Latest News | Hatherleigh Community Primary School

Join Jess for her latest dance workshops.

Wed 24 Jun 2020

Hello everyone!

Simply click the links below to access this week's links! We are going to the final continent in dance... but which one is left?! Lots of fun dances and songs to do this week. In French I'm looking forward to receiving your French sentences to mark...!

For all year groups:

Fabulous French - https://youtu.be/XXH-8HaxkaY

Key Stage 1:

Dance Warm Up - https://youtu.be/VTK0Pxr6lB4

NEW Session - https://youtu.be/o5DfMeYX1_k

Key Stage 2:

Dance Warm Up - https://youtu.be/rFx0lqFC3Ms

NEW Session - https://youtu.be/oIeSrfNeK-A

Very best wishes, Miss Squire

Y2-Y5 return to school offer

Tue 23 Jun 2020

Tuesday 23rd June 2020

Y2 - Y5 return to school

Dear Parent/Carer

Following the Government's announcement to withdraw the plan for all children to return to school for the last month of the Summer term I would like to offer children in Y2 - Y5, including those currently attending as vulnerable or key worker children, the opportunity to attend school for at least one day in July before the end of the Summer term.

All children who would like to attend will be able to come into school for at least one day and depending on the number of children taking up this offer it may be two days. The aim is to give children the opportunity to be with their friends and peers, experience our COVID-19 social distancing measures and where possible, depending on staffing, to be with their current teacher or teacher for the next school year.

Government restrictions dictate that class sizes remain at no more than 15 so children will not be with their whole class but split into two groups, but again this will depend on the number of children who take up the offer.

Once numbers are confirmed I will send out specific details including which date(s) your child will attend. Unfortunately, school transport will not be available for these one off days and parents/carers will need to make their own arrangements.

If you would like your child to attend please email the Admin team admin@hatherleigh-pri.devon.sch.uk with the subject Y2-Y5 return to school offer and your child’s full name and class by Friday 26th June, if you do not respond by this date I will assume you do not wish for your child to attend.

If you have any questions or require further information, do not hesitate to contact school.

Yours sincerely

Alan Monger

Headteacher

Letter from Dawn Stabb - Head of Education & Learning

Wed 17 Jun 2020

17 June 2020

Dear Parents and Carers,

It is a few weeks since I wrote to you to explain the Devon response to the Government’s plans for a wider return to school. Much has changed since then, and I thought an update on the current situation might be helpful.

In planning the return, schools and parents acted with great care, recognising the importance of school for children, educationally and socially, while also making sure that it was as safe as possible for each child to return. 98% of Devon schools are now open and where possible, providing a wider offer to pupils in Early Years, Reception, Year 1 or Year 6. We have double the number of children attending school compared to national, which perhaps isn’t so surprising because our rate of infection in the South West, and particularly here in Devon, is much lower than national.

The number of key worker and vulnerable children attending school has also risen. In many schools, twice as many as before half term and in some, three times more.

The offer available in each school is different as it is based on their risk assessment and the needs of the community they serve. For example, if there are a lot of parents who are key workers it may not be possible for a school to open to more children or additional year groups. For our special schools where many of the children are vulnerable, risk assessments also take account of the individual needs of each child and how these can be managed safely alongside others.

Across Devon, the return to school has gone very well, children and families have been happy and so have staff. In fact, the return has been such a success that Devon schools are now facing a different issue.

Class sizes in schools have been halved, in line with national government requirements with a maximum of 15 pupils in each group: these groups are known as bubbles. The bubbles should be kept apart. Schools’ risk assessments have determined the maximum number of bubbles in the school. Your child’s school will have shared with you what this will be like in your school.

As more pupils return, some schools may soon be in a position where they are no longer able to offer places to every child who wants one. Schools will have reached the limits of the physical space available for the bubbles to be maintained safely. Some schools will have reached their maximum staffing capacity. The Government’s priority places vulnerable children and those of keyworkers at the top. It is possible that some schools could reach capacity with these children alone and no longer be able to make an offer to wider year groups.

We appreciate that this might be frustrating for some families, and potentially very difficult for some. If you need support, talk first to your school to explain the circumstances. We want to do everything we can to support families during what is an extraordinarily challenging time for everyone.

Devon’s schools will continue to do everything possible to meet parents’ need, government guidelines and public health requirements. Safety will always be the top priority. We will continue to work with schools to help find solutions, but we cannot ask schools to take additional children if it is unsafe for them to do so.

I have received enquiries from parents about wearing face coverings on school transport and thought this letter was a good opportunity to let you know that, if your child travels:

• on school transport provided by Devon County Council, Academy Trusts or schools, even if they are over 11, they are not required to wear face coverings. This is because social distancing measures have been put in place wherever possible and additional cleaning has been put in place following each journey. However, no one will be prevented from wearing a face covering if parents feel their child can use it safely.

• on public transport (including that paid for by DCC) young people should follow the latest government guidelines which can be found here. Guidance published on 15.6.20 stated that children under the age of 11 do not need to wear a face covering, neither do those with who have a physical or mental health impairment or a disability that means they cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering.

The Government has provided helpful information for parents on their website which includes a comprehensive Frequently Asked Questions section.

The rapid changes and high degree of uncertainty we are living with can make for a very anxious time for adults and children. Anxiety itself is normal and only becomes a problem when it gets in the way of everyday life. Some children are happy to talk about their worries whilst others find it more difficult and may clam up. There are helpful resources available to support parents and their children on line but I think this short piece with practical advice is particularly helpful as children return to school. For children who have EHCPs, schools and other involved professionals are working with families to look at how the needs in the plan will be met. More information can be found on the DIAS website: Devon Independent and Advice Support. Young people aged 11-19 can also text a Devon School Nurse on 07520 631 722 for confidential information, advice or support.

Please don’t hesitate to talk to your school or any other professional about any concerns you may have.

With very best wishes,

Yours sincerely,

Dawn Stabb Head of Education & Learning

Join Jess for her latest dance workshops.

Wed 17 Jun 2020

Hello everyone!

Miss Squire here with your latest links! Just click the links below to access the workshops.

If you've not yet had a chance to try them - give it a go! They are fun and easy to do, and a great way to keep fit and healthy. All the links are still live from previous weeks too.

We love hearing how you're getting on, so do let us know and send in any clips or photos to school if you're at home.

Any technical problems or suggestions about accessing the videos, please get hold of the school too!

Key Stage 1

Dance Warm Up: https://youtu.be/VTK0Pxr6lB4

NEW session: https://youtu.be/C9pjR_ynUvI

Key Stage 2

Dance Warm Up: https://youtu.be/rFx0lqFC3Ms

NEW session: https://youtu.be/lg4cYvyT3O8

French

NEW French Session: https://youtu.be/Pgu9QjgAAoM

Best wishes,

Miss Squire

Summer reading challenge from Okehampton library

Wed 17 Jun 2020

Hi

The 2020 Summer Reading Challenge is here!

The Summer Reading Challenge, presented by The Reading Agency and funded by Arts Council England, encourages children aged 4 to 11 to set themselves a reading challenge to help prevent the summer reading ‘dip’.

Each year the Challenge, delivered through public libraries, motivates over 700,000 children to keep reading to build their skills and conﬁdence. Last year more than 14,000 children across Devon and Torbay took part.

With the disruption caused by COVID-19 and the impact of social distancing on schools and public libraries, the 2020 Challenge will launch as a digital activity to keep children reading over the summer and support parents and carers with children already at home. The Challenge will run from June to September.

This year, Silly Squad, the Summer Reading Challenge 2020, celebrates funny books, happiness and laughter and features bespoke artwork from award-winning children’s author and illustrator Laura Ellen Anderson (Amelia Fang; Evil Emperor Penguin; I Don’t Want Curly Hair). Children taking part in the Challenge will join the Silly Squad, an adventurous team of animals who love to have a laugh and get stuck in to all different kinds of funny books!

The digital Challenge is free to access, featuring games, quizzes and digital and downloadable activities to incentivise and encourage children and their families to take part in reading-related activities at home. Although our library buildings are closed we have boosted the number of children's books available to borrow via our e-lending platforms which can be accessed from our Devon Libraries and Torbay Libraries websites. From July we will also be hosting lots of Silly Squad events and activities on our Facebook pages, so look out for those!

There is a special SCHOOL ZONE on the Silly Squad website with lots of resources.

Sign up by clicking the link below.

https://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/

Okehampton library will be hosting lots of Silly Squad digital events throughout the summer.

Many thanks for your help

Carole Cornwall
Library Supervisor

Join Jess for her latest dance workshops.

Wed 10 Jun 2020

Hello everyone!

Miss Squire here - I hope you are all having a wonderful week so far. Keeping happy and healthy is so important - and dancing is a fun way to do so in limited space.

I hope you’re making progress with the routines and enjoying our travel through dance around the world and learning a new language?

KS1 Dance Warm Up: https://youtu.be/VTK0Pxr6lB4

NEW Dance Session: https://youtu.be/U0WjPJDGxEI

KS2 Dance Warm Up: https://youtu.be/rFx0lqFC3Ms

NEW Dance Session: https://youtu.be/6gAipDmZ3jY

Fabulous French: https://youtu.be/LKEH_dCObYM

Very best wishes, Miss Squire

Information regarding the wider return of children to school.

Wed 10 Jun 2020

Wednesday 10th June 2020

Dear Parent/Carer

Following the Government's announcement yesterday concerning the withdrawal of the plan for all children to return to school for the last month of the Summer term I would like to confirm that the school is regrettably not in a position to offer wider opening to children in Y2 - Y5.

We currently have Vulnerable and key worker, Y6 & YR children in school and are looking forward to Y1 returning on Monday, this is working well but Government COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines mean the school is working at capacity for both accommodation and staffing and will not allow any further return of children from Y2 - Y5.

I appreciate this is very worrying for children and parents/carers in these classes and I am hoping the Government will be sending out further information regarding arrangements for the return of all children soon. Home learning will continue to be planned for all children for the remainder of the Summer term and I will be regularly reviewing the situation to ensure the school is meeting the needs of all children as best we can.

If you have any questions or require further information, do not hesitate to phone school or use the teacher@ email address.

Once again, thank you for your patience, understanding and cooperation during this challenging and uncertain time.

Stay safe and well

Alan Monger

Headteacher

Join Jess for her latest dance workshops.

Wed 03 Jun 2020

Hello everyone!

Miss Squire here with this week’s links. I hope you had a lovely half-term and are ready to get back to it. There are some great routines to try this week and some new vocabulary to learn in French. Keeping active, happy and healthy is so important so do these as many times as you like!

All year groups:

Fabulous French: https://youtu.be/uYlQMPH_OvE

Key Stage 1:

Dance warm up: https://youtu.be/VTK0Pxr6lB4

New dance session: https://youtu.be/nsqYEOUMieg

Key Stage 2:

Dance warm up: https://youtu.be/rFx0lqFC3Ms

New dance session: https://youtu.be/EAZPXlzvFq0

Good luck and enjoy! Miss Squire

Information for children returning to school

Tue 02 Jun 2020

Monday 1^st June 2020

Dear Parent/Carer

Welcome back to the second half of the summer term, I hope you and your family had a lovely break and enjoyed the sunshine.

From Wednesday 3^rd June Y6, YR & Y1 will be returning to school alongside our vulnerable and key worker children, the arrangements for their return are confirmed as follows.

	Group/Class	Arrival time	Departure	Classroom	Teacher
From 1^st June	Vulnerable and key worker children	0840	1520	Y2	Mrs Baker
From 3^rd June	Year 6 A	0850	1430	Y6	Mr Lea Mr Pearson
From 3^rd June	Year 6 B	0900	1440	Y3 & Rainbow room	Mr Lea Mr Pearson
From 8^th June	Reception	0910	1450	Reception	Mrs Newby Mrs Jacob Mrs Gibb
From 15^th June	Year 1	0920	1500	Y1	Mrs Fawcett Mrs King Mrs Jacob

On arrival to school and for departure (from Wednesday 3^rd June) all children will be supervised by staff on the playground and will be asked to line up using social distancing spots. Please do not come on to the playground and be mindful of social distancing at all times. Children using the school bus will arrive and depart at the usual bus times and siblings may arrive and depart at the same time, this being the time of the oldest sibling. Vulnerable and key worker children will join their respective year groups when that year group returns to school.

When in class children will have their own dedicated desk with pencils, pens ruler etc, however, if your child would like to bring in their own pencil case they will be very welcome.

Each class will have separate playtimes/play areas and lunch will be eaten in class. Children will need to bring in a packed lunch or order a lunch from Devon Norse, please see the website for details.

Whilst in school children will wash their hands on a regular basis, have dedicated toilets for their class, follow a one-way system around school and will be asked to social distance as much as is practically possible within a school environment.

Children will need to wear school uniform, have a water bottle and a sun hat.

If you need to come to the school office, please phone in advance, only one person will be admitted at a time and you will be asked to wait outside observing social distancing.

In order to minimise the risk to both parents/carers and staff, we have decided that we will not be accepting cash into school. Payments should be made using a credit or debit card via the School Gateway. Should you be unable to make card payments, we will issue you with a voucher which can then be used at the Paypoint in Co-op to enable you to make payment.

We will also be looking at reducing the paperwork going between school and home and, therefore, if you purchase dinner tickets online, these will be kept at school and allocated to your child on a daily basis.

If you have any questions regarding payments to school, please contact the Admin team. admin@hatherleigh-pri.devon.sch.uk

For those children not returning to school, home learning will continue to be set every week for the remainder of the summer term.

Information regarding the return of Y2, Y3, Y4 & Y5 children will be communicated to you as the school receives further information and updates from the Government.

If you have any questions or require further information, please view the documents sent out before the half term break, phone school or use the teacher@ email address.

Once again, thank you for your support, understanding and cooperation during this challenging and uncertain time.

Stay safe and well

Alan Monger

Headteacher