Dear Parents and Guardians,
Unprecedented seems to be a word we are using a lot at the moment but today really does feel like an unprecedented and surreal day, when schools across the country will be closing to the vast majority of pupils for the foreseeable future.
Whilst the school building will be closed and most children will be at home, we will be working hard to try and ensure learning continues.
Each day we will issue a reading, writing and maths learning activity for your child to engage with. We will also supplement this with other topic activities and online resources your child can be accessing. There are a number of educational websites such as Phonics Play and Oxford Owl which are providing free access. We well aim to upload the work for each year group for the following day to the school’s website by 6pm every weekday. Year 2 and Year 6 children can begin using their CGP books and any topic related activities can also commence.
We will also remain on the end of an email, and where possible at the end of the school phone. If you have any questions or queries please do contact us at [email protected] and we will aim to answer them as soon as we can. However, we cannot guarantee an immediate response.
I cannot take credit for the following quote but it struck a chord and is definitely worth remembering at this time to maintain a reasonable balance;
‘Arguing with your children to do work is not what anyone needs right now. Instead, cuddle up together and read, read, read. Take turns reading. Read them your favourite novel (yes you can read novels to small children). Do a puzzle. Build a fort. Bake. Watch TV together. Paint. Get out the Lego and build together. Set up a tent in your living room and camp out. Look at photos of when you were a child. In other words …. Don’t stress about them forgetting. Don’t stress about home schooling them. Just spend time together. Your kids won’t learn much if they are feeling stressed. Though this is a scary time, it could very well be a time they remember as the best time in their life.’
It is our aim to continue sending out a weekly newsletter on a Wednesday and would welcome photos of what the children are up to at home. It is our aim that we would then share some of these in the newsletter, on our facebook page and on our website, so please only send in photographs if you are happy for this to happen.
A lovely idea I saw online was encouraging all children to draw or paint a rainbow to stick up in a window at the front of their house. When children and their families are out walking they can spot as many rainbows as they can. Like a giant neighbourhood game of eye-spy!
Please just do what you can. Wishing you all the very best over the coming weeks. We will keep in regular contact and look forward to seeing you again in the future when we can welcome you all back into school.
Thank you once again for your continued support and understanding at this time.
Kindest regards,
Miss S E Hunter
Head Teacher