ.somerset.gov.uk  We will not have enough technology to support all families and so we will need to analyse the needs of each request and prioritise accordingly.  All families loaning a laptop will need to sign a loan agreement before the laptop is handed over.

Monday 11th January 2021

I know many of you are struggling with remote learning, this could help you.  Copy the URL in to your web browser and this explains how to use a playstation or Xbox to access TEAMS.

https://www.stpaulsjuniorsomerset.org.uk/how-to-access-remote-learning/

 

Sunday 10th January 2021

Just a quick reminder that if your child is showing symptoms of COVID 19 they should remain at home and request a test.  The whole family should isolate and have no contact with others.  Children will not be permitted back to school until they have received a negative test result.

Monday 4th January update #2

Following the announcement this evening from our PM this evening school will be shut tomorrow to all pupils except for those of key workers and vulnerable families.  If you are uncertain about your key worker status please visit the following website for further information: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision

Please check your emails, we are currently emailing families of those children in Y1, 2 and 4 to establish numbers.  If you believe your child requires a place in school please email Inclusion@educ.somerset.gov.uk to request this and outline your reasons for a place.  

More information will follow tomorrow as we formalise plans. 

Class Teachers will be in contact in regards to home learning shortly.  

 

Many thanks for your continued patience and support during this challenging time

Please take care and stay safe.  

 

Alison Frost

 

Monday 4th January updated

This information has been sent directly from Somerset County Council.  Please read all of this information.

 

Prime Minister announcement – School Preparedness

 

It has recently appeared in the media that the PM will make an announcement at 8pm tonight about greater restrictions. It is being reported that the announcement will be followed with a vote in Parliament on Wednesday. Secondary schools are already making preparations for schools to open to key worker and vulnerable pupils only following the policy changes before Christmas. Some primary schools have made a judgement to do so in the past few days on the basis of staffing restrictions and the ability to operate safely.

 

In order for schools to take account of this rapidly changing situation, we are recommending that all schools in Somerset open for children of key workers and vulnerable pupils tomorrow, and continue to do so as long as it takes for the way forward to be confirmed for all schools.

 

We have been in communication with Trade Unions who have advised that the Section 44 letter relates to attending work to teach all pupils NOT to participating in a rota to support the education of children of key workers and vulnerable pupils. Therefore schools with staffing concerns should be able to resource a more limited offer.

 

- We will continue with the plans that have been put in place today for tomorrow e.g. Years 1, 2 and 4 will come in to school as planned and only key worker and vulnerable pupils from reception, year 3, 5 & 6 should come in.  These children should be already been known to us and we will be expecting them at the 'normal' time tomorrow.  When/if things change we will have to gather names of vulnerable and key worker pupils for Years 1, 2 and 4.

 

Sorry for all this confusion, we are trying to keep you as informed as possible.

 

Stay safe

 

Alison Frost

Monday 4th January 2021

I hope you have all seen the emails sent out this morning.

Reception, year 3, 5 & 6 will be partially open for vulnerable and key worker pupils only.  Spaces need to be requested via email to inclusion@educ.somerset.gov.uk

Years 1, 2 & 4 are fully open and all pupils should attend.  Please contact the school via the office email if there are any issues with this.

Until we are back to 'full opening' we will not be able to run early arrivals or film club on Fridays.  No child should be coming to school before 8:30.

Please use the timings that were being used for before the holidays when dropping off and collecting your child(ren).  Years 1, 2 & 3 will have temperatures taken when arriving at school.  Other classes will have theirs taken when in class.

Home learning will be available to all children who are not within the vulnerable and key worker groups for reception, year 3, 5 & 6.  This will be organised through either TEAMS or Tapestry but class teachers will notify parents of this as soon as possible.

Please bear with us as this may take some organising and we are currently unaware of how long this may last.

Stay safe

Alison Frost

Sunday 3rd January 2021

Dear all, 

I hope you have managed to have a happy and safe Christmas with your families. 

I am sure you are aware there are current debates as to whether education settings should be opening.  I have received an email from Somerset County Council saying they expect all schools to follow Government guidance and to open as expected this week.  We will therefore be opening to pupils on Tuesday 5th January.  

Unions are currently asking for a closure to all all pupils except vulnerable and key worker pupils.  As yet I do not know our current staffing position. I will be emailing all families tomorrow with more information regarding the opening of the school on Tuesday. 

I apologise for the timing of this notification but I do not have all of the information needed to plan.

Take care and God bless

Alison Frost

Thursday 31st December

Just a quick message to follow on from the announcements from Parliament yesterday.  We will be opening again next week, Tuesday 5th January, Monday 4th January is INSET.

All pupils are expected in to school from Tuesday 5th January, unless they are isolating, showing symptoms or ill for other reasons.  Please let the school know is your child will not be back to school on Tuesday.

A link to school opening guidance can be found below this message.  All risk assessments will be updated next week and the updates will be shared when completed.

Take care and stay safe

Please have a look at these images and documents.  If you need help and support over this time please ask through any of the ways posted, but also contact us here whenever you need to.

Monday 2nd November

With another lockdown beginning on Thursday 5th November we will be increasing our precautions.  From Tuesday 3rd November face coverings will need to be worn by all over 11s who are entering the school grounds.  If you are exempt please let a member of staff know.  School staff will be required to wear face coverings when on the gate and the playground.  Children under 11 are not required to wear face masks but if you would prefer them to then we will need to follow the rules.

• children should not touch the mask during the day
• masks should only be removed when eating/drinking or communicating
• when removed they will need to be placed in children’s bags until replaced or in the bin and replaced with a fresh one
• if children are seen without the mask on or messing with it they will be requested to remove it and put it away

We are not yet aware of any other changes we will need to put in place.  If this changes we will let you know as soon as possible.  Home learning will be set for any child who is isolating due to COVID, this will be done via the new Office 365 accounts.  Please ensure you have checked that the log in details you have been given work.

Please let a staff member know if you have any concerns or worries about school and we will help however we can.

Wednesday 21st October 2020

Please find below our contingency plan for the school regarding COVID restrictions.  Within this plan it outlines tiers of need but also the logistics of remote learning.  Further information about this will be sent out on Friday.

Within this section of the website we will post all information regarding wider re-opening in September 2020.

Friday 18th September

Some teachers have spoken to me regarding children staying over at each others houses.  All families should be following the government guidance of only 6 people to a group and social distancing should still be followed.  We are doing all we can to follow the guidance to keep everyone safe in school so I request you do the same at home.

Thank you to the families who have listened to and followed our requests to get tested if displaying symptoms.  All of the tests have come back negative, which is really good news.  This does not mean we can be complacent.  We continue to follow the rules and we will be sending children and staff home if they display symptoms until a negative test result can be supplied.

I hope you all have a safe and restful weekend.

 

Alison Frost

Wednesday 16th September

As you may be aware, the Education Department at Somerset County Council, are meeting regularly to monitor provision in all Schools.  It seems that not all Schools are following the guidance for monitoring and managing symptoms.  Please ensure you have read this guidance and follow the instructions on the flow chart which can be found below.

 

Coronavirus in children – symptoms and testing

As we approach winter and more children are attending school and early years settings there is likely to be an increase in the number of children experiencing mild respiratory symptoms such as runny noses and colds. Children with these symptoms do not require self-isolation or testing for them or the wider family.

The three main symptoms of coronavirus in children are:

• a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
• a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
• a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you've noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal

If any child in your setting displays these symptoms then it is very important that they are asked to go home, self-isolate with their family and get a test. They cannot return until they receive a negative test.

We need to ensure that we can prioritise testing for people displaying at least one of these three symptoms listed above. More information is available here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/symptoms/coronavirus-in-children/

 

I do not want to be difficult but anyone displaying any of the COVID symptoms need to self-isolate with the whole family and must get a test.  Children and staff will not be able to return until, either, a negative result or the self-isolation period is completed.

Thursday 10th September 2020

If your child is absent from school with any of the symptoms of COVID-19 parents should keep children at home and seek advice for testing.  Please read the flow chart for very clear advice on what to do.

Thursday 3rd September 2020

Please make sure that you have familiarised yourself with the information about reopening.  Nothing has changed from the information sent out in July.  We will be expecting ALL children to be coming back to school and should be dropped at the allocated time.  If you have a message for a member of staff this should be emailed either directly to them, or via the school email.  I will be on The Avenue for the foreseeable future in the mornings and I will be stopping families coming in at the incorrect times.  If your child needs to attend Early Arrivals this must be booked in advance and children should be brought to the Mary Street entrance.  Children attending the 'holding zone' should be brought with the older sibling in through The Avenue.  All children will have hands sanitised on entry to school and will be expected to wash their hands when they come in to the building.  Mr Moffat will not be doing crossing patrol and so all parents should help children to cross the road safely.

When dropping children at school please ensure cars are parked safely.  I will be monitoring this and approaching parents who are not following the Highway Code.  Please do not park on Mary Street, we do not have permission to park here and this will cause additional hazards when leaving the site.  Anyone causing a hazard by doing this will be approached individually.  Please request a parking permit for Goldcroft car park if it is needed.

Please minimise the amount of 'stuff' children bring to school as cloak rooms will not be in use.  No toys should be brought from home and children will not need PE kits as they will be coming in to school on their PE days dressed in their PE kits.  All children should come with a coat as these will be kept on the back of the chairs.  A reading book will be coming to and from school, so a small bag will be permitted.  Children should not be bringing their own stationary, unless this is for use in the 'holding zone' and will only be used there and not in class.

If at any point a child or a family member displays symptoms you must inform the school and follow guidance on self-isolation.  A test must be sought and school will need to inform Public Health England.  All guidance and organisation will be monitored and adapted when needed.

We are all looking forward to getting back to 'normality' so please help us all to stay safe and follow the rules.

Alison Frost

Tuesday 25th August 2020

 

With so many children needing places in the ‘holding’ bubble, I am requesting parents send children with a reading book or a small activity book.  This will remain in your child’s bag during the day.  We will not have enough communal resources to keep all children occupied in the class bubbles within the holding bubble.  If you have any activity books and pens/pencils you are able to donate to the school for this group they will be gratefully received.  Please send extras in with your children if you have them.

Stay safe

Alison Frost

Wednesday 19th August 2020

 

Please ensure that all parents have read the September guidance before children return on Monday 7th September.  We recognise that staggering drop off times will be awkward but please ensure you stick to the times for your children.  If needed for multiple siblings we will be running a ‘holding’ bubble, within this bubble children will sit with other children in their class.  This group is only for siblings, not for children who need early arrivals or after school club due to work commitments.  If you have any difficulties with this you need to contact Mrs Frost before the start of term.

As we will be running a one way system for parents, in The Avenue and out Mary Street, I am asking that no parents park on Mary Street.  This will not only impact the safety of other parents and children but also affect our neighbours, and this is not acceptable.  Please be mindful of others in our community and remember social distancing at all times.  No parents will be permitted within the school buildings, unless this is pre-arranged with Mrs Frost or Mrs Cahill.

We are constantly checking updates from the Government and will inform you of any changes as soon as we can.  All staff are looking forward to welcoming everyone back to school, but we will only due this if we are able to keep ourselves, your children and your families safe.

Please be safe and take care.

Friday 17th July 2020

Clarification - if a child is having to attend Early Arrivals of the 'holding zone' because a sibling is still in class there will not be a charge.  If a child is attending Early Arrivals because of early work commitments will be charged.

Whatever the reason for using Early Arrivals, places must be booked at least a week in advance.  If you leave this until the end of August you run the risk of emails not being read.  Please book now to avoid children being turned away.  Contact the office or class teachers.