In line with Government and Public Health England guidance, schools as providers of education will be closed ‘for the foreseeable future’ from Friday 20th March. From Monday 23rd March, we are being asked to only open for vulnerable pupils and children whose parents and carers are key workers. The Secretary of State is clear: This is an entirely different role for schools and school staff. Contact has been made with these families and we will be providing care for identified pupils between the hours of 8:50am and 3:15pm.
Children should enter school and be collected from the main entrance on Wyndcliff Road.
The most recent scientific advice on how to further limit the spread of COVID-19 is clear: If it is at all possible for children to be at home, then they should be.
School events
All school events this side of the Easter holiday, including parents’ evening, are regrettably put on hold. We hope to be able to re-arrange them for a later date in the summer term.
What do I do if I receieve free school meals?
We have been working with the Local Authority to provide support for children who receive free school meals. We are working with an online company called Wonde who work with most major supermarkets in providing e-vouchers. This is how the system will work:
Please look out for further communication from Sherington and Wonde regarding the establishing of this process.
If you have any difficulties using this service please contact the school office.
Home Learning
Whilst we are going through turbulent times, we have approached this challenge with optimism and creativity. We are aiming to provide structure and distance learning for all year groups from Nursery to year 6 through daily emails from class teachers. These emails will come via Teachers 2 Parents so please look out for them. At 9:30am you will receive an email outlining a maths, English and PE workout for each day. At a time when most of us will be leading very sedentary lives, we believe it vital for our pupils to get daily exercise. In addition, there will be one other subject focus per day, e.g. science on Monday, history on Tuesday and so on. For younger children, the activities will be largely practical. For older pupils, much of this distance learning will be online, although the homework resource booklet will also be used. An extended writing task will be set each Monday for submission the following Monday. Teachers will provide toolkits and resources to support the writing task. In all subjects, the amount of adult intervention required will vary according to the task and age of the child. I’ll be providing more information about how you can send in your pieces of writing, who you should contact etc. in my letters next week.
Our teachers have been excited to devise new ways of teaching and learning for our pupils; much thought has gone into the process and planning. We are fortunate to have a dedicated group of teachers who put the child at the centre of all they do. In order to replicate the structure of a school day for our pupils, I will be sending out an email at 9am each morning in place of an assembly. Our aim is to encourage positive learning and studying habits in our pupils, helping to foster their love of learning, fire their curiosity and develop self-regulation. This letter is to re-assure you that out of sight is definitely not out of mind. We are here for you and your children in these troubling times and will do our utmost to provide continuity and love through our daily interactions with you – albeit remotely. Please click here to see Miss Burnell’s full letter dated Friday 20th March.
If you need any advice or support, please contact the school office.
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Coronavirus (COVID-19) update and advice
In line with guidance, if you live with others and you or one of them have symptoms of coronavirus (anyone with a new and persistent cough, and/or a high temperature), then all household members must stay at home (self-isolate and stay away from school) and not leave the house for 14 days. The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill.
Further information from the government can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-people-with-confirmed-or-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection.
Please call NHS 111 if your symptoms worsen. If you have a concern about your child’s health or need further information, you can also find advice from Department of Health and Public Health England here.
Should there be any further guidance issued, we will update you. Please look out for texts and emails from us.
Sound advice for all, which we are following at school, is the use of tissues for any cough or sneeze and the responsible disposable of tissues afterwards. ‘Bin it’. Reception and KS1 pupils are washing hands before lunch. KS2 are being provided with hand sanitizer in the hall, which is also available in all classrooms.
The helpline for questions about COVID-19 related to education:
Phone: 0800 046 8687
Email: DfE.coronavirushelpline@education.gov.uk
Opening hours: 8am to 6pm (Mon to Fri)