Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.

• The Book of Hopes

  Mon 27 Apr 2020 Mr Duke

  Hi everyone

  The Literacy Trust have today published online a book written and illustrated by so many brilliant authors and illustrators. It is full of short stories of hope. There's plenty of humour in there. 

  I HOPE this link works. Fingers crossed. 

  https://literacytrust.org.uk/family-zone/9-12/book-hopes/

• Covid-19 Update

  Sun 19 Apr 2020 Mr Duke

  Hello everyone - 

  First of all, thank you for all that you are doing to Stay Safe, Protect the NHS and Save Lives. I have been overwhelmed by the brilliance of the children who have been coming into school over the last four weeks and, in turn, been so proud of the staff who have been on the rota to come in and support. I could not be prouder. I do hope that the way in which we value people who work for the NHS and other key workers continues onwards after this crisis. Keep clapping for them every Thursday. 

   

  I appreciate fully the difficult position you are all in and the pressures we are all under. On behalf of everyone at the school let me say that we are thinking of you and can't wait to see you again. 

   

  It is clear after the Secretary of State for Education's speech today (19th April) and despite relentless speculation, there is no clear date for a full return to school. Therefore, each teacher has provided some learning opportunities under the Class Pages of the website and I too will be continuing to add to the Illustration2Creation section. This will continue until we return. 

   

  Can I also point you in the direction of the BBC Bitesize (https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize) website. This has had much press over the last few days and I believe it will be a very useful addition to home learning. On a weekly basis, brand new lessons will appear for children in a range of subjects. Children can create an account to suit their needs and create their own curriculum each day by choosing the subjects they wish to learn.

   

  I also know Oak National Academy are providing 180 one hour lessons per week to be used from EYFS to Year 10 which may be useful. I will let you know my thoughts on this provision as soon as I can. 

   

  For those families still awaiting the DfE's vouchers via Edenred, we are doing all we can to move things forward but you will be aware that the slow speed of this system is a national not just a regional problem. I know that doesn't help but I promise you we are in constant touch with the company to put this right. 

   

  On a regular basis I will be posting a video message on our Instagram page for the children so please do keep an eye on that. 

   

  Finally, keeping up with some learning at this time helps to provide structure to the day and reading everyday is the most useful activity. However, your time together at this time should not be dominated by the learning we set or that is provided on external sites. I don't want anyone feeling under pressure. When we return, we will do all we can to support each and every child with their learning and understanding of what is an unprecedented situation. 

   

  Stay Safe everyone. We miss you. 

  Mr Duke

   

• Useful YouTube channel

  Wed 15 Apr 2020 Mr Duke

  One of my favourite teachers on social media is Mrs Darlington. She has started a YouTube channel sharing lots of step-by-step art ideas which can be done at home. If you ask your parents or grandparents who Tony Hart is, that might give you an idea of the kind of thing she does. Without Morph unfortunately!

  Have a go! 

  

• Hope in a difficult time

  Thu 09 Apr 2020 Mr Duke

  Easter is such a hopeful time of year and this year we need that hope more than any other.

   

  It is a time when we appreciate the new life of spring and I'm sure I'm not alone in appreciating the sights and sounds of nature which seem amplified as we spend more time at home. I don't think I've ever heard birdsong like it and I have spent some time in the garden just listening. Just listening. I don't think I ever do that. Perhaps, when we are back to some form of normality, I should spend more time listening and appreciating the world around. 

   

  It is a time when we think about the resurrection of Jesus which provides us with hope for brighter days ahead. The resurrection occurred on the third day after his burial following his crucifixion by the Romans at Calvary. God the Father raised Jesus from the dead and for Christians it is the most important Christian festival, and the one celebrated with the greatest joy. We may understandably find joy more difficult to find this year, but as the children open their Easter eggs do reflect on how each one symbolises the opening of Heaven with the gift of eternal life for those who believe in Him. 

   

  Many members of our school community will be experiencing hardship and emotions which will continue to test us over the coming days and weeks but we hope you can all find hope during this most difficult and stressful time.

   

  We are in this together. We miss you. Please Stay Safe.  

   

  I am the Resurrection and the Life. 

  He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live. 

  And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. 

  John 11:25-26

   

• Free School Meals

  Thu 09 Apr 2020 Mr Duke

  I wanted to express my thanks this morning.

  Firstly, to everyone who has received or is due to receive vouchers through the government's Free School Meal voucher scheme. Like many Headteachers, I do believe Michael Gove made an error last week in saying that these would be available during the Easter holiday. Clearly the government could not go back on this so they are now playing catch up to ensure families rightly receive what they should. We therefore require your patience as they face a huge backlog in people expecting the vouchers to appear in their inbox. I know through talking to many Heads across the country that the majority of schools are in the same boat. I assure you we are doing all we can to get them to you. 

   

  My second thanks is to Miss Miller, who I know is working with you to ensure any issues are dealt with effectively. She will continue to do all she can to help during this time and it is very much appreciated. 

   

  StaySafe everyone. We miss you. 

• Easter

  Thu 09 Apr 2020 Mr Duke

  Due to the school closure we were sadly unable to participate in an Easter service this year. Mrs Lidbury has kindly sent a selection of songs for you to sing along to during this time. 

  She has also added a series of Easter themed activities for you to try which I have posted under the useful links tab. 

   

  Nothing’s too big for His power

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yopo6DvV9Z8

   

  Our God is a Great Big God

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaXPXWBcE3I

   

  Jesus is the King

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OcU0EMP5_s

   

  10, 9, 8 God is Great

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLNGMrdioDs

   

   

• #Illustration2Creation

  Fri 03 Apr 2020 Mr Duke

  These helpful ideas for children to try during school closure now have their own place under the Parent tab. Future ideas will be posted there. 

  I hope you are finding them useful. 

  Mr Duke

• Eligibility for Free School Meals

  Fri 03 Apr 2020 Mr Duke / Mrs Haynes

  Following this week's guidance from the DfE regarding Free School Meals, please look at the criteria below to see whether your family are eligible. 

  If you believe you are you will need to email the school your National Insurance number and your date of birth so that the school can apply for you.

  Details are being checked daily to support those families with changing circumstances. 

  Thank you to Mrs Haynes and Miss Miller for working on this and the voucher scheme. 

   

  Who is eligible for free school meals?

   

  Eligibility criteria for free school meals Section 512 of the Education Act 1996 places a duty on maintained schools, academies and free schools to provide free school meals to pupils of all ages that meet the criteria. 

   

  Free school meals are available to pupils in receipt of, or whose parents are in receipt of, one or more of the following benefits:

   

  Universal Credit (provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400, as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods)

   

  Income Support • Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

   

  Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

  The guarantee element of Pension Credit

   

  Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)

   

  Working Tax Credit run-on –paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit

• Mount Cook and Helmsley Residential Visits

  Wed 01 Apr 2020 Mr Duke
  Good morning everyone

   

  As you may have now realised, both of these visits have had to be cancelled.  Both the Mount Cook Centre and all Youth Hostels have closed for the foreseeable future.

   

  Mrs Patterson, Miss Miller and Mrs Haynes are working behind the scenes to recoup the payments we have made so far and liaising with all the companies involved and insurers to make sure we receive refunds from them as soon as possible.

   

  We are sad these visits will no longer go ahead and understand the children were looking forward to them immensely and of course will be hugely disappointed.

   

  Please be assured that all payments you have made to date will be refunded in full as soon as ever possible but please bear with us as we continue to work with the organisations involved.

   

  Mr Duke