December Letter

Dear Parent/Carer,

 

I would once again like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for your continued commitment, support and understanding with the strict Covid-19 safety measures we have put in place in school. These are strange and difficult times but we continue to try and make school as ‘normal’ and as welcoming as possible for our children, while maintaining strict Covid protocols. 

 

I am sure that you understand that every decision and action we take has a multitude of different factors and considerations behind them. I appreciate that some of these measures can be challenging to comply with but they have been very carefully planned to ensure the school follows government guidelines to remain Covid secure. 

 

There have been, over the last few weeks, many reports of Covid outbreaks in the local and wider community.  This is a timely reminder for us to stay vigilant and to strictly maintain our Covid safety measures to help our community remain safe and well and our school open. Again, thank you for your commitment and support with this. 

 

Parent consultations:

This week marks the end of four weeks of parents’ evenings. Thank you to all the parents and carers involved in the phone consultations. It was certainly different and the teachers have all commented on how much they enjoyed the chance to speak to you about your children’s progress. 

 

Warm clothing:

Government guidance remains that a well-ventilated room, with free-flowing air, minimises the spread of the Covid virus. Therefore, schools are advised that doors and windows should remain open to allow fresh air in. With this in mind, we would recommend that children wear an extra layer of clothing under their uniforms or bring a body warmer during these cold months. 

 

Filming: 

We are staging a promotional filming event next term - date to be confirmed. A virtual tour of the school will be created, along with photographs of the children and aerial of the school site. We will then release the video and images on our website. As you know, we have a policy in place regarding the taking, making and use of images and you will have previously signed a consent form stating whether your child could be photographed. If you have any concerns regarding this, please contact the school office.

Walk to School:

As part of our efforts to improve our children’s fitness and to also help the environment, we would like to encourage all our pupils to walk to school as much as they can. We understand that some people do have to drive due to the distance they live from school but we request that you park up away from the school gates and walk the final part of the journey. 

 

School drop off and pick up:

Now that the systems for dropping your children at school are working more smoothly and are more familiar to you, here are some reminders to make sure we are all playing our part in keeping everyone safe and the school open.  

·       Please use the correct gate (according to the Year group of your child) when entering the school grounds.

·       If there is a queue when you arrive, please give way to others to ensure social distancing is maintained. 

·       Wear a mask when on the school site or queuing, if you are able to do so. 

 

The vast majority of you are doing these things and we thank you. If you are not dropping or collecting your child, please inform the person responsible about the one-way system and the expectations above. 

 

School dinners: 

May we respectfully remind all parents that you should never accumulate arrears in your school dinner payment balance. School meals are charged at £2.30 per child per day. All payments should be made via our online portal www.parentpay.com

 

If you need any assistance with your account or your circumstances have changed recently and you feel you are eligible for Free School Meals, please email or call the school office.  Please do talk to us so that we can arrange an affordable payment plan. 

 

January return:

The school will be closed on Monday 4th January for an INSET day (staff training).  

Children will return on Tuesday 5th January.

 

Wishing you all a safe and relaxing Christmas break.

 

Mrs Sarah Jack

Headteacher  

Christmas Jumper Day this Friday

 

Donate £1 to Save The Children

 

Year 2 Phonics Screening Test

This week we have started the Phonics Screening Check with the children in Year 2. This is an assessment that the children usually take in the Summer Term of Year 1, but as they were not all in school, the government delayed it until this term. The results of the screening will be available for parents, as part of their school report. Well done to all of the children who have all their done their very best.

Adverse Weather

If we do experience severe snow / ice resulting in hazardous conditions, we may have to take the decision to close the school.

You can find the information you need from the following sources:

• Text received from the school office to your phone 

• Kent Radio 

• Kent Closure Website

Please do not telephone the school, as the phone lines may be needed.

Even if the school is open, you may decide at the start of the day that the journey

into school is not safe for your daughter / son. 

Please can you report your child absent via the school website link  Click here .

The school will always remain open whenever possible. We will only close on

health and safety grounds, e.g. no heating, no running water, insufficient staff to

supervise the students or if the site is not safe.

https://www.kentclosures.co.uk

Switch Off Fortnight

From Monday 30th November to Monday 14th December Wrotham Road Primary School will be taking part in the switch off fortnight. Encouraging the children to join in by making sure lights are off when leaving the classroom or making sure the whiteboard is turned off when not in use etc. 

Amazing independent writing in Reception

 

Christmas Cards

As we approach December, we are determined to make Christmas as festive as we possibly can under the restrictions we are given. 

Sadly, this will not include the delivery and exchange of Christmas cards. It has been a difficult decision to make - but in order to comply with the concerns of parents, staff and guidance from the Trust - can we kindly request that pupils do not bring Christmas cards into school.

We appreciate that this will be a disappointment, we understand that some of you will disagree. However our prime concern is the health of our community - both physical and mental - and we are sure you will support this decision.

New Government Restrictions come into force from Wednesday

• No mixing of households indoors or most outdoor places, apart from within support bubbles. Maximum gatherings of six in some outdoor spaces (for example, parks and public gardens)
• Avoid travelling outside of Kent other than where necessary for work or education. Reduce your number of journeys where possible
• No overnight stays other than with your household or support bubble

Therefore can I remind parents to ensure they wear masks on the school site. 

Please remember to maintain social distancing at all times while queuing or waiting on the school site. 

                                             

Please do not congregate on the school site, once you have collected all of your children, please exit the school site via the one way system. This also refers to congregating around the school gates, this must not happen as it impedes others safely accessing the school.

Christmas Dinner will be on Wednesday 16th December

If  you wish to order Christmas dinner for your child please click on the link below:-

KS1 Christmas dinner  Click Here

KS2 Christmas dinner Click Here

(cost is £2.30 - please pay via Parentpay Click Here

Maths Stars!

 

Star Writers This Week 20th November

 

   

Maths Stars Of The Week

 

Language of the term

The current Language of the Term at Wrotham Road Primary School is Greek!

Pupils have been learning key Greek phrases by listening to and repeating vocabulary in class. This has been modelled to them by a native speaker via the following link:

https://www.newburyparkschool.net/lotm/greek/player.html

Please note:  Adobe Flash Player may need to be enabled for this page to work. Click on 'First Words', which takes you to the list of phrases.​​

Christmas Cards For Pupils

As we approach December, we are determined to make Christmas as festive as we possibly can under the restrictions we are given. 

Sadly, this will not include the delivery and exchange of Christmas cards. It has been a difficult decision to make - but in order to comply with the concerns of parents, staff and guidance from the Trust - can we kindly request that pupils do not bring Christmas cards into school.

We appreciate that this will be a disappointment, we understand that some of you will disagree. However our prime concern is the health of our community - both physical and mental - and we are sure you will support this decision.

NHS Sleep Guidance

The Wrotham Road Team really value working in partnership with you in the interest of your children’s progress and well-being, we want the very best for every child. You can help us to do this by ensuring that your child has a good night’s sleep.

The NHS has set out the required amount of sleep for Primary aged children as follows:

• 3yr olds need 11 hours 30 mins per night
• 4 & 5 yr olds need 11 hours per night
• 6 yr olds need 10 hours  45 mins per night
• 7 yr olds need 10 hours 30 mins per night
• 8 yr olds need 10 hours  15 mins per night
• 9 yr olds need 10 hours per night
• 10 and 11 yr olds need 9 hours  30 mins per night

It is also really important that children (and adults) do not do any on-screen activity within the hour before going to bed as the blue light exposure can make it much harder to go to sleep. In addition, a healthy breakfast will set your child up for a good start to the day. We ensure the children drink lots of water in school and it’s great if you do so at home as well.

Book Club 2020

 Since we cannot hold our Autumn Book Fair at school, our new Scholastic Book Club is up and running! 

Go to https://schools.scholastic.co.uk/wrotham/digital-book-club to browse the latest books and order online. 

For every £1 you spend on this month’s Book Club, our school will earn 20p in Scholastic Rewards. 

Please place your order online by November 27th, 2020.

Year 4

 Year 4 will be able to return to school on Thursday 19th November 

Reception Road Safety Lesson

We have been learning how to be safe when crossing or using roads. Super Cat has taught us to 'Stop, Look, Listen and Think' so we made Super Cat road safety posters. We also explored our new investigation area and made sure the cars on the road were being safe.

Last Day Of Term Information

LAST DAY OF TERM—we will finish early (please collect from the usual playground)

Nursery Am– 11.30am Nursery PM– 2pm 

1pm - Year R, Year 3, Year 6

1.15pm- Year 2 and Year 5

1.30pm-  Year 1 and Year 4

We return on Tuesday 5th January  (closed on Monday - INSET Day)

Road Safety Week

 

Click Here For A Powerpoint

E- Safety advice for parents

Diwali

Diwali is the five-day festival of lights, celebrated by millions of Hindus, Sikhs and Jains across the world. 

Diwali, which for some also coincides with harvest and new year celebrations, is a festival of new beginnings and the triumph of good over evil, and light over darkness.

Where does the name Diwali come from?

The word Diwali comes from the Sanskrit word deepavali, meaning "rows of lighted lamps". 

Houses, shops and public places are decorated with small oil lamps called diyas. People also enjoy fireworks and sweets too, so it's really popular with children.

Diwali Powerpoint

Click here for a video

Children In Need - Friday 13th November

 Wear something spotty or your own clothes and donate £1 to the charity.

Maths at WR

 

Year 4 Only- Positive Case

 Date: 9/11/20 

 FOR PARENTS OF CHILDREN IN YEAR 4

 

Advice for Child to Self-Isolate for 14 Days  

 

Dear parent or carer, 

 

We have been made aware that we have a confirmed positive case of coronavirus (COVID-19) for a member of staff in Y4 at Wrotham Road Primary School.

 

We have followed the national guidance and have identified that your child has been in close proximity contact with the affected adult. In line with the national guidance your child must stay at home and self-isolate until Thursday 19^th November. (This will be 14 days since the positive adult was last at school)

 

If your child is well at the end of this period of self-isolation, then they can return to school and their usual activities. 

 

Other members of your household can continue normal activities, provided your child does not develop symptoms within the 14-day self-isolation period. 

 

What to do if your child develops symptoms of COVID 19

If your child develops symptoms of COVID-19, they should remain at home for at least 10 days from the date when their symptoms appeared. Anyone with symptoms will be eligible for testing and this can be arranged via https://www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test or by calling 119. 

People who do not have symptoms should not request a test unless Public Health England or the local authority has specifically requested this.

All other household members who remain well must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. This includes anyone in your ‘Support Bubble’.

 

The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill.

Household members should not go to work, school or public areas and exercise should be taken within the home. If you require help with buying groceries, other shopping or picking up medication, or walking a dog, you should ask friends or family. Alternatively, you can order your shopping online and medication by phone or online.

 

Household members staying at home for 14 days will greatly reduce the overall amount of infection the household could pass on to others in the community

 

If you are able can, move any vulnerable individuals (such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions) out of your home, to stay with friends or family for the duration of the home isolation period

 

Please see the link to the PHE ‘Stay at Home’ Guidance:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection

 

Symptoms of COVID 19 

The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of:

·       new continuous cough and/or

·       high temperature and/or

·       a loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)

 

For most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness.

If your child does develop symptoms, you can seek advice from the nhs.uk website: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/check-if-you-have-coronavirus-symptoms/. If you are concerned about your child’s symptoms, or they are worsening you can seek advice from NHS 111 at https://111.nhs.uk/ or by phoning 111.

 

How to stop COVID-19 spreading 

There are things you can do to help reduce the risk of you and anyone you live with getting ill with COVID-19

 

Do

·       Wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds 

·       Use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available

·       Wash your hands as soon as you get home

·       Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze

·       Put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards

Further Information

Further information is available at 

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

Yours sincerely

 

Mrs Jack 

Headteacher

Welcome Back

 Here we are at the end of the first week back after the break.

Firstly, I wanted to thank you all for continuing to send your children into school, where we are trying extremely hard to carry on as usual. We believe this is so important for children’s mental health and well-being.

In these challenging times, it is important to watch out for each other and do all we can to keep each other safe and healthy, so thank you again to everyone who is wearing their mask whilst on the school site and/or keeping a social distance from others.

In this first Lockdown weekend stay safe and we will see you all on Monday.

Mrs Jack

 

E- Safety for Parents

 

Scholastic Book Club

Since we cannot hold our Autumn Book Fair at school, our new Scholastic Book Club is up and running! 

Go to https://schools.scholastic.co.uk/wrotham/digital-book-club to browse the latest books and order online. 

For every £1 you spend on this month’s Book Club, our school will earn 20p in Scholastic Rewards. 

Please place your order online by November 27th, 2020.

Nasal Flu Reminder

 Dear Parent/Carer, there is still time to complete the online consent form for your child to receive their nasal flu vaccination.

 

Please click here and enter our school URN which is: 145815

 

The online portal will close at midnight on 10.11.2020, and no late forms can be accepted after this date.

 

Someone from our team may call  you to discuss the online consent process if we do not hear from you.

 

Watch this short film to find out what happens at a nasal flu clinic. What is the nasal flu vaccine?

Show your child this short film to help them understand the nasal flu vaccine What should I say to my child?

 

E-Safety