Off to a flying start!
Headteacher Newsletter - Wednesday 15th September 2021
Good afternoon one and all,
We've not long completed our first full week back and I'm mega proud to say everyone's off to a flying start!
It's been fantastic to welcome yourselves, your child(ren), and the community back to Crawford's. The teachers have been working extremely hard to prepare for an engaging, purposeful, and safe return for us all and I am thrilled to say that things couldn't have gone much better...so, long may that continue!
With reference to safety, please see the link, below, for our September Covid Risk Assessment; we are delighted that many things will be returning to normal. However, there are still some important measures, which we will all need to adhere to.
I'd like to say a huge thank you to all the staff, parents, members of the community, and even, children who came in to help during the Summer holidays. We've made some significant improvements...mainly, some newly painted classrooms, atrium, and outdoor furniture. The school is definitely looking engaging and our OPAL provision is ever evolving!
It's a bumper edition with lots of notices and information; therefore, please do try to absorb all that is relevant and, as always, please don't hesitate to contact us should you require any further information, support, or advice.
Here's to a positive term ahead!
Mr Francksen
Forest School and Outdoor Learning has started again!
1. Risk Assessment Summary
Key points:
Good hand hygiene is still essential for everyone entering the school site, especially children during key times e.g. on entrance, after contact with items touched, before eating or drinking;
There is no longer the requirement for a one-way system at drop-off and pick-up.
Visitors incl. parents are allowed in the building - masks do need to be worn unless health-related factors prevent this - please inform the headteacher/deputy if this is the case;
A full return to the school uniform is required - for PE/Forest School sessions, children must come in PE kit/Forest School clothes for the entire day - this can include where they have an after-school club;
Children should not attend if they are unwell and displaying any of the Covid symptoms - children will also be sent home if they demonstrate any of the Covid symptoms - testing will also be advised;
Remote education will be offered for self-isolation cases/children well enough to receive remote learning and completion of all work is expected from day 1 of absences of the child*;
If someone tests negative, if they feel well and no longer have symptoms similar to coronavirus (COVID-19), they can stop self-isolating;
If someone tests positive, they should follow the ‘stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection’ and must continue to self-isolate for 10 days from the onset of their symptoms (or from the date of their test if they showed no symptoms) and then return to school only if they do not have symptoms other than cough or loss of sense of smell/taste;
Please speak with the school/class teachers if you require support with wellbeing - continue to utilise the link to Suffolk Hub for wellbeing support.
2. Reporting illness & Remote Learning
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.
Please click on the link for guidance for families on how to access Google Classroom.
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.
Please see the code your child(ren) will need to access Google Classroom with (in the event of remote learning being required)
Class 1 - Year Reception - yle6ihw
Class 2 - Year 1 and 2 - dfcjfpl
Class 3 - Year 4 & 5 - f66tqfe
Class 4 - Year 5 & 6 - w4wjcjb
N.B. Please see the guidance above for how to access it.
3. Early Help Clubs (Breakfast and After School)
Clubs have now restarted and are bookable via Arbor. Please note that Early Help Clubs are all FREE and the after-school clubs tend to get booked up very quickly. If you book a space for an after-school club that you then no longer require, please let the office staff know as soon as possible so that the space can be released.
4. Great news - Miss DP!
Ana has made such an impact on our school since joining us 18 months ago; she is a wonderful practitioner, leader, and colleague...but most of all, she's a brilliant human being.
Both I and Miss DP have already set about continuing the strive for becoming a world-class educational setting...but one that still prides itself in a values-based education with children's wellbeing at its core!
In order for you to receive the right advice, support, and guidance, I have shared our Communication Flowchart, again, below. Please use this to best address your child's needs.
5. Asthma plans
If your child has asthma, please ensure the up-to-date version of their care plan is held in school and that any medication is well within its expiry date. We will be sending these home, shortly, so please comment on any changes, sign, and return them asap.
6. Class Dojos - NOW available for parents/carers
As part of our Behaviour for Learning Policy (please see the link, below), we use a reward system called Class Dojo. This year, we'd like to invite you, the parent/carer, into our Class Dojo online system in order to share the many positives of your child's experiences at school - here, you can view your child's Dojo Monster and 'awarded' dojo points, and, see what Cog they received them for. The first challenge, however, is to help your child hatch their egg...be sure to log in once the invite is sent.
Also, this year, we'd like to make the sharing of your child's learning even more personal, therefore, once a week, you will be updated with a weekly blog on the 'Class Story' section of Class Dojo.
Please look out for an email invite to Class Dojo, shortly.
7. PEW News - New School Year 13.9.2021
Dear Haughley Community,
We are very pleased to write to you all again, after a long and happy summer holiday. A lot of different changes have happened in our school, including
A whole new set of lovely children in Class One have joined our freshly painted school!
A new trainee teacher has started her career, mostly in Class 4, alongside Miss DP. Her name is Mrs. Murthi.
We are hosting our belated Year 6 Leavers’ Service at St Mary’s Church, on Sunday 19th September 2021 at 2 pm (families and community are welcome!)
Even more OPAL (Outdoor Play And Learning) equipment has arrived and we are having fun using it in our break times and lunch times.
Our revamped front garden includes plants kindly donated by PPG.
Now we have a prayer for you all, from our new JOBS team (that’s Junior Open The Book: Jasmine Walker, Leah Deaves, David Stibbards).
Dear Lord
Thank you for this beautiful day.
Thank you for giving me the chance to see this day.
Thank you for loving me despite my sins.
Forgive me for all my sins, even those committed unknowingly.
As I start this day, I pray for Your guidance and Your protection.
Direct my path and teach me the right thing to do.
Let my words and my actions be ones that bring honour to Your Holy name.
Amen
8. Health & Fitness Day
Team Crawford's will be continuing with its focus on well-being by taking part in the National Health & Fitness Day on Tuesday 21st September.
We've got a super day planned with activities including, a 'Work It With Hurkett' morning session, Pilates, Yoga, a Mindfulness workshops, Mr. Hurkett 1-minute fitness challenges, and, of course, a day of OPAL delights.
I'm so excited.
Mr. Hurkett
9. Y5/Y6 Residential
We will, shortly, be hosting a Q&A session and distributing a kit list very soon; please look out for an email/letter. In the meantime, if you’d like to remind yourself of the letter we sent, it is provided on a link below.
We have arranged for you to be able to make your payments by instalments, if you prefer, and these instalments may be made as and when you wish, starting from as little as £5. The full payment is requested by the end of the year. However, if you wish to make the payment in full, you are also welcome to do so. If you have any concerns regarding finances, please contact the school office and ask to speak with either Mrs. Barber or Miss DP.
10. School Milk
Our school provides a milk scheme that is available to all of our pupils and we would like to invite you to register your child. School milk is free for under-5s, and for over-5s it is available at a subsidised* price of around £14 per term. We can also provide milk for pupils in receipt of income-related Free School Meals - please contact the office if you would like to register your child.
Each child that registers with Cool Milk will receive a 189ml portion of semi-skimmed milk every day, delivered fresh and chilled to the classroom. Their school milk will not only provide them with essential nutrients but as it is rehydrating and energy boosting it also bridges the gap between breakfast and lunch to help children stay focused. For more information on how milk can benefit children visit www.coolmilk.com/why-milk-is-great.
How to register
If your child is under five:
The school has registered your child for free milk and they received their first portion on Friday 3rd September
Free milk will continue until the Friday before your child’s fifth birthday. If you wish your child to continue to receive school milk after this time, please follow the instructions below.
If your child is five or older:
Register and pay online at www.coolmilk.com
You can pay Cool Milk either online, over the phone, or at a local PayPoint in half-termly, termly or annual installments.
Please pay by a Tuesday at 5 pm for your child’s milk to start the following week
If you have any questions regarding school milk please visit www.coolmilk.com or contact Cool Milk directly on 0800 321 3248. More information on milk is also available from the school.
* The UK government continues to support school milk. Milk for under-5s is fully funded by DHSC via the Nursery Milk Scheme. Milk for over-5s is subsidised by Defra via the School Milk Scheme.
11. Free School Meals - please check your eligibility and apply
All children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are entitled to a free school meal. This is known as the Universal Infant Free School Meal (UIFSM). Your child may be eligible for income-related free school meals (FSM) throughout their schooling - this will save you around £437 per year. We encourage all eligible families to apply for FSM, as the school will receive additional funding for these pupils.
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.
12. Safeguarding & Wellbeing
Please use the links below to learn more about important topics including online/social media, safeguarding and wellbeing resources, updates.
Self-care September (Action for Happiness)
It is more important than ever to be aware of our mental health. Action for Happiness is a charity founded to create a movement of people committed to building a happier and more caring society.
About us
Email: admin@crawfordsprimary.suffolk.sch.uk
Website: https://www.crawfordsprimaryschool.com/
Location: Haughley, Stowmarket IP14 3QZ, UK
Phone: 01449 673253
Twitter: @CrawfordsPSchl