Dear Parents/Carers,
I hope this message finds you all safe and well. School is beginning to feel more settled now and the children continue to enjoy learning and seeing their friends despite the weather. We hope, as the term goes on, that restrictions will be lifted further and we can move towards ‘normal’ in school.
Curriculum News:
The children in the infants have been busy tidying up the playground, painting and planting. They have been making the most of our lovely outdoor areas undertaking activities such as pond dipping, Forest Schools and minibeast hunts.
In the juniors children have been learning about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and plastic pollution. They are now planning for this term’s rich tasks! More news on these will follow in the next few weeks.
We have been very lucky to receive a grant for an outdoor classroom which will be situated on the top junior yard. This will provide opportunities for all the children to learn outside under cover! We are really excited about it.
Key Covid reminders:
- Please don’t send your child into school with anything except a named water bottle and plastic fruit boxes/ lunchbox. Pupils travelling on the bus can use a carrier bag if they are struggling to manage these items. If your child is in the juniors and is walking home alone they can also bring their mobile phone but this must be kept in the central office during the school day.
- Please continue to wear face coverings and use the one way system in school
- Please continue to let us know if your child is unwell and do not send them to school if they, or any household member, has a temperature, cough or change to taste/smell.
Neath and Port Talbot Message about School Attendance Video:
School brings about so many opportunities for young people to gain experiences that will set them up for life. Whether that is becoming a doctor, a teacher, an artist, a builder or a great sportsperson, to name but a few, school is essential to all young people, no matter what career path they decide to follow.
During the pandemic, the School Welfare Service spoke with some children and others to ask them a few questions about their time in school. Find out more about how our Education Welfare Service can support parents who may be experiencing difficulty in ensuring that their children attend school regularly: Here are links to the video.
https://twitter.com/NPTCouncil/status/1384575092257136643
https://www.facebook.com/NeathPortTalbotCBC/posts/3932252730164803
Complaints about school:
Fortunately, we have very few complaints and very many parents have been supportive of the school, especially over the past 18 months. Despite this, we know that parents will be unhappy sometimes. We are always ready to listen and take responsibility if we have made a mistake. However, we have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to the verbal or physical abuse of staff. This could result in the school taking legal advice and parents being asked to stay off the premises.
Please ensure that, if you do have an issue with school that you approach it in a controlled and polite manner at all times. On the very rare occasion that you remain unhappy, we have a Complaints Policy which we will provide for you.
Class Dojo
Class Dojo was brought in as a way to keep parents in contact with teachers, to celebrate achievements and to pass on messages. However, following a few incidents recently I would like to remind parents of the following:
- Teachers have this app on their personal mobile phones so the messages come through at any time of day, on weekends and in the evening. For this reason it is very important that unpleasant comments or complaints are not sent via dojo. Staff will not respond to complaints via Class Dojo. We do have a Complaints Policy and Mrs Bridgman and I are available to speak to if you have an issue.
- You may receive an answer to a Class Dojo message late in the evening or on weekends but please don’t rely on this.
- It is also very unlikely that the teacher would see a message or be able to respond to this message during teaching time. Teachers may be in meetings, out of school, working with children or we may have ICT issues. Also, there is sometimes a delay in you sending messages and us receiving them.
- Please ring the school office if you have an urgent message for/about a child during the school day.
Scouts
We have been asked to remind you that Beavers, Cubs and Scouts have now restarted in the Clive Roberts Hall in Cimla Crescent. Arrangements are as follows:
Beavers (5.5 – 8) Wednesdays 5.30 – 6.45pm
Cubs (8 -11) Tuesday 6pm – 8pm
Scouts (11-14) Wednesday 7pm – 9pm
Finally….
Once again, can I thank you for all your support and kind messages over the last 18 months? Please do not hesitate to contact us with any ideas or suggestions and take care,
Mrs Woodford