Earlsdon Primary School
Latest News
This is where you will find all of the information that will keep you up to date with our latest events!
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Letter from Mrs Forde
Thu 16 Jul 2020Dear Parents/ Carers
We are planning to be fully opened in September and are looking forward to welcoming the children into their new year groups. This will mean important changes to the school day. It will also mean that we need children, staff and parents to act in a very socially responsible manner to protect our community. Government guidance advocates the reopening of schools but also stresses that minimising the contact between children will offer public health benefits and reduce the network of possible direct transmission. When the children return to school in September, they will be working within class and year group ‘bubbles’. As such, we will need to limit interaction between year groups and prevent the sharing of classrooms and social spaces.
Transition
School will look and feel very different for the children. They will be working in new learning environments and there will be new expectations, as they will have access to limited areas of school, limited resources and short periods outdoors in a zoned area of the playground. To support the children’s transition into their new year groups, we will be welcoming them back in smaller groups during the first few days in September. This will provide the opportunity for the children to get to know their new teacher and learn about the new rules and routines, as well as supporting their emotional needs. On Wednesday 2nd and Thursday 3rd September, the children will return to school in groups of fifteen before returning as a whole class on Friday 4th September. You will receive a further email to inform you of the specific transition arrangements for your child.
Start and end of the school day
In line with the latest government guidance, we will be staggering the start and finish times as this will help keep groups of children apart as they arrive and leave the premises. The approach to the drop off area will be marked to support social distancing. The children will enter school through the Y1 door where they will then follow the one-way system to their classroom. (The Year 2 children will enter school through the blue door at the front of the building.)
Parents must not enter the school building. Once you have dropped off your son/ daughter you will be asked to follow a one-way system around the school building, across the playground and then exit through the car park.
At the end of the day collection will also be staggered to support social distancing as outlined below:
Year 1 – Year 4
Parents should enter school through the main gate and approach the playground following the social distancing line markings. The children will be waiting in a socially distanced space on the playground. Please be as prompt as possible so we can ensure that all of the children are safely collected and to help us keep groups of children apart.
Year 5 & Year 6
To ensure that we are able to manage these very busy points within the school day as safely as possible, we would like to ask parents of year 5 and year 6 children not to enter the school site, but to meet their child in an agreed place close to the school building. The children will be escorted to the car park gate at the end of the school day and they will then walk to the agreed place to meet their adult.
Start and finish times are outlined below:
Year group:
Start of the day:
End of the day:
Year 1
8.55am
3.05pm
Year 2
8.55am
3.05pm
Year 3
8.50am
3.15pm
Year 4
8.45am
3.10pm
Year 5
8.50am
3.15pm
Year 6
8.45am
3.10pm
We recognise that these changes may be challenging for some families, however we would like to thank you in advance for your support in helping maintain social distancing on the school site and prevent children mixing during these busy times of the day. We would also like to request that families arrive within their designated time- not too early or too late. If you do arrive earlier to drop off or collect your child, please wait in the local area rather than on the school site.
School office
The school office will be open but to support social distancing, parents and children should refrain from using the main school entrance and entering the school building. Where possible we would ask that parents ring/email the school as opposed to presenting in person. If you wish to return any paperwork to school, please post it in the secure black box on the wall by the main entrance.
What should my child bring to school?
All children should bring a filled water bottle to school – this should be taken home and cleaned each day. They should also bring their coat and a lunch box if required. School bags/ rucksacks will not be required at this time. The children will not be using their lockers or cloakroom areas at the beginning of the new school year, so please help us to ensure that classrooms are as clutter free as possible by sending less equipment into school with your child. Routines will be regularly reviewed and we will contact you when changes are made.
Lunches
The school kitchen will be preparing lunch, which the children will collect from the canteen and eat in their classroom. We will assume that all of the Key Stage 1 children will have a school lunch, unless you inform us otherwise. If your child is in Key Stage 2, please email the office if you would like to order a school meal. If your child brings a packed lunch, please support us to maintain social distancing by ensuring your son/ daughter can independently open all of the items within their lunch box.
Behaviour
Following guidance, we have created an addendum to our behaviour policy that stresses the importance of following rules to maintain the safety of all children and adults. A copy of this is available on our website.
School uniform
We expect children to wear their school uniform and plain black school shoes. Please ensure that all items are clearly labelled. Sweatshirts and cardigans are regularly taken off and left around the school site - they can only be returned to the children if they are clearly labelled. You will receive further information about P.E kits in September.
If your child becomes unwell
If your child shows any of the key coronavirus symptoms, they must not attend school and parents should ensure that they are tested. If the outcome of the test is positive, the school must be informed.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your understanding and flexibility. We recognise that there are many new routines for families to adapt to, but we would also like to stress that precise details might change in response to situations that arise in school and in the community.
In addition to this information, we have attached a letter for parents from the Local Authority.
We look forward to seeing you all in September.
With best wishes
Mrs R Forde
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Letter from our LEA
Thu 16 Jul 2020Dear Parents and Carers
Returning to school in September 2020
Over the past few months the circumstances around coronavirus (COVID-19) has been a challenge for everyone: children, young people, parents/carers and school staff. Normal life has been disrupted in a way that most people have never experienced before. There are still many challenges ahead, but we are slowly starting to see some parts of life return to some normality.
The number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases has reduced significantly and so the government has now asked all schools to plan for all children and young people, in all year groups, to return to school from the beginning of the autumn term and so we are planning for schools to open at the start of September. Please note, that the government will make a final decision on this on 11th August.
The safety, wellbeing and educational experience for your child is our highest priority and so schools are making detailed plans for welcoming the children back into their environment for September.
Outbreak planning
As part of this planning, Coventry has a city-wide approach for COVID-19 and this includes a clear plan for what happens if an individual child is showing COVID-19 symptoms, or is tested positive, and what happens if more than one pupil in a school has COVID-19 symptoms or is tested as positive.
This planning also sets out specific steps of what would happen if there was an outbreak within a geographical area of Coventry or if there was a wider outbreak across Coventry. The commitment from our schools and from Coventry City Council is that if these circumstances were to arise, that there would be clear communication with you about your child’s attendance at school.
Your role as a parent - guidance
The government has issued guidance for parents and carers, and so please take a few minutes to read this through: What parents and carers need to know about early years providers, schools and colleges in the autumn term
Your role as a parent – self - responsibility
As we move to re-opening of schools in September, we must consider the safety of parents as well as children.
Schools will do all that they can to take responsibility for health and safety measures for the children in their care. Parents must help schools by taking responsibility for their own health and safety.
We respectfully expect you to take responsibility for yourself at the school gates by social distancing and observing site specific rules.
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Reading over the holidays
Thu 16 Jul 2020This website offers lots of ideas and reading activities for your child/children.
Click on the left hand tab ' children ' if you scroll down you will find the links for the Summer Challenge and much more.
https://readingagency.org.uk/news/media/reading-together-day-schedule---highlights-announced.html
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Letter from Mrs Forde
Fri 10 Jul 2020Dear Parents/ Carers
We hope you and the children are well?
Reports and classes for next year
Hopefully by now most families have received the children's end of year report. If you haven't received them please be reassured that they are on their way.
We have sent an email this afternoon to inform parents of their child's new class teacher and the children should have already received a Microsoft TEAMs invitation to meet their new teachers and find out about their learning during the new academic year.
Staffing update
We will be saying farewell to Mrs Bevan who has been teaching and supporting children at Earlsdon for 20 years and to Mrs Hull who has worked at our school as a Teaching Assistant for 15 years. Both Mrs Bevan and Mrs Hull have decided to retire and are looking forward to spending more time with their families.
Mrs Smith has made the decision to retire from her position as Deputy Headteacher, but will be continuing to work in school to support our curriculum development.
During the Autumn term, Mrs Dooley and Miss Higgs will continue to support our school improvement in their new role as Deputy Headteachers.
At the end of the school year we will also be saying farewell to Miss Bottrill who has accepted a teaching position in Italy, to Mrs O'Reilly who will be returning to teach in the English Department at a local secondary school and to Mr Brar who will also be leaving at the end of this term.
Home Learning
We have received lots of positive feedback this week and are delighted that the children continue to enjoy the range of activities planned for them and that families have appreciated the new planning format. Next week's home learning plans are available on the class pages of the website. We have invited the children to think about transition during their PSHE sessions in school and at home. The reflection PowerPoint, which will be used in school next week, is also available on the class pages
Summer holiday support
As you are aware, school will close for all children on Friday 17th July. Support is available for families during the summer holiday through Coventry's Family Hubs- please see the attached flyer. If you would like someone to talk to or to ask for help or advice the phone line is free to call. For more information please access:
www.coventry.gov.uk/familyhubs or www.coventry.gov.uk/applyearlyhelp
Coventry City Council Homepage
The main home page of Coventry City Council
www.coventry.gov.uk
We will be in touch next week with more information about the full opening of school to all children in September.
We hope you have a good weekend and that we all have the opportunity to enjoy some summer sunshine!
Best wishes
Mrs Forde
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New Kids Trail
Fri 10 Jul 2020Mr Wilson our dear friend is at it again. The SENA Kids Trail is back, this time it is based on Old McDonald. This time the farmer has lost a range of animals in the woods, not all farm animals as you will soon discover! Pop along to the woods opposite the Memorial Park to find the trail. Happy hunting!
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Our Human Rights by the children at Earlsdon Primary
Tue 07 Jul 2020The right to play
The right to make up our own mind
The right to meet with new people
The right to an education
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Coventry Early Help contact information
Tue 07 Jul 2020
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What a busy week!
Sun 05 Jul 2020What a delightful week we have had, welcoming our Year 1 children to school and having our Reception children back full time. Mrs Dooley enjoyed teaching some PSHE sessions using Teams to the Year 2, 3, 4 and 5 children and this coming week we eagerly await the arrival of our Year 6's.
You should all receive an email later this week welcoming your child the opportunity to join a Teams meeting to meet with their new class teachers.
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From Mrs Forde
Sun 05 Jul 2020Dear Parents/ Carers
We hope that you and your family remain well?
We have been thrilled to have the Reception children in full time this week, along side a group of Year 1 children and the 'priority groups'. We are looking forward to welcoming some groups of Year 6 children into school next week to start working on their transition project 'Be Awesome, Go Big!'
In addition it has been lovely to keep up to date with the learning that the children have been sharing on J2E and Mrs Dooley has thoroughly enjoyed meeting some of the children virtually this week- thank you for your support with these activities.
Home learning
You will notice that the home learning plans have changed and activities and video lessons have been organised into a structured timetable. As mentioned in previous correspondence, it is challenging to find a plan and approach that meets the needs of all children and families. We recognise that you may be juggling work commitments alongside home learning and possibly trying to meet the needs of children of different ages. With this in mind, we have included a variety of activities and used recorded video lessons which the children can access at a time that is convenient for your family. In addition there is another values reflection and some PSHE activities on this week's plan- where possible the plans and activities are also being delivered in school.
Summer holidays and the Autumn term
We received an update from the DfE this week explaining that schools are not expected to remain open for vulnerable children and children of critical workers over the summer holiday. As such school will close for all children on Friday 17th July and we will not be running a holiday club at the end of July as originally planned..
Following on from the government's announcement yesterday that schools will open fully in September, we will be working through the current guidance and future guidance to put together a plan for our school. We will provide more information over the coming weeks, but look forward to seeing everyone again at the beginning of the new school year.
Keep an eye on the latest news and gallery sections of our website for useful links and also photos of some children's home learning.
The children may also like to access the exciting activities in this link:
Wishing you a healthy and relaxing weekend.
Best wishes
Mrs Forde
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The F I N A L chapter
Wed 01 Jul 2020Visit J2E to find Mrs Forde reading the final chapter of The Twits.
It has taken 101 days - but we have finished it. Thank you to all the staff for reading the chapters and a huge thank you to our pupils for watching and seeing those familiar faces.
