Read it for pleasure
Headteacher Newsletter - 24th January 2022
Forest School and Dancing
Mr Hurkett has been putting everyone through their paces this week with lots of dancing - you may have seen his videos on
Twitter. If not, why not head over and have a look.
We've also seen some fabulous learning in Forest School sessions this week, here is just a small selection of photos.
Reading for Pleasure - newsletter
First of all, thank you to all of you for your continuing enthusiasm for home reading. So many of the children have spoken to their teachers about the special books that they received as Christmas gifts and the ones they plan to buy with their pocket money - it’s totally wonderful to hear their love for books!
It is crucial that your child reads every day and as this term progresses, there will quite literally be books everywhere, to further inspire their reading for pleasure choices. We are currently in the stages of adding book displays all around the school and we can’t wait to share exciting new books with the children.
Please read this newsletter for further information about our current texts and some inspiration.
Miss Mansfield, Literacy Co-ordinator
RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch Storytelling
https://www.webekids.net/event-details/rspb-big-garden-birdwatch-storytelling
It's National storytelling week from 29th January-5th February. Storytelling is such an important part of children's development, which is why we will have such a strong focus on Read Aloud Texts. In a sense, storytelling is the oldest form of teaching and has so many benefits including:
- Promotes brain development and imagination
- Develops language and emotions
- Strengthens relationships
- Encourages curiosity and imagination
- Develops empathy and allows children to experience different worlds, countries, and traditions.
- Develops their focus and social skills
Storytelling provides children with a window to new worlds. It gives them the opportunity to learn new ideas and information; without realising it, they are learning valuable life lessons through hearing an engaging, exciting story. Both my grandmothers were amazing storytellers, not necessarily from a book but from their imaginations. I can still recall these stories now. Maybe you have a story to share? Could you share a favourite story with your child, next week?
Miss Mansfield
Cable Drums - request
Has anyone got some of these that they could donate to the school please? Miss Mansfield is hoping to get hold of some for reading displays.
Harry Potter is flying high!
The pupils in Oak Class were delighted this week when Harry Potter finally took to the air. He is looking very much at home surrounded by our Reading for Pleasure books.
Hazel Class - photographer visit
As part of their
Who Do You Think You Are? topic, Hazel Class pupils have been learning all about portraits. Nikki from AJS Photographic (the school's photographer) very kindly came in and delivered a practical session for us, with all of her photographic equipment. The children were so interested and asked lots of questions, but they
really enjoyed the opportunity of using a professional (and heavy!) camera to take portraits of their friends.
Nikki said, "I would like to also add how excellent the children were. They were very well behaved and polite and all had a keen interest in what was going on. They also did a brilliant job at taking photos of their friends so 10/10 for effort for everyone."
Wheelie Good Fridays
Rowan and Silver Birch classes enjoy their hard-earned Golden Time as they cycle or scoot around the playground on Friday afternoon.
February half term - holiday club
Our sports provider, GVTSSP, will be running the following during half term at TCC Beyton Campus. Please see
this flyer for more information.
Camp 21-25 February 2022
Mon 21 Feb: AM Skateboarding / PM BMX or Target Games
Tue 22 Feb: AM Gymnastics / Pm - Dance OR Parkour
Wed 23 Feb: AM- Ipswich Town Football OR Parkour / PM- Ipswich Town Football OR Capoeira
Thurs 24 Feb -Nerf and Laser Tag / PM Nerf and Laser Tag
Fri 25 Feb- Am Multi games and Inflatables / PM -Multi games and Inflatables
Current isolation advice
This change came into effect in England on Monday 17 January and applies to all positive cases, regardless of vaccination status.
People who are self-isolating with COVID-19 have the option to reduce their isolation period after 5 full days if they test negative with an LFD test on both day 5 and day 6 and they do not have a temperature. For example, if they test negative on the morning of day 5 and the morning of day 6, they can return to their education or childcare setting immediately on day 6.
The first test must be taken no earlier than day 5 of the self-isolation period, and the second must be taken the following day. All test results should be reported to NHS Test and Trace, as well as to the school, via TestRegister.
If the result of either test is positive, they should continue to self-isolate until they get negative results from two LFD tests on consecutive days or until they have completed 10 full days of self-isolation, whichever is earliest.
The new rules also apply to people who are already isolating – so if someone was already isolating before Monday 17 January, they can take LFD tests on day 5 and 6 and if they are both negative and they have no temperature they can end their isolation.
Anyone who is unable to take LFD tests or anyone who continues to have a temperature will need to complete the full 10-day period of self-isolation.
Further information on self-isolation for those with COVID-19 is available.
TestRegister
To assist with logging Covid cases in educational settings, Suffolk County Council is now using
TestRegister. You should, by now, have received an email invitation. Please use TestRegister to log the result of any Covid tests taken by Bardwell pupils in your family. This is in addition to recording your family's test results with the
Government portal.
Thank you.
Breakfast and After School Clubs
The Clubs timetable is now online.
After School:
Monday - Multisports with Mr Hurkett
Tuesday - Gymnastics with Mr Hurkett
Wednesday - Tag Rugby with GVTSSP, Stephen
Thursday - Indoor Ball games/racquet sports with GVTSSP, Helena
A reminder that we will not be running an After School Club on Fridays, due to low uptake, we apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. Clubs have all restarted and are bookable on Arbor. Please ensure you pack a healthy snack for your child to have during After School Club and - as ever - let the office staff know if you don't need your place so they can free it up for someone else.
Bardwell Church - what's on this month
JANUARY
- Saturday 29th, Messy Church - Candlemas, 2.30-4.30pm
- Every Wednesday parents and carers are invited to join us for Collective Worship in the Church at 10am.
Poor weather letter - reminder
Bardwell Charities
In the recent Bardwell Parish News, you may have seen information about this funding. The charity can provide a limited amount of aid for those in need. If you meet requirements to qualify they may be able to help with living or educational costs, where aid is not already available from a statutory organisation.
To find out more, please visit the website at bardwellcharities.onesuffolk.net
Alternatively, contact either of the two Trustees listed below, who will treat all information confidentially:
Dinkie Williamson - dinkie.williamson@gmail.com
Barry Felton - bfelton13@btinternet.com
The School has also been contacted recently with similar information from Hepworth village charities fund. If you are within the Hepworth parish boundary and would like the school to make a referral on your behalf, please speak to Mrs Allman, in confidence.
Reporting illness - a reminder
As always, please phone the school before 9 am (rather than emailing) if your child is unwell; if you need to leave a message, please give an indication of the nature of the illness, and let us know if there are any Covid symptoms (new continuous cough, temperature, loss or change to a sense of smell or taste). If your child is off with a confirmed case of Covid, but has no symptoms and is feeling well, the government expects all schools to provide remote learning and we will do this via Google Classroom.
The guidance for families on how to access Google Classroom is here.
Class codes:
Rowan & Silver Birch - gf2lfnn
Hazel Class - kb2hb6s
Oak Class - akeyunl
If you need to borrow a school Chromebook in order to access this learning, please contact the office staff.
If your child is off with a confirmed case of Covid, or any other illness, there is no expectation that they complete remote learning if they are not well enough.
Free School Meals - could you be eligible?
Your child may be eligible for free school meals throughout primary school. This could save you approximately £437 per year.
To check or apply online, visit: https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/children-families-and-learning/schools/school-meals-uniforms-and-trips/apply-for-free-school-meals/
Check if you're eligible
Your child will get free school meals if you receive any of the following:
Income Support
Income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
Child Tax Credit but no element of Working Tax Credit and have an annual income (as assessed by HM Revenues & Customs) that does not exceed £16,190
If you are supported under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
Working Tax Credit during the four-week period immediately after your employment finishes or after you start to work fewer hours per week
Universal Credit (provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400 (£616.67 per month), as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods).
To check if your child is eligible, apply online for an immediate response or call 01473 260989.
We encourage you to apply, because the school receives additional funding (Pupil Premium) for all children on income-related Free School Meals.
