Message from Mrs. Castell

Dear Parents,

I hope you are all keeping well. We have spent this week working through further guidance from the government and the local authority. Our governing body meets next Wednesday to discuss and ratify our plans, after which I will write to you (in great detail!) with our proposal for how September will work. We will also send you further information about your child’s transition to the next academic year. Please be assured that our approach to schooling in September will take into account the length of time that children have been away from school and that children and families may be concerned about their return. Our focus will be on wellbeing and ensuring that children are ready to develop their learning. As you know, full attendance will be expected in September, which includes no authorisation for holidays in term-time. Thank you for the many calls and emails of support we have received from families throughout this time, it really does mean a lot.

You will see on the right of this page (or further down if you’re on your phone) that we have added a Community Links section to our website, to promote news from outside organisations which may be of interest. Please have a look, as there is a useful bulletin from Essex Child and Family Wellbeing Service, Essex Fire & Rescue’s summer safety programme, details of Essex Libraries’ summer reading challenge and a colouring activity to celebrate the 72nd birthday of the NHS. Can we also remind you of a few ways you can raise money for our school at no additional cost: by shopping at the Co-op with your membership card; through online purchases made via Easyfundraising and now by using My Nametags to order uniform labels or personalised stickers for next year. Thank you so much to WISPA for setting this up for us.

Finally, can I remind you of the classes for next year:

Foundation Stage children can already login to Tapestry to watch introductory videos from the Year 1 teachers. Year 1 children will receive similar videos from the Year 2 teachers next week. As we approach the last full week of the strangest academic year that any of us have ever experienced, it will be so sad not to say goodbye to all our Year 2 families in person, but we look forward to the virtual assemblies for Year 2 on Thursday and the first of their socially distanced picnics to celebrate their time with us.

Enjoy the sunshine this weekend and stay safe.

Helen Castell