Key worker and vulnerable pupil provision.

If you qualify for and need the keyworker provision, as you have no alternative childcare when you are at work as a keyworker, please complete the form below and return to school the day before you need the provision to start. Vulnerable pupils are pupils with a social worker and those with EHCP plans.

Please note that any pupils attending the keyworker or vulnerable pupil scheme must adhere to lockdown restrictions when in and out of school.  Those accepted onto the provision will be supervised by a staff member, to complete their remote learning on the online sites and be expected to fully socially distance to keep all staff and pupils attending safe.

APJS Key Worker & Vulnerable Pupil Provision Form 2021

FSM pupils

For the next four weeks, until half-term an Edenred FSM food voucher will be delivered to your e-mail.  It will be for four weeks and you will need to redeem it, as you did during the first lockdown.  It may take up to a week from 21st January to be delivered to your e-mail and it can often land in junk mail, so check there.  For half-term week Durham County Council’s winter voucher will be delivered to you, again by e-mail.

If any parents/carers have had a change to their financial situation and feel they may be able to apply for free school meals support, contact school with your name of the applicant (adult) and your national insurance number for school to complete a check.

Other financial support

1. Vodaphone sim cards – school has free vodaphone sim cards which can be used to support with phone usage.  Contact school if you would like one.
2. BT internet – school has twenty codes for free internet until end of July 2021, if you are unable to afford the internet needed for home-schooling.  Please send an e-mail to school with your name and the pupil’s name if you need this – the code will be sent back to you via e-mail.

3.  Citizens Advice County Durham – fuel poverty support.

   We have a team of 5 expert energy advisors who are able to assist with things such as changing tariff, helping with supplier disputes, understanding the energy bill and most importantly assessing for a £49 fuel voucher for anyone struggling with topping up their prepayment meter.

   EAP- poster

Children’s Catch-up Flu Clinics

Please see the list of confirmed catch up clinics for children who missed their appointment for the flu spray in school. Further sessions may to be added and changes may be unavoidable due to the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Due to COVID-19 and the social distancing measures in place it is essential that you book your child’s appointment. To book an appointment email hdft.immunisationcatchupclinic@nhs.net informing us of the following details:

• Child’s name
• Date of birth
• School your child attends
• Contact telephone number
• Date and venue of the session you wish to attend

We will reply to the email with a time slot.

If you do not have access to email then please call 03000 032554.

Important information:

• Please attend you appointment on time to ensure that social distancing is adhered to.
• Only 1 parent to accompany the child.
• Adults, and children over 12 years, must wear a face covering when attending the session.
• Please leave the building once the vaccine has been administered.
• Follow our Facebook page for updates – Children’s Immunisation Team, County Durham, Darlington and Teesside.

Clinic sessions

Foodbank opening times

69197_Christmas_Opening__foodbanks_2020

Support for emotional wellbeing

Click on documents below to find a range of organisations for support for emotional wellbeing and mental health, including one point, camhs and camhs emergency telephone numbers.

Children’s mental wellbeing organisations for support

Adult mental wellbeing organisations for support

DB Primary

Welcome to DB Primary- Powerpoint presentation for parents

DB Primary login support guide for parents

Office Package

Here is a link to download the office packages being used in school such as Word, Powerpoint etc.

https://www.openoffice.org/download/index.html

Durham’s public health information for residents in Annfield Plain and surrounding areas – January 20th, 2021

Dear parent/carer,

We wanted to let you know that we have been notified of an increase in positive cases of Covid 19 in the Annfield Plain and South Moor areas. Public health Durham has asked us to pass on this information to our parents/carers.

We want to take the opportunity to reassure you that we are working closely with Durham County Council and are following their advice around the best way to keep all our staff and children safe.

As is part of our everyday routine already, we will be asking all children to wash their hands regularly and would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone of the importance of regular 20 second handwashing in the home, particularly when children leave for and arrive home from school. In addition to this, we would like to ask you to support us further by following social distancing guidance when dropping of and collecting your children for home.  If you do not have a dedicated childcare bubble, please do not ask other parents to pick up or drop off your children.

If you or your child develops any of the following symptoms: a persistent cough, a temperature or you lose your sense of smell or taste then you should book a Coronavirus test immediately and certainly within the first five days of feeling unwell. You can do this at https://www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test or by calling 119.

If you need to self-isolate and are worried about managing at home, then the County Durham Together Community Hub is there to help you with practical support as well as advice about managing financially and ways to continue looking after your physical and mental health while in isolation, this includes information on educational and leisure activities for children, which you may find particularly useful. You can find out more details here: http://www.durham.gov.uk/covid19help

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your continued support during these challenging times and to remind everyone that by following the hands, face, space preventative guidelines, getting tested if you have symptoms and staying at home if you’re asked to, we can all play our part in keeping all of our colleagues, friends and families safe.

Regards,

Mrs Burgess

Latest coronavirus guidance 

Please note that documents stating the isolation period to be 14 days should now be read as 10 days isolation.

Parents_carers guide to Covid

Symptoms of coronavirus

Coronavirus testing update September

Privacy Statement – Track and Trace

APJS School COVID 19 risk assessment version 5

APJS COVID-19 updates for current risk assessment Dec 20

Please find updated information for your use:

It is vital that all children’s absences and the symptoms of their illness are reported to the school office on the first day of illness, to ensure the right action is taken to keep our school community and your families safe.  (Tel: 01207 234531)

If your child is ill with any of the following symptoms, you MUST request a coronavirus test (even if you think it is another type of illness) and keep your child at home, until the test result is returned:

• A high temperature;
• A new, continuous cough;
• Loss or change of sense of smell or taste.

School needs to be informed if a child is taking a test and of the test result, whether it is negative or positive.

How to book a test.

There are a variety of ways to book a test:

• Using a drive-in, walk-in or mobile test unit (this has the quickest test result return);
• By ordering a home-test kit.

There are different ways to order a home-test kit or book an appointment at a test site:

• Online at: https://self-referral.test-for-coronavirus.service.gov.uk/antigen/name
• Phone 111 if symptoms worsen or go online to: https://111.nhs.uk/COVID-19
• Phone 119 for testing track and trace.

Returning home test kits.

You can return test kits by:

• Booking a courier online to pick up your home-test.
• Finding the nearest priority box at: https://www.royalmail.com/services-near-you#/

Waiting for the test result or/and a positive test result.  

For individuals who are symptomatic and/or test positive for coronavirus please follow the latest NHS guidance, which can be found at:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-and-treatment/when-to-self-isolate-and-what-to-do/

(Individuals with symptoms or/and a positive test result isolate for 10 days and the rest of the household isolate for 10 days.)

For guidance on responding to coronavirus in children, please follow the link at:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/symptoms/coronavirus-in-children/

What to do if another person, who you have been in close contact with, tests positive.

You should self-isolate for 1o days since the last close contact with the affected person

Close contact is:

• Direct close contact –face-to-face contact with an infected individual for any length of time, within 1 metre, including being coughed on, a face-to-face conversation, or unprotected physical contact (skin-to-skin);
• Proximity contacts -extended close contact (within 1 to 2 metres for more than 15 minutes) with an infected individual;
• Travelling in a small vehicle, like a car, with an infected person.

If there were any positive cases in school, you would be informed immediately and public health would advise school which children and staff would need to self-isolate.

What do the different results mean?

Individuals can end their isolation if there are no symptoms and a negative coronavirus result. 

However, if further symptoms develop, there will be a need to isolate and a further test may be appropriate. Please follow the advice from track and trace for this:

parents/carers to contact https://111.nhs.uk/COVID

How to help school?

-Inform school in the first day of any illness by speaking to the school office, clearly explaining  the symptoms your child has.

-Following the advice above.

-Keeping school informed of any tests taking place and the result, whether negative or positive.

-If a child or your household has to self-isolate make sure we know the expected date of return to school for your child,

-When asked to self-isolate, follow this correctly for the correct time-scale.

How school can help you?

-If self-isolation has to take place, we will provide you with your child’s work to home-school for the period of isolation.

-There are a few coronavirus testing kits in school – they can only be distributed if there are no tests available to be delivered to you by courier which is bookable online, at local testing sites or through the 111/119 helpline.  All three must be tried and used, if available.

Current Drop-Off and Pick-Up Arrangements

All children enter in the morning through the front gate from 8:30 to 8:45 am (school starts at 8:45am) but this changes at the end of the day, depending on whose class children are in.   The school day ends at 3pm.

When dropping off or picking up please remember to socially distance.

Class 3 (Year 3): Miss Angus                 Exit at hometime through the front gate

Class 3/4 (Year 3/4): Mrs Taylor         Exit at hometime through the front gate

Class 4/5 (Year 4/5): Miss Smith         Exit at hometime through the side street gate of school

Class 5/6 (Year 5/6): Mrs West            Exit at hometime through the side street gate of school

Class 6 (Year 6): Mrs Dorward             Exit at hometime through the side street gate of school

Will school attendance be mandatory from September 2020?

Yes, the Government have advised that school attendance will be mandatory again from the beginning of the autumn term.

Which of the usual school attendance rules will apply in September 2020?

All of the usual rules will apply including:

• parents’ duty to secure that their child attends regularly at school where the child is a registered pupil at school and they are of compulsory school age;
• schools’ responsibilities to record attendance and follow up absence;
• the availability to issue sanctions, including fixed penalty notices in line with local authorities’ codes of conduct.

Important changes to restrict the spread of coronavirus (please discuss these with your child before they return to school).

-Every room in school has handgel, anti-bacterial spray, handwipes, tissues and lidded bins. Additional cleaning will take place throughout the day in all rooms: surfaces, touchpoints and toilets.

-Additional handwashing will continue to take place and should also be encouraged at home – when entering school throughout the day, before and after eating, after toileting and before leaving school. Pupils, who have a reaction to school soap, may of course bring their own soap/handgel.  Handgel will also be available in each classroom and used routinely throughout the day. Parents are reminded to ensure children wash their hands, on leaving the house and re-entering the house after school.

– School will use and ask parents/carers to use the “Catch It, Bin It and Kill It” followed by handwash/sanitising of hands, for sneezes.

-Pupils will enter school from 8:30am onwards (school starts at 8:45am), instead of mixing on the yard and to ensure handwashing takes place.

-School has split playtimes and staggered lunchtimes already; this will assist social distancing.

-Equipment used will be disinfected after each group’s use; this includes sports equipment.

–Every pupil needs to bring a named water bottle, filled from home each day.  Water bottles and packed lunch boxes need to be named and return home each evening to be disinfected/cleaned.

–The only items which pupils need to bring to school are: packed lunch if not on school dinners, snack, water bottle, coat, own soap/handgel if reactive to school’s soap and their PE kit.  No home equipment such as books, pens etc. will be allowed in school.

– School uniform should be worn. It is recommended that clothes are changed and washed on returning home and that clean clothes are worn each day.

-The main focus for pupils during the first term will be for teachers to assess catch-up requirements for English and Maths.  Additional sessions of English and Maths will be taught. Some subjects: Science, Geography & History, RE, French and DT will have a delayed start to the year, to allow for catch-up with English and Maths.  This will be reviewed each half-term.

-PE lessons will take place, pupils need their own PE kit in school all week, every week.  Currently we are told that  swimming lessons will re-start in January 2021 and music lessons (Y4 ukalele and Y5 brass) in September.

-We understand that for some children the period of lockdown has increased anxiety.  PSHCE daily check-ins will be used to support pupils in overcoming any worries or anxieties about lockdown they may have.

-We rely on parents/carers to make sure that pupils understand that outside of school they should also follow social distancing rules, to restrict the spread of coronavirus.

-The same as arrangements prior to the lockdown period, if parents need to contact school they are asked to phone, rather than go to reception, if they can.  Any education staff or contractors visiting school will have to follow lockdown health and safety restrictions.

-If any pupil or staff, or member of their household, present with coronavirus symptoms, they should not attend school, for any reason. Parents/carers should inform school, self-isolate with all members of their household and apply for a test to their doctor. We will then follow government guideline on informing contacts of the pupil/staff.  If the test is positive further action can be taken by school; if negative the pupil/staff can return to school if feeling well.

-Reading books will be used as normal, cleaned and left for 48 hours before being returned to the reading shelves.

-If staff or pupils use public transport to come to school, they must remove their face masks on entering school. If they are disposable, they must be put in one of the lidded bins.  It they are re-usable, they must be placed in a sealed plastic bag and placed in their bag.

-We will continue to use the anti-bacterial fogging machine to deep clean at the end of each week and disinfectant mats when entering each building.

Wellbeing

If your child has been struggling with wellbeing, during the coronavirus period, there are many support sites/workbooks for you to use in the parents’ information section of the news item on the front page. The website is useful for other information your child may wish to know about our school, during the summer holiday. (www.annfieldplain-jun.durham.sch.uk)

Children’s mental wellbeing organisations for support

Adult mental wellbeing organisations for support

School uniform

Please see the school uniform section on the parents’ section of the school website, for expectations of uniform. You can order school uniform items directly online from: totstoteams.com (Tots to Teams); we do not take orders in school. You will have the choice to have the items delivered direct to your door, for a delivery charge, or in bulk to school. Children are able to wear navy jumpers etc., without logos, from local shops such as Asda etc. Please write your child’s name in all of their clothing.

Parent Pay

School is now cashless. School dinners and educational visits need to be paid for on Parent Pay. Parent Pay information is found in the parents’ section of this website. We will be able to help you set up Parent Pay accounts. All parents will need to use parent pay as school trips will be paid for by this (including the Howtown visit in 2021).

School lunch

Once pupils are in Key Stage 2, there is no longer an entitlement to a no-cost school dinner, unless as a family you are entitled to Free School Meals (FSM). If you are unsure whether you will be entitled to FSM, school can undertake a quick check. Contact school with the claimant’s date of birth and the claimant’s national insurance number, if you would like this check completed. School dinners will cost £2:10 per day from September and must be paid for, in advance, through Parent Pay. Some people may have had a change in circumstances due to lockdown, please let school know if you have, even if you do not want FSM for your child; this allows school to receive additional pupil premium funding.

REMINDERS

• Every pupil needs to bring a filled water bottle to school every day. It needs to be clearly marked with their name.

• Children’s names should be written on all of their school uniform and PE kits. PE kits need to be in all week, every week.

• School’s dress code includes appropriate hair styles – i.e. no symbols, pictures, patterns, hair extensions or vibrant colours during term time.

• Packed lunch boxes must be clearly labelled with the child’s name.

• In line with school policy and to ensure consistency and keep packed lunches in line with food standards for school meals, packed lunches should not contain the following:

Fizzy / sugary drinks in cartons, bottles or cans

Chocolate or Chocolate-coated products / sweets / confectionary

Chocolate spread as a filling for sandwiches.

If these items are put in a packed lunch, they will be withdrawn and given to the child to take home at the end of the day (Please see packed lunch policy on the school website if you are unsure of what is allowed).

• READING – please encourage your child to read daily. They will gain a house point for each day they read to you and have their reading record signed. Record the use of online Reading Plus there too.

• Inside your child’s planner, there is a list of questions you could use to help your child understand the text they have read. Tables and grammar, punctuation and spelling information are also in the planner to help too.

USING BIKES or SCOOTERS TO TRAVEL TO SCHOOL

Pupils are allowed to travel to school on their bike or scooter, but it is school policy that a helmet must be worn.  Parents are reminded that the bikes and scooters are left in the yard at owner’s risk.

SCHOOL HOLIDAY DATES 2020-2021

Parent support

Action for Happiness

A range of ideas and resources linked to happiness. To discuss with your children about what matters the most. Which links well to the work on resilience we do in school.    https://www.actionforhappiness.org/toolkit-for-schools

Parent Pupil Wellbeing Pack – Juniors & Mental Health Website Support for Parents

Children’s mental wellbeing organisations for support

Adult mental wellbeing organisations for support

HOMESTAY 2020 schools

Citizen’s advice can offer support with finances, contact details,

http://www.citizensadvicecd.org.uk/

0300 330 9027 – Advice Line Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm

0300 323 2000 – Debt Advice Line Monday to Friday 9am to 1pm

0300 323 1000 – To cancel or rearrange appointments

Homestay [formally  Stonham] can offer support with finances, rent arrears etc.

To contact gateway ring Durham Homestay team.

Gateway on 0191 332 4935 / e-mail GatewayDurham@homegroup.org.uk

Stanley Community Centre

Telephone or text:  07775874413 if you need support around anxiety, food, social communication, your children.

Foodbank information:

The website link below will direct you to information about your local food bank.

Food Bank Information

FamilyLine offer a free service available to support adult family members on all aspects of family life issues, whether it is emotional support or practicable advice on any aspect of parenting or broader family issues  – Tel Number: 0808 802 6666, text: 07537 404282 or email: familyline@family-action.org.uk

SEND update for parents:

Durham SENDIASS have also devised a guide to help parents, carers and young people (16-25) to continue to access the service during the COVID-19 Outbreak. Please see the information guide below with key contacts.

Comms from SENDIASS

SENDIASS and MCT Virtual Zoom Coffee Mornings

SENDIASS and MCT are planning some twice weekly virtual Zoom coffee mornings / evenings until the middle of June for Parents / Carers of Young people ages 0-25 with a disability or additional need.

Please follow relevant date link below to register.

** Thursday 10am-11.30am** ( Link works for every Thursday until 11th June. Please register for every one you wish to attend)

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUoc-yqrT8jH9Yip0ac2512JahbkTv41pHf

** Tuesday 6pm-7.30pm * ( Link works for every Tuesday until 16th June. Please register for every one you wish to attend)

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYoc-itrz4rH9z2jClhHw5-mjAA1X44Axy0

Any questions please email us at SENDIASS@durham.gov.uk

North East Autism Society

Offer support with enquiries via telephone, email, and Facebook. They also have a private family network page where they are offering lots of support and guidance.

For more information call 0191 4109974

Face book page North east Autism Society

Email info@ne-as.org.uk

SEN Grant opportunities 

http://annfieldplain-jun.dbprimary.com

DB-Parent-Leaflet

Please click on link above to access DB primary and for more information look at the DB primary tab at the top of the page.

Annfield Plain Junior School         Remote Learning Guide for Parents/Carers

The following is guidance for you to support your child with learning at home, whether in addition to their normal school day or when self-isolating.

Our School Offer

Annfield Plain Junior School will make considerable effort to provide all pupils with access to remote learning, which is easy to access and available for all.

• Where a child has no access to a laptop, tablet or PC, school will try to support parents/carers by loaning the pupil a laptop for home use. Please contact the school office if this is needed.

• At Annfield Plain Junior School, we use DB primary as our safe, online learning platform. An information leaflet has been provided, in paper form, for each pupil and is also available on our school website.

This primary learning cloud is a safe area, on the internet, for pupils and members of our school community, to share information and access a wide range of learning resources and links to our online learning programs.

DB primary is specifically designed for primary pupils and has its own resources for: digital literacy, online safety, Maths, English and Computing.

The pupils in each class have their own forum, blog, shared spaces and ability to set online homework and return homework to staff.  Anything that your child puts on to DB Primary can be seen by member of staff.  Inappropriate content can be reported to staff at the school by clicking on the whistle icon.

• All pupils have access to school bought online programs and links will be displayed on DB Primary:

For English: Reading Plus and Spelling Zone which provide a personalised program of reading/activities linked to assessment of a pupil’s level and need. Class teachers can access each pupil’s pages to support and monitor progress.

For Maths: Times Tables Rockstarz and My Maths.

For ICT: Gooseberry Planet.

Pupils have passwords for all the sites above and other sites in their school planner. If you have any issues with the passwords please contact the class teacher.

When isolating at home:

If your child needs to self-isolate, or is ill, please contact school.  Work will be provided for your child and will be a combination of paper-based learning and our online programs/DB primary set work.

Supporting home-learning:

If possible, do the following: designate a working space, plan a timetable with breaks and exercise, have the correct equipment before starting, stick to a routine, emphasise completing work set by school and praise your child’s efforts.

Other ideas for home-learning.

We have other resources and guidance on this page to support you too.  Click on the link to find the file, which you can open or download.  There are also a range of free website resources, including BBC lessons, the Oak National Academy video lessons for all year groups and a very useful government document, where you can find a vast range of websites for all curriculum areas, mental wellbeing and SEND support.

BBC Bitesize Daily, via the BBC iplayer, red button, BBC Four and BBC Sounds provide free core subject learning of Maths, English and Science for Year 1 to Year 10 pupils.  The government document, with free websites for the curriculum, SEND and mental wellbeing, is worth a look at too.  The Oak National Academy have also launched 180 video lessons for all year groups.(Links are below)

Parent home learning help booklet, including school curriculum sites

Parent Pupil Wellbeing Pack – Juniors & Mental Health Website Support for Parents

Class teacher work set for each week is below (for best results plan a daily timetable):

• All pupils are registered on Reading Plus;  your child should use it for 40 minutes and complete set English work for class each day. your child has a personalised pathway on Reading Plus.

• All pupils are registered on Spelling Zone; your child should use it for 30 minutes each day. Your child has a personalised pathway on Spelling Zone.

• All pupils should access My Maths or Times Tables Rockstars or Number Frame and complete set Maths work for class each day.

• All pupils can have breaks between subjects – try different fitness sites, skipping, meditation, yoga, relax kids.

• Plan rest of set work for day and include something you want to do – project, art, cooking, maths games etc.

• Share fun, educational sites – including those that get your child up and moving.

• Plan in free time at the end of day, to give yourself a break!

Class 3 Miss Angus                        http://wp.me/P6Ndbx-cJ

Class 3/4 Mrs Taylor                     http://wp.me/P6Ndbx-Sn

Class 4/5 Miss Smith                    http://wp.me/P6Ndbx-cR

Class 5 Mrs West                            http://wp.me/P6Ndbx-cN

Class 6 Mrs Dorward                    http://wp.me/P6Ndbx-cW

FREE DAILY RESOURCES for CHILDREN:

Useful free websites: Table of Online School Resources

Great daily support resource, starting on 20th April is BBC’s Bitesize Daily via the BBC i-player, red button, BBC Four and BBC Sounds are providing free for core subject learning of Maths, English and Science for Year 1 to Year 10 pupils.  The content will be age relevant and there will be a new English and Maths lesson each day containing current curriculum, with other subjects to be added.  It will also contain videos, quizzes, podcasts etc.

The Oak National Academy has launched its online classroom and resource hub. The Academy offers 180 video lessons each week for schools to use, across a broad range of subjects. The lessons cover children in Reception through to Year 10 and are free to use by young people.   The Oak National Academy can be accessed by the link:

A government document which includes a  great range of free websites for all subjects, pupils of all ages and SEND pupils, with hyperlinks.           https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-online-education-resources/coronavirus-covid-19-list-of-online-education-resources-for-home-education

Science: e-bug project by Public Health.     Resources are currently available for KS1, KS2 and KS3 and can be used in various settings including schools and at home:  https://e-bug.eu/

Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families – wellbeing advice and support.  Website: https://www.annafreud.org/what-we-do/anna-freud-learning-network/coronavirus/

British Psychological Society (BPS)      Website: https://www.bps.org.uk/news-and-policy/bps-offers-advice-schools-parents-and-carers-help-children-through-uncertainty

Children’s Commissioner           Website: https://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/publication/childrens-guide-to-coronavirus/

MindEd – support from foundation to end KS2 about mental wellbeing.    Website: https://www.minded.org.uk/

The Child Bereavement Network – support for KS1 and KS2 pupils.  Website: http://www.childhoodbereavementnetwork.org.uk/covid-19.aspx

PE with Joe Wicks on Youtube.   Weekdays at 9am but you can visit any time on youtube to view the workout.

Wildlife with Steve Backshall on Facebook.    Every day at 9:30 for answering all your wildlife, biology, conservation, geography and exploration questions.

Science with Maddie Moate on YouTube.  Weekdays 11am, Maddie and Greg chat about science and nature.

Dance with Oti Mabuse on Facebook.  Every day at 11:30am but children can view the class at any time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJmpCH9p2X8

Maths with Carol Vorderman.  Free access to her maths website: www.the maths factor.com

Disney 10 minute wake up session. https://www.nhs.uk/10-minute-shake-up/shakeup

Durham County Council have provided a range of resources to use on your daily 1 hour walk this document gives you ideas of how to learn outdoors.

Parks and Countryside Service 10 Ideas for Outdoor Learning

SEN support from Mrs Dorward:    If anyone needs SEN support – no matter how small – please e-mail school and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.  Stay safe.  Mrs Dorward.

Sent on behalf of Chris Affleck – Investing in Children Project Worker

Messages for parent/carers

 There is a lot of information out there about coronavirus. Not all of it is based on facts or evidence. Help stop your children worrying about things that might not be true by talking to them about where their ideas come from and encourage them to talk to you if they don’t know if something is true. Find out more at http://www.durham.gov.uk/covid19mentalhealth

 Are your children missing their friends and usual activities? Why not encourage them to keep in touch with friends or groups online, have a virtual play date or dance class. Remind them that we can still have fun even when we are in the house. There are ideas for activities at http://www.durham.gov.uk/covid19mentalhealth

 What are you doing to stop the young people in your house being bored or worried? We’re playing window bingo with the neighbours – let us know your ideas 😊

 Being busy can distract us from our worries – why not get your children to help you with activities in the house or garden. It’s a great way to learn new skills too.

 Messages for young people

 Are you bored of being in the house? Why not see if you can help with tasks around the house – then do something fun with the rest of your family 😊

 If you are feeling sad or worried, remember lots of people are feeling the same way. Talking about your feelings with you family could help, or there are groups that you can call or contact online that can support you. You can find details of support at http://www.durham.gov.uk/covid19mentalhealth

 Going for a walk or a jog with your family is a great way to exercise and it’s a good way to forget about your worries for a while. Always try to get your outside time if you can 😊

 Other Resources

https://www.actionforhappiness.org/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LxXy9AfNXA

Online Support Session for parents

• Thursday 28 January 2021
• Thursday 4 February 2021

• Thursday 11 February 2021
• Thursday 18 February 2021
• Thursday 25 February 2021

Autumn Life Skills Staying Safe Week: 16th-20th November, 2020

Children took part in our annual educational staying safe week last year, including visits and workshops with: the police around e-safety, the fire brigade on fire safety, NUFC heartstart training, Hadrian’s first aid workshops, the school nurse workshops and in-school activities focused on the needs identified from  their class survey.  Year 6 also attended the annual safety carousel and year 3 completed pedestrian training.

Pupils again said they felt the least safe outside of school – try using our staying safe leaflet, anti-bullying leaflet and e-safety leaflet, to discuss this and other safety issues with your child.

The Fire Service have asked us to remind the community that free fire alarms can be fitted in your house – contact the Community Safety Department on: 03452234221.  Also they have asked us to share the Firestoppers number with you, if you see a fire being started call: 0800 169 5558.

Spring Life Skills Respect & Diversity Week: spring term

Summer Life Skills Health & Fitness Week: summer term

Parent information, celebration and support sessions 2019-20

Autumn term:

• September – Year 3 parents’ drop-in session.
• Thursday 21st November 9 to 10 am – mental health and wellbeing support workshop.
• Monday 21st and Wednesday 23rd October, 3:15-5:30pm – parents’ evenings.
• Monday 18th November, 5pm – Howtown information session.
• Friday 20th December, 10 am at Annfield Plain Methodist Church – Nativity Play “What does Christmas mean to you?”.

Spring term:

• Thursday 9th January, 5pm – Year 6 SATs meeting.
• Wednesday 5th February, 2pm – “Think Sensory, Not Behaviour” workshop, delivered by Treetops sensory team. (Practical support for parents of children displaying anxiety, struggling to sit still, dislike of loud noises etc.)
• Monday 9th and Wednesday 11th March, 3:15-5:30pm – parents’ evenings.
• Monday 16th March, 3:10-4:10pm – parent & pupil times tables workshop – come along and find out some fun games and activities you can use at home to help your child learn their times tables.
• Wednesday 1st April, 2pm – join us in our Science week to attend a rocket workshop featuring a real rocket.
• Reading for pleasure reading & afternoon tea parent and pupil sessions during World Book Week and Mother’s Day session.
• Friday 3rd April, 1:30pm – Easter coffee afternoon and fundraising fayre.

TBA – Y4 parent ukalele performance.

Summer term:

• Thursday 23rd April, 9-10 am, health and wellbeing session, including Relax Kids.
• Thursday 30th April, 9-10 am, coffee morning including e-safety information session.
• Monday 18th May, 3:10-4:10 pm, health and fitness pupil & parent session.
• Wednesday 20th May, 3sixty bike display.
• Friday 19th June – Father’s Day reading & afternoon tea parent and pupil session.
• Wednesday 8th July, 3:15-5:30pm – parents’ evening.

TBA – Annual singing picnic with infant school.

Autumn Enjoy & Achieve Week, 2nd-6th December, 2019: Plastic Fantastic?

Children will all take part in activities and lessons to enquire whether plastic is fantastic or not.  All classes will share the book, “Somebody Swallowed Stanley”, other books, take part in Philosophy for Children enquiries, art projects and a range of other subject-based activities to develop their understanding of plastic pollution.  The knowledge they develop will then be used to complete a written piece of work.

Spring Enjoy & Achieve Week, 20th-24th January, 2020: Fairytales with a Twist.

The week will be launched with a visit by author Stuart Reid.

Summer Enjoy & Achieve Week, 1st-5th June, 2020: World of Work.

The week will include workshops delivered by Medical Mavericks on junior careers in Health and Challenge the Champion.

World Book Week, 2nd-6th March, 2020

Our world book week, this year, will begin with all classes taking part in Lingotots workshops based on enjoying familiar stories in French.  Parents are invited in throughout the week to enjoy reading with their child in the library, whilst enjoying afternoon tea.  The sessions all take place at 2pm on: Tuesday 3rd March, Wednesday 4th March, Thursday 5th March, Friday 6th March – places are limited and should be booked at the school office.

Keen artists in years 5 and 6 groups will also able to make book sculptures, with artist Susan Warlock.

Science Week, 30th March-3rd April, 2020

Science week’s theme is “Our Diverse Planet”.  Wednesday 1st April is a unique chance for pupils to work with Chester university to investigate how rockets work and see a real rocket.  For pictures of the rocket which will be arriving in school, visit starchaser industries ltd. on the internet! Parents and carers will also have the opportunity to come in to see the rocket.