Ruth Miskin is offering free phonic sound lessons at certain times on their YouTube channel, and Facebook page.
Each film will be available for 24 hours.
Speed Sounds Set 1 – 9.30 am (GMT)
Speed Sounds Set 2 – 10.00 am
Monday 23 March 2020
Dear WR family,
There are some links below to support your mental health courtesy of the MAC team at Wrotham Secondary School.
For Students
https://youngminds.org.uk/blog/what-to-do-if-you-re-anxious-about-coronavirus/
Free, safe and anonymous online support for young people - https://www.kooth.com/
https://youngminds.org.uk/blog/looking-after-your-mental-health-while-self-isolating/
Joe Wicks Daily PE workouts at 9am from Monday March 23rd - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAxW1XT0iEJo0TYlRfn6rYQ
For Parents
https://youngminds.org.uk/blog/talking-to-your-child-about-coronavirus/
https://www.bacp.co.uk/news/news-from-bacp/2020/13-march-coronavirus-self-isolation-how-to-look-after-your-mental-health-and-wellbeing-if-you-re-self-isolating/
https://www.bacp.co.uk/news/news-from-bacp/2020/28-february-coronavirus-anxiety-how-to-cope-if-you-re-feeling-anxious-about-the-outbreak/
https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/online-mental-health/online-mental-health-tools/
Kind regards,
Sarah Jack
Sunday 22 March 2020
Saturday 21 March 2020
Friday
What a week with unprecedented measures placed upon us. We don’t know when we will be able to welcome pupils back through the gates at Wrotham Road but we will continue to support you from a distance.
Year 6 pupils will have an opportunity to say goodbye properly whenever we are able to put this in the diary.
For now, take care and we will post the home learning opportunities here. We will also update the website next week with lots of links and information.
It won’t be the same without all of you.
Thank you for your support and kind words.
Sarah Jack
Friday 20 March 2020
Free School Meal Parents Only
Dear Parent/ Carer,
We are writing to you as your child is, registered with us for Free School Meals, and you are therefore entitled to order a lunch from our kitchen for your child registered with us.
The lunch will need to be pre-ordered.
Unless your child falls into one of the categories stated by the Government, your child will not be able to attend school, as the intention is that the vast majority of children will remain at home.
Therefore, should you wish to order and collect a lunch, they will be available for collection by yourself or a representative if you are self-isolating, from, the school office between 12-12.30PM daily.
If you wish to pre-order a lunch then please telephone the school on 01474 534540 to let us know, so that the kitchen can organise their supplies.
Thank you for your co-operation.
With Regards,
Sarah Jack
Headteacher
Update 20th March AM
Dear WR families,
Further to my letter yesterday, at 11.55pm last night the government released the following information with regards school closures and the list of who is classified as a key-workers.
The full guidance for parents about school closures can be read here:
The advice makes clear that, wherever possible, parents who are key workers will wish to keep their children at home in order to reduce the spread of the virus. This was the reason the decision to close schools was taken and will undoubtedly be the course of action you will wish to take, “Many parents working in these critical sectors may be able to ensure their child is kept at home. Every child who can be safely cared for at home should be.”
Please, therefore, follow these key principles:
· If it is at all possible for children to be at home, then they should be.
· If a child needs specialist support, is vulnerable or has parents who are critical workers, then educational provision will be available for them.
· Parents should not rely for childcare upon those who are advised to be in the stringent social distancing category such as grandparents, friends, or family members with underlying conditions.
· Parents should also do everything they can to ensure children are not mixing socially in a way which can continue to spread the virus. They should observe the same social distancing principles as adults.
If your work is critical to the COVID-19 response, or you work in one of the critical sectors listed, and you cannot keep your child safe at home, then your children will be prioritised for education provision.
If workers think they fall within the critical categories they should confirm with their employer that, based on their business continuity arrangements, their specific role is necessary for the continuation of this essential public service.
We are asking parents/carers in the critical categories to contact the school office on 01474534540 by 2pm today.
Parents who do not fall into these categories should not send their child to school under any circumstances as we will not have sufficient staffing levels in school.
The clear message from the government is that, wherever possible, social distancing or isolation is the best possible way of tackling Covid19, without interrupting the work of those in key roles or putting vulnerable children at risk.
Thank you for your continued support in these challenging times.
Sarah Jack
X Table Rock Stars
TT Rockstars have offered free online access to NUMBOTS to schools from now until May 22nd 2020.
NUMBOTS supports children in addition, subtraction and number bonds.
Children have online access to both TT Rockstars and NUMBOTS which they will be able to use the same login for. TT Rockstars will continue to support the development of your child’s knowledge of times tables and NUMBOTS is an excellent resource in deepening children’s understanding of addition, subtraction and number bonds.
Both platforms have their own website. NUMBOTS can also be accessed from the TT Rockstar website on the left hand side panel.
TT ROCKSTARS - https://ttrockstars.com/
Thursday 19 March 2020
Update 19th March - Evening
Coronavirus: required closure-23.03.20
Dear Wrotham Road families, Thursday 19th March 2020
Re: Coronavirus update – school closure to most pupils
Following on from my last update, I am now writing to let you know that we have now been instructed to close the school to almost all children after this Friday until further notice.
As advised by the government, we will do all we can to stay open for the children of key workers (e.g. NHS staff, police, others in frontline services) and children with Education Health Care Plans (EHCP) and or children who are supported by social worker involvement.
IN ORDER FOR CHILDREN TO BE SENT TO SCHOOL FROM MONDAY, SINGLE PARENTS MUST BE KEY WORKERS OR WHERE BOTH PARENTS LIVE IN THE SAME HOUSEHOLD, BOTH MUST BE KEY WORKERS. IF ONE PARENT IS NOT A KEY WORKER THEN THE EXPECTATION IS THAT THE CHILD STAYS AT HOME WITH THEM.
IF YOU ARE A KEY WORKER AND WORK PART-TIME WE WILL ONLY BE PROVIDING PROVISION FOR THE DAYS THAT YOU ARE AT WORK.
All other children will need to stay at home, so we ask that you do not send your child into school from Monday onwards.
If you wish to use the service, please contact us in order that we can ascertain numbers.
Please note that this is a national closure – as you may have heard in the news – so while it is a challenging situation, we are not alone. We’ll re-open fully as soon as we can and will let you know when this is by contacting all parents through text messages and the school blog.
What we’ll continue doing while your child is at home:
Your child’s learning is of course important to us, so we’ll continue to help your child to learn.
· We will update the blog/ website with as many activities and learning opportunities as we can and you will find our full curriculum under the “Children” tab
· We have sent home work books, for Maths and English, with children who have attended this week. If your child is currently in isolation, then if you are well or can ask someone who is well to come to school these books can be collected from the office.
· If your child usually receives free school meals, further information will follow.
· Breakfast club will continue as normal for key workers children only. Please ensure you continue to let us know by 7am daily if your child requires a place.
· After-school club will no longer continue from Monday.
WE WILL ALSO BE OPEN TO KEY WORKER CHILDREN ONLY DURING THE EASTER BREAK
THURSDAY 2ND APRIL – WEDNESDAY 15TH APRIL INCLUSIVE - EXCLUDING WEEKENDS AND THE BANK HOLIDAYS.
CHILDREN WITH EHCPS AND/OR SOCIAL WORKER INVOLVEMENT MAY RETURN TO SCHOOL ON THE 16TH APRIL.
What we won’t be able to go ahead with:
As I am sure you are aware, all non-essential activities will cease after Friday and after school clubs will not be available for children as of Monday 23rd March 2020.
This is as much as we know right now and we appreciate your continued patience as we deal with this ever-changing situation. We understand this latest news will impact on you and your family and it’s far from ideal. We’ll continue to keep in touch with any updates as the situation develops.
If you want to get in touch to share any concerns, please don’t hesitate to do so via the school office 01474 534540
And remember: if you or your child feels ill and you want to know what to do next, please use NHS 111 online
Thank you again for your continued support, and we will be in touch with more information when we can.
Kindest regards,
Sarah Jack
Headteacher
Update 19th March - PM
Dear Wrotham Road families,
As you know, there have been significant announcements from the government and these will have a huge impact on our work as a school and how we support you, our families.
It is clear that from Monday 23rd March 2020, the school will be, for the vast majority of you, closed, as will all schools until further notice.
We will be meeting the expectations placed on schools regarding provision for the children of key workers and families that require it. We will provide further information in the next few days once we have clearer details of what this might look like and who it will apply to.
In the meantime, please take every precaution you need to keep your and your family safe.
Kind Regards
Sarah Jack
Headteacher
Update - 19th March
Dear Wrotham Road families,
These are unprecedented times. Yesterday, Prime Minister Johnson finally made the decision to close schools indefinitely in response to the Coronavirus outbreak.
These are unprecedented times. Yesterday, Prime Minister Johnson finally made the decision to close schools indefinitely in response to the Coronavirus outbreak.
But we will still be here. We will be here to offer support to those of you who need it. You are not alone.
The staff and I will be busy this morning planning how we can best support our community through these difficult times and we will be in touch later today, once we receive more details from the government.
Aside from the workbooks that you received yesterday, there will also be lots of activities shared on the blog and school website for you to use with your family. Please encourage others to sign up, as this will become a crucial platform for us to keep in contact with our pupils and families.
Most importantly, please take care of your own mental health and that of your children; we have had some very anxious children in school this week. Try to shield them from the media and give them the facts in child-friendly terms – BBC Newsround can help. We recommend you use all of the BBC’s educational resources as part of your home-schooling routine.
Thank you for your on-going support,
Thank you for your on-going support,
Sarah Jack
Headteacher
Wednesday 18 March 2020
Update - 18th March
Dear Wrotham Road families,
We have bought workbooks for the children for Maths and English which we plan to distribute this week.
If you are needing to self-isolate as a family, please contact the school office to collect these for your children.
Further work will be sent home as and when required for you to support your child’s learning at home. Please use the workbooks and mark them with your child.
Twinkl, a resource used in many schools, have set up free access (see below) in order that you can find further resources.
Mrs Jack
Tuesday 17 March 2020
Monday 16 March 2020
Update - 16th March
Dear Wrotham Road families,
On 16th March, Prime Minster Boris Johnson announced significant new measures to tackle the Coronavirus outbreak, including:
• Anyone with a fever or persistent cough should stay at home for 14 days. This measure also extends to anyone who lives with someone displaying coronavirus symptoms.
• Everyone has been asked to stop non-essential contact with others. This is particularly important for those aged over 70, people with underlying health conditions and pregnant women.
• People should stop all unnecessary travelling.
• By the weekend, those with the most serious health conditions should be largely shielded from social contact for 12 weeks.
Consequently, pupils should not come into school if they have a cough or fever nor should their siblings. Nor should they come to the school if any member of the family household displays symptoms.
Absences will be authorised in these extenuating circumstances. However, we ask that you continue to report absences in the usual way by contacting the school so that we can monitor the effect of the outbreak on the school population.
Additionally, if you wish to keep your child at home because you are concerned about the spread of the virus then please do so.
Please continue to bear with us as we deal with staff shortages and manage the situation in order to keep the school open.
I am very grateful to the Wrotham Road team for their goodwill and commitment to our community.
Thank you for your continued support,
Sarah Jack
Headteacher
Cancelled this term- Apologies
The following events have been cancelled this term:-
Class assemblies this term ( Year 1 and Year 6)
Book Look on the 17th March
Parent Evening on the 23rd and 24th March
Eagle Heights trip - Year 4 (25th March and 26th March)
Wakehurst Place trip - Year 3
Mobile Farm - KS1 (26th March)
School Disco (30th March)
We will reschedule these at a later date.
Class assemblies this term ( Year 1 and Year 6)
Book Look on the 17th March
Parent Evening on the 23rd and 24th March
Eagle Heights trip - Year 4 (25th March and 26th March)
Wakehurst Place trip - Year 3
Mobile Farm - KS1 (26th March)
School Disco (30th March)
We will reschedule these at a later date.
Saturday 14 March 2020
Star Writer
Star Writer this week in 5K goes to Sam for his amazing effort and use of descriptive language.
Wednesday 11 March 2020
Medical Advice
As a school we are receiving daily updates from the Department for Education on the Coronavirus. As yet nothing has really changed in their advice and guidance. The current situation in the school has not changed and there have been no confirmed cases of Covid-19.
If parents can help by ensuring children wash their hands before they leave home, to come to school each day.
If parents can help by ensuring children wash their hands before they leave home, to come to school each day.
Do
ü wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
ü always wash your hands when you get home or into work
ü use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
ü cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
ü put used tissues in the bin straight away and wash your hands afterwards
ü try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell
Don't
X do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean
If you think you might have coronavirus, have been to a country or area with a high risk of coronavirus in the last 14 days or you've been in close contact with someone with coronavirus ring NHS 111. Visit https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/ for further details.
Tuesday 10 March 2020
Science Week Day 2- Year 3
Year 3 learnt about the planets and made snow with Scientist Lucy, then we investigated which substances dissolved in milk, and then started our new topic ‘Let’s Plant It!’ We’ve also started an investigation to see how a seed grows in different conditions and will look at the progress over the week.
Monday 9 March 2020
Science Week! Zoo Lab - Looking at our Diverse Planet
KS1 have had an action packed day learning about Science in fun and engaging ways. We started with our visit from ZooLab who brought a wide variety of animals and insets for us to hold and most importantly observe their different bodies, ways of moving and habitats. We have also looked at forces such as up thrust by building tin foil boats and using air resistance to help our paper aeroplanes glide further. Children have also been problem solving to create electrical circuits with bulbs and buzzers.
In Reception the children went on a treasure hunt around the allotment to find things with might float. After collecting and making predictions, they successfully tested their loot to see if it would sink or float!
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