26 June 2020
Dear Families,
As we head into the final few weeks of this very unusual summer term, I thought I would update you on a few things. We welcomed our Year 1 pupils back this week for 2 days a week – it was so lovely to see them. School is starting to feel busy again and the children have settled back brilliantly. Teachers will be contacting you at home again next week to check in with those of you who will not be returning to school until September.
I am continuing to follow government guidance carefully. At this time, there is no confirmed guidance for September. We are working on planning for several scenarios and I will let you know when we have a clearer idea of arrangements. I am hopeful that all children will be back at school but this is not definite and of course, the situation is likely to develop and change for a while yet. Currently the advice is that school will not be open in the summer to any children (including those of keyworkers). I am meeting with CHAS to look at what they may be able to offer over the holidays.
I am now working with the team to look at teachers and classes for September. We are just finalising the arrangements and I will send further details out next week, including our plans to manage transition. In the meantime, we do have some staffing news that I can share:
* Miss Buckley and Miss Layton will both be going on maternity leave at October half term. I completed interviews yesterday and have appointed two new teachers, Miss Chloe Hodkin and Miss Harriet Clarke to cover this. They will work alongside Miss Buckley and Miss Layton for the first half term to give the children some extra support and continuity and then take over the class until Miss Buckley and Miss Layton return.
* Mrs Herbert and Mrs Ward will be leaving us in July. They have both given many years to the school and we will miss them greatly as they are both amazing teachers. I am sure that you will join me in thanking them for their support, hard work and commitment to our school community over the years.
Our ‘bubbles’ in school are now full including those for keyworkers. We are running a waiting list but this situation is unlikely to change.
I hope that you enjoyed the assembly last week and that you managed to get out and about enjoying the natural world. I thought about you all as I went on one of my walks through a wood near my house – it was so lovely and peaceful and made me feel so much better after a very busy day.
This week’s assembly is based on the theme of ‘Change’. This has been a time of change for all of us and we have had to adapt to new things almost on a weekly basis. At this time of the year, our thoughts also turn to the question of classes and teachers for September and, of course, our Year 6 children will be moving on to pastures new. These changes can be very exciting but they can also be uncomfortable and worrying. The story this week is about Aziz who didn’t like change and how he overcomes this with the help of his friend Numi. Have a good weekend everyone and I will be in touch again next week. Keep sending the emails as we love reading them and seeing what you are all up to at home.

Kind regards

Mrs Revill