Welcome to Oak CE Primary School!
Oak Primary – Covid 19
#StayHomeSaveLives
Announcement on possible opening of schools to more pupils from June 1st onwards
22nd May 2020
Dear Parents/Carers,
I hope that this letter finds you well and that you are all continuing to keep yourself and others safe.
Can I thank all of you who responded to our survey on the possible opening of schools from the 1st June. We have had over 190 responses. It is clear that many of you have some real concerns about opening the school up to more pupils. Only 25% of respondents indicated that they would be happy to send their children back to school at the moment. As a parent of children in both primary and secondary school, I share many of these concerns and am working to try to reduce the risk as much as I can. There will never be a time when opening of schools will be 100% risk free, but we will minimise it as much as is practically possible.
Myself and Governors met yesterday to discuss the wider opening of school. At this time, we have decided not to progress the opening further from the 1st June.
We have examined the situation and discussed the evidence and advice available from the Government, Local Authority and Unions and feel that at this time, the risks of opening outweigh the plans we can put in place to mitigate them.
The plans / guidance / evidence and this decision will be reviewed weekly by myself and Governors starting the week commencing the 1st June to determine a possible date for wider opening. The wider opening for pupils will not be before the 15th June.
Please note that school remains open as it has done since March for children of key workers and children who are classed as vulnerable. This will not change. If you feel your child fits into either of these categories, please contact school.
We will continue to review the latest advice and guidance weekly and update you accordingly. Once it is deemed safe to reopen, I will share our action plan and risk assessment with you so you have an idea of what we are putting in place to reduce risk as much as we can for both your children and staff alike.
If you have any concerns or questions that are not addressed here, please email school on urgent.oakprimary@kirkleeseducation.uk
Kind Regards
Mr Bendall
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Learning from home government links
The government have published some advice to help you with structuring the learning from home you are doing with your children.
- The first is some advice about how to structure the day with sections for different age groups. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/help-primary-school-children-continue-their-education-during-coronavirus-covid-19
- The second is a list of online educational resources you can use to support onlinbe learning. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-online-education-resources/coronavirus-covid-19-list-of-online-education-resources-for-home-education
- The next two are two websites with some very high quality learning resources for all chidlren:
- BBC Bitesize - daily lessons for all ages! https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize
- Oak National Academy - government commissioned school to bring together lessons and learning from across the country. Again, this provides daily lessons for all abilties. https://www.thenational.academy/
I hope you fine these usefull, and please remember if you need any help with learning, please email the correct year group.
If you do require any urgent help you can email the urgent.oakprimary@kirkleeseducation.uk email and someone will get in touch with you.
If your family or anyone you know is in need you can also contact the Kirklees Community Response helpline is open
· Online forms: Covid-19 Community Response
· Community Response helpline: 01484 226919
Anyone can use the number to let the team know about the things they need help with, or that someone who they are concerned about might need help with. Individuals, organisations and businesses can also tell us about the support they may be able to offer to others
Take Care
The Oak team.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Previous Information
School remains closed for all pupils except a very small number. This will be for the foreseeable future.
Caring for your own and your child's menteal health
During these times, people are feeling a range of emotions. Moorlands Primary have allowed us to share this link to some information they have produced about caring for childen and adults alike.
https://www.moorlandsprimary.org.uk/page/?title=Coronavirus+Info&pid=147
General Advice
Whilst your children are off school, it is up to you to make sure that they and your family are following the latest government advice. See below for the relevant links.
- The latest Government advice can be found via this link. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance
- or NHS advice via https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
This is an extremely difficult situation which impacts us all, but we believe that the closure of schools is necessary to ensure the safety, health and wellbeing of everyone and prevent further spread of the virus.
The Prime Minister has advised that children should not be left with older grandparents or older relatives who may be particularly vulnerable to the Coronavirus.
The most recent scientific advice on how to further limit the spread of COVID-19 is clear. If children can stay safely at home, they should, to limit the chance of the virus spreading.
That is why the government has asked parents to keep their children at home, wherever possible, and asked schools to remain open only for those children who absolutely need to attend.
It is important to underline that schools, colleges and other educational establishments remain safe places for children. But the fewer children making the journey to school, and the fewer children in educational settings, the lower the risk that the virus can spread and infect vulnerable individuals in wider society.
Schools are, therefore, being asked to continue to provide care for a limited number of children - children who are vulnerable and children whose parents are critical to the Covid-19 response and cannot be safely cared for at home. If you can safely care for your child at home, do not send them to school.
Children who may be able to attend school
Vulnerable children and children of key workers will continue to be able to come into school as a last resort if parents do not have other childcare arrangements available.
- The government has defined key workers as people who work in:
- Health and social care
- Education and childcare
- Key public services
- Local and national government
- Food and other necessary goods
- Public safety and national security
- Transport
- Utilities, communications and financial services
The full details can be found at
- If you think you are classed as a key worker and have no other viable childcare arrangements, can you please email school to let us know your child’s name, class and what your job is and the job of other parents / carers in the household. This needs to be done via urgent.oakprimary@kirkleeseducation.uk only. Please do not phone. The cut off of making contact is 3.30pm.
- Vulnerable are classed as children include those who have a social worker and those with educational health and care plans. We will contact you directly re the arrangements for schooling from Monday.
- School will contact eligible parents to offer a place from Monday onwards. Please do not send any child to school without an offer of a place. There is no automatic right to a place at this stage – we need to treat each case individually.
- All other children are expected to stay at home.
School Meals
Children in school during closure
- These children will receive a hot school dinner as usual or they will need to bring a packed lunch if they currently do.
Children not in school and who are eligible for free schools
- We are using a voucher system for all pupils eligible for free school meals.
Learning from home:
Our staff have been working hard behind the scenes to devise a learning plan to ensure that your child still has the opportunity to continue their studies remotely.
- Home learning packs have already been sent home for pupils.
- Additionally there are links and further learning on our school website www.oakprimary.co.uk .
- Work on the website will be change regularly so please keep checking.
- It is your responsibility as a parent/carer to ensure that your child continues learning during the closure period.
Contacting school during closure:
If you need to contact school during the closure – the best option is via email as outlined below. We have created some dedicated email accounts to be used for specific enquiries. Before emailing, please check Facebook and our website as most of the key information you need, will be uploaded there. There should be no need to email for general enquiries.
- Urgent Enquiries / emergencies only – please email urgent.oakprimary@kirkleeseducation.uk This email account will be monitored and responded to throughout the day. Non-urgent emails or requests for information that is on the website will not be responded to.
- Questions related to year group work / home learning only. If you or your child are not sure about some aspect of work please email the individual year group as below. These will be checked twice daily by year group teachers starting 23/3/2020. Non work related emails will not be responded to.
|
Year group |
Email address |
|
Nursery |
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|
Reception |
|
|
Year 1 |
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Year 2 |
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Year 3 |
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Year 4 |
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Year 5 |
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Year 6 |
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| Rainbow Room |
rainbow.oakprimary@kirkleeseducation.uk |
General advice
School will continue to update Parents / Carers if the situation and advice changes. All communication will be primarily through our Facebook page and school website, so please make sure you have access to these and check regularly. Links are below
https://www.facebook.com/pg/OakPrimary
Kind regards
Mr Bendall (Headteacher)
News and Events at Oak
What's On This Week at Oak (w/b 23.3.20)
SCHOOL IS NOW CLOSED (except for vulnerable children and children of key workers)
Below is an example of a normal school week:
Monday -
- Year 4 Swimming
- Year 4 - Huddersfield Giants Rugby
- UKS2 - Cricket team tryouts
Tuesday -
- KS2 - HTFC groups
- Year 4 - Huddersfield Giants Rugby
- 8.30am - 9.30am - Parents’ drop in session in the Community Building kitchen.
Wednesday -
- KS2 - Year 6 Fundraising
- KS2 - Change for Life
- 3.15pm - 4.30pm - Ultimate Sports Youth Club (Years 5 and 6) in the Community building
- 3.20pm - 4.15pm - KS1 Dance Club
- 8.30am - 9.30am - Parents’ drop in session in the Community Building kitchen.
Thursday -
- 3.30pm - Years 5 and 6 football
- 3.30 - KS1 Mini Choir in KS1 Hall
Friday -
- 12.30pm - 3.00pm - Nature's Footprint's Time for You in the Community Room
Don't forget to wear a rainproof coat every day! Also, always remember to have full indoor and outdoor PE kit with shoes in school.
Refillable water bottle also advised.
Parents' Voice
"My daughter loves her school. Thank you for all the good work you do." - Year 3 parent
"I am really happy with my child's progress." - Year 1 parent
"Thank you for all your help with my child." - Reception parent
"Mrs Patel has been an excellent teacher for my child. She has helped her progress through Year 5 - so a big thank you to Mrs. Patel!" - Year 5 parent
(Comments taken from Parents' Voice Questionnaire, Spring, 2018)
Want to Apply for Free School Meals?
Are you eligible for Free School Meals? Oak Primary asks that all families who meet the requirements apply to Kirklees for this additional funding. Not only do your children get free meals, but they will automatically qualify the school for Pupil Premium funding (see Pupil Premium under Key Information tab). So, it is in everyone's interests that eligible families secure their grant for Free School Meals.
Not sure if you meet the requirements? Find out more on the Kirklees website below:
http://www.kirklees.gov.uk/beta/schools/free-school-meals.aspx
Kirklees Additional Needs Register
Do any of your children have a special educational need and/or disability? If so, are you registered with the Kirklees Additional Needs Register?
Benefits to families:
- By registering, families are helping to provide a bigger picture of SEND in Kirklees which will help to support commissioning decisions.
- Where agreed to, families can receive a termly SEND newsletter providing information on relevant subjects / opportunities.
- Registration entitles the individual and one parent or carer to a free ‘Flexi Card’ with Kirklees Active Leisure giving a 20% discount on a wide range of activities.
To register please go:
Online: www.kirklees.gov.uk/
Email: additionalneeds@kirklees.gov.
In person: Call into school to see Mrs Pilling, Mrs Saville or Mrs Todd. One of us is usually at the drop-in session in the Community Building (old Surestart) between 8.30am and 9.30am Tuesday and Wednesday mornings.
SchoolPing News
