IMPORTANT INFORMATION
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Reception Places 2021 - apply now
Tue 15 Dec 2020
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Updated Government guidance for parents carers
Tue 23 Jun 2020 -
School Re-opening - Government Briefing udate
Wed 13 May 2020
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Transition information
Wed 06 May 2020Transition
We know how worrying it is for both parents and children to be either starting school, moving school or even just moving into a new class. Under normal circumstances at St. Paul's we try our very best to put lots of things in place to make these transitions as smooth as possible with the least amount of worry.
Even under the current circumstances, with all the uncertainty, we will continue to work very hard to continue to devise ways to help with transition at each phase in the school.
Please ensure that you take a look at the transition information found under the parents tab. There is information on there whether your child is new to our school or will be moving into a new class.
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Government update for parents
Mon 04 May 2020What resources are available for parents with children under 5 to help support their children’s early learning at home?
For parents with children under 5 years old who have not yet started school, the Department for Education’s Hungry Little Minds campaign features tips and practical activities that you can do at home with children to support their early learning. There are many simple ways to help your children learn and it does not have to feel like ‘learning’.
Having everyday conversations, make-believe play and reading together all make a big difference to your child’s development. You can find more ideas and content from the BBC’s Tiny Happy People campaign and the National Literacy Trust’s Family Zone. The Department for Education has published further guidance on how to help children aged 2 to 4 to learn at home during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
What advice is available to parents with children aged 4 to 11, to help them support their children’s education at home?
We have published guidance for parents of primary school children regarding supporting the continuation of education at home. This includes advice and guidance around:
- structuring the day
- use of digital devices
- language development
- reading and writing
- numeracy
- information tailored to each age group
- information for those with children reaching the end of primary school
This guidance is designed to complement support and advice provided by schools and teachers. Engaging with your child’s learning will be helpful in their continued educational development. For example, something as simple as talking to them during the day about what they are doing for school, or about anything around the home, enhances learning.
There is too much pressure on broadband connections in my area - how can my child do online learning?
The government is having regular calls with the major fixed and mobile operators, and with Ofcom, to monitor the situation and ensure that any problems on the networks are rapidly addressed and rectified.
We fully understand the importance of having reliable internet connectivity, particularly at this time, so that people can work from home wherever possible and access critical public services online, including health information.
Is my child at additional risk while spending more time online?
With children spending more time online to do schoolwork and other activities, there could be an additional risk. This is why it is more important than ever that children, parents and carers know how to stay safe online.
It is important that parents and carers talk to their children about online safety, show an interest in what they are doing online and ask what they like and dislike about the apps and services they use. Discuss age appropriate ‘ground rules’ like how much time they spend online doing different things and what games and apps are appropriate to use. Also consider setting up and reviewing age appropriate parental controls. Setting parental controls can be a quick and effective tool to help protect children online.
Where can I go to get support to help keep my child safe online?
There is support available to keep your child safe online. You can access further information on keeping children safe online.
Here are some useful links to help parents and carers.
- Thinkuknow provides advice from the National Crime Agency (NCA) to stay safe online
- to help families manage during this time, the NCA has launched Thinkuknow: home activity packs, a set of fun, engaging activities based on Thinkuknow cartoons, films, games, and advice articles
- a new activity sheet for each age group will be published on the Thinkuknow website every 2 weeks while schools are closed - these activities offer a great opportunity to help you keep up positive, supportive conversations about online safety in your home
- Parent Info is a collaboration between Parentzone and the NCA providing support and guidance for parents from leading experts and organisations
- Childnet provides a tool kit to support parents and carers of children of any age to start discussions about their online life, to set boundaries around online behaviour and technology use, and to find out where to get more help and support
- Internet Matters provides age-specific online safety checklists, guides on how to set parental controls on a range of devices and a host of practical tips to help children get the most out of their digital world
- LGfL provides support for parents and carers to keep their children safe online, including 6 top tips to keep primary aged children safe online
- Net Aware provides support for parents and carers from the NSPCC, providing a guide to social networks, apps and games
- Let’s Talk About It provides support for parents and carers to keep children safe from online radicalisation
- UK Safer Internet Centre provides tips, advice, guides and resources to help keep children safe online, including parental controls offered by home internet providers and safety tools on social networks and other online services
- staying safe online provides government guidance offering advice on parental controls, fact-checking information, communicating with family and friends while social distancing is in place and taking regular breaks
What support is available to parents to help them maintain their family’s wellbeing while their children are at home?
Social connections, alongside exercise, sleep, diet and routine, are important protective factors for mental health. Materials to promote and support mental wellbeing are included in the list of online resources we have published to help children to learn at home. Public Health England’s Rise Above platform supports young people. The Department of Health and Social Care is providing £5 million of additional funding to support mental health charities to increase their provision for adults and children at this time.
Social isolation, reduced exercise and bereavement may affect children’s wellbeing in this period. Resources to promote and support children and young people’s mental wellbeing include:
- MindEd educational resources for adults about children and young people’s mental health which is relevant for parents and carers as well as volunteers, teachers, and other professionals working with children
- Every Mind Matters platform which supports looking after your own and other’s mental health
- guidance on looking after wellbeing and mental health during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
- guidance on supporting children’s wellbeing and mental health
All NHS mental health trusts are setting up 24/7 helplines and seeking to use digital and virtual channels to continue delivering support during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
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Home Learning Pages
Sat 25 Apr 2020Please keep checking the Home Learning section on the website for activities and home learning links and advice for parents and pupils. This can be found in the Children's Area tab along the top tool bar.
You are doing a fantastic job with your home learning and staff are working really hard to find you lots of activities for you to do at home to keep you all learning through your time away from school.
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New Home Learning Hub Academy
Mon 20 Apr 2020As set out by the Government in yesterdays briefing a new National Academy has been set up to aid with online learning during the Coronavirus outbreak.
Launch of the Oak National Academy online classroom and resource hub
The sector-led Oak National Academy has today launched its online classroom and resource hub. The Academy offers 180 video lessons each week for schools to use, across a broad range of subjects. The lessons cover children in Reception through to Year 10 and are free to use by both teachers and young people.
The Oak National Academy can be accessed here:
The BBC has always been an excellent learning resource and has re-vamped its education package. Have a look for yourselves following the link below.
Launch of BBC Bitesize
The BBC has today launched an education package across TV and online, featuring celebrities and teachers, helping to keep children learning at home and supporting parents.
BBC Bitesize can be accessed here:
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Scam emails
Tue 31 Mar 2020During the weekend, an article published which highlighted a recent scam that is targeting parents with school aged children advising them that a change in circumstances may make them eligible for free school meals.
The scam emails sent to parents and carers claim to help support the funding of free meals while schools are closed but the DfE has said the emails are part of a scam.
A spokesperson for the DfE said: “We have been informed some parents have received an email stating: ‘As schools will be closing, if you’re entitled to free school meals, please send your bank details and we’ll make sure you’re supported’.
“This is a scam email - do not respond and delete immediately.”
Please do not respond to this email and if you have any questions around eligibility for free school meals, please contact the school.
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A book for worried children
Mon 23 Mar 2020
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******* Important information regarding Key workers and Free School Meals *******
Fri 20 Mar 2020Headteacher: Mrs J Rowley BSc (Hons.) QTS, PGCE, N.P.Q.H.
St. Paul’s CE Primary School
Heathside Grove
Walkden
Manchester
M28 3NZ Tel: 0161 790 8915
Website: www.stpaulsce.co.uk Email: stpaulsheathside.ceprimaryschool@salford.gov.uk
Friday 20th March 2020
Dear Parent / Carer
Important information regarding pupil attendance – from Monday 23 March 2020
Firstly, thank you for the very supportive approach that you have taken during these exceptionally challenging times. We all need to do what we can to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus. That is why the government has given clear guidance on self-isolation, household isolation and social distancing. The most recent scientific advice on how to further limit the spread of COVID-19 is clear. If children can now stay safely at home, they should, to limit the chance of the virus spreading.
It is important to underline that schools and colleges 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 our society.
Whilst we are formally closed from Monday 23 March onwards, we will continue to support your child, both academically and pastorally and our school remains at the heart of our community.
Special opening from Monday 23 March for the children of key workers and those entitled to specialist support from 8.00am until 4.30pm (in the first instance). There will be no after-school Bright Stars wrap around care provision during this period.
Key workers
At midnight, the government published a list of those parent /carers who are entitled to send their child to school. The link below provides specific details.
The list includes the following: Health and Social care; education and childcare; key public services; local and national government; food and other necessary good; public safety and security; transport; utilities; communication and financial services.
We are grateful to all of these key workers who are looking after us all and keeping our essential services going. In return, our superb staff team are also going to ‘step up to the plate’ and provide provision for your child / children. It is critical to note, however, that this provision should only be taken up if there are no other alternatives (see guidance). The government has asked parents/carers to keep their children at home, wherever possible, and for schools to remain open only for children who absolutely need to attend:
Should you need to take up this provision, please contact us either today (Friday 20th March) or by Monday 23rd March. (stpaulsheathside.ceprimaryschool@salford.gov.uk 0161 790 8915/ 0161 921 1211).
Specialist Support Provision
Those children with safeguarding and welfare needs, including those children on child in need plans, on child protection plans, ‘looked after’ children, young carers, disabled children and those with Education Health and Care plans are also able to attend school and therefore school will be in touch with an offer of a place.
Free School Meals
All pupils whose parents/carers have registered to receive Free School Meals and have been in receipt of this at school will receive a text message. Pupils who are invited into school to attend the specialist provision will receive a Free School Meal as normal in school. However if you are not taking up the offer of a school place but you would still like to pick up a packed lunch at lunchtime then please also let us know.
Pupils who aren’t offered a place and therefore won’t be in school but who are eligible for a Free School Meal will be invited to pick up a ‘grab bag’ packed lunch from school to take home at lunchtime at 12.30pm. This will be the arrangement for at least the first few days next week until the Government launch its voucher scheme. Once this scheme is in place we envisage that all parents of pupils who have the Free School Meal entitlement will receive a meal voucher one way or another.
In order that we don’t waste valuable food at this critical time, it is crucial for the school that you let us know if you want to take up the offer or not of collecting a packed lunch at lunchtime.
St. Paul’s C of E School (Heathside Grove) will be closed to the majority of students but we are in no way closed in terms of our ongoing care, support and kindness.
Thank you for your continuing support.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs. J Rowley
Headteacher
St. Paul's C.E. Primary School
Heathside Grove
Walkden
