Return to school information, FSM, other financial support for parents & other information

Return to school information.

Annfield Plain Junior School 

Return to school – Monday 8^th March, 2021      

Please ensure any changes to phone numbers/e-mails are phoned/e-mailed in to school.

Preparing children for returning to school.

The best way to help your child to prepare for school is to return to structured days, including school night bedtimes, a week before returning. Please talk to your child about returning to school and how it will be the same as the autumn term.  More guidance is available below and on the school website, in the parents section.

Will school attendance be mandatory from 8^th March, 2021?

Yes, the Government have advised that school attendance will be mandatory again from the planned return to school of the 8^th March.

Which of the usual school attendance rules will apply from Monday 8^th March, 2021?

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.

What about pupils who are shielding or self-isolating?  Will they be expected to attend from 8^th March?

• A small number of pupils will still be unable to attend in line with public health advice because they are self-isolating and have had symptoms or a positive test result themselves; or because they are a close contact of someone who has coronavirus (COVID-19). Please inform school if this is your child on Monday 8^th

• Shielding advice for children, who have received a letter advising them to shield as they are extremely clinically vulnerable, are advised to continue to shield. A copy of the shielding letter for the child must be given to school. Please contact school if your child is clinically extremely vulnerable and has a current letter advising them to shield.

Routines

On Monday 8^th March, pupils will enter school, as normal, through the front gate at any time after 8:30am and before 8:45am. The gates will not open before 8:30am.  If your child walks to school alone, please ensure they do not arrive before 8:30am. Children will then be asked by staff to enter school and wash their hands, ready to enter class. The school day starts at 8:45 am and ends at 3pm.

Pupils will leave, just after 3pm, through different exits. Miss Angus (class 3) and Mrs Taylor (class 3/4) will exit by the front gate – staff will bring the children out to you. All other classes: Miss Smith (class 4/5), Mrs West (class5/6) and Mrs Dorward (class 6) will exit by the back gate, at the side of school.  Parents/carers are asked to socially distance whilst waiting for their child to exit school.

Parents are asked to socially distance at the school gates and if waiting close to others, to wear face coverings.  If parents need to speak to school staff, at the school gates, please wear face coverings.

Breakfast Club is now available at the Infant School. It is booked directly with the Infant School and a member of our staff picks up junior children from there at 8.30a.m.

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

(If you want to read our full coronavirus risk assessment version 6, it is available on the school website in the news item.)

-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 continue to 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, which assist social distancing.

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

-Windows will be open as much as possible to allow for increased ventilation.

-Staff working in school have twice a week home lateral flow tests.

–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 a bag with: reading record & homework, packed lunch if not on school dinners, snack, own water bottle, coat, own soap/handgel if reactive to school’s soap and their PE kit.  No home equipment such as pens etc. are allowed in school.  PE kits will remain in bags and return home each evening.

– School uniform should be worn.

-The main focus for pupils will be for teachers to assess catch-up requirements for English and Maths.  Additional sessions of English and Maths will be taught, with a focus on reading, writing, GPS, vocabulary, speaking & listening, maths.  Teachers will assess gaps in learning and begin working on the appropriate level to start to catch-up on gaps in learning.  Some subjects: Science, Geography & History, RE, French and DT will be paused, 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 unsure about swimming lessons and music lessons (Y4 ukalele and Y5 brass).  We are awaiting further guidance about when and how they re-start.

-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 parents need to enter school or access reception face coverings should be worn.

-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.  Please ensure your child’s planner and reading book is in their bag each day.

-Face masks are not required for pupils in primary schools. However, if you want your child to wear one we do allow it, as long as they understand the hygiene of how to wear one and place it in pocket or bag when not worn.

-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.

Covid-19

If any pupil or staff, or member of their household, present with coronavirus symptoms (high temperature, new continuous cough, loss of sense of smell or taste), 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/NHS. School must be informed immediately of the result of the test.  If the test is negative the pupil/staff member may return to school when they are well.

If the test is positive, school must be informed and parent/carers will also be asked to provide details of anyone they have been in close contact with by NHS test and trace. The person with the positive test must self-isolate, as do the rest of the household – track and trace will advise on the date and number of days (currently 10 days from onset of symptoms). During periods of self-isolation, the pupil will be provided with home-schooling, through DB Primary.

If a child or member of staff become ill in school, there is a room to isolate pupils in and PPE equipment for staff to wear.

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 and on their wellbeing page on DB Primary.

Home-schooling

Thank you to all parents/carers for supporting your children with their home-schooling. Any workbooks we have sent home for you to use, should not be returned to school – children are welcome to continue using the workbooks if they wish (answers are in the back). Please remember most children will need catch-up and once we return, we will be able to advise you on how to help further.

Loan laptops can remain at home for your child’s use, for homework set on DB Primary, Reading Plus and Spellzone etc.  When your child leaves our school, or if there is a change in plan, we will request the return of the laptop.

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.

School lunch

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 cost £2:10 per day 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.

School meal food vouchers

The final free school meal Edenred voucher has been issued and needs to be redeemed as soon as possible, as the site will close for school access on return to school 8^th March.

REMINDERS

• Parents are reminded to socially distance when picking up children and to wear a face mask, when approaching school staff to talk or accessing school reception.

• 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 every day in your child’s school bag.

• Reading books and planners should come to school daily.

• 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).

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 2020-2022

APJS School COVID 19 risk assessment version 6

FSM pupils

An easter food voucher from Durham County Council has been sent out by e-mail to parents/carers of FSM pupils.

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.

 BT BASIC INTERNET – FOR FAMILIES IN DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES

The monthly line rental only costs £5.16 (including VAT) a month. As well as getting free weekend calls (up to sixty minutes duration) to 0845 and 0870 numbers, it comes with a call allowance of £1.50 and a £10 monthly price cap.

If you would like to add broadband to a BT Basic line, the total cost of this is £10.07.

With the price cap, it means no matter how many calls you make the most you’ll pay each month is £15.16 or £20.07 with broadband, if you keep with the eligible calls included within the price cap. If you make fewer calls it will be less. This applies to UK numbers starting with 01, 02, 03 and 08 as well as UK mobile numbers starting with 07 – so UK mobiles are included too! You can choose to have either monthly or quarterly bills.

How the Call Allowance and Monthly Price Cap Works

·         Monthly price cap – To help you save money on call costs, you have a £10 monthly price cap on UK phone line numbers starting with 01, 02 and 03, UK mobile numbers starting with 07, and 08 numbers.

·         This doesn’t mean we stop you making calls once you’ve spent £10 or that you have to make £10 worth of calls. You can make as few as you like. But if you do make over £10 of calls (eligible for the price cap), you’ll know that you’ll only pay a maximum of £10 a month for your calls. We charge this amount after you’ve used up your £1.50 call allowance

·         Call allowance – As well as the price cap you get a call allowance of £1.50 a month. This is to spend on calls to UK phone line and mobile numbers beginning with 01, 02, 03, 07 or 08, and international numbers. So as long as you stay within your £1.50 call limit your phone bill will always be £5.16 per month.

·         If you go over the call allowance we will charge up to £10 for calls eligible for the monthly price cap (01, 02, 03, 07 and 08 numbers). That’s even if you’ve spent more on these types of calls.

·         If you go over your allowance with calls that aren’t eligible for the price cap you’ll pay 11.3p a minute (plus 3.3p for each call) for all normal UK calls. And for all other calls you’ll pay our standard BT Basic calling package rates.

Who Can Get BT Basic?

You must be getting one of the following means-tested benefits:

·               Income Support

·               Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

·               Pensions Credit (Guaranteed Credit)

·               Employment and Support Allowance (Income related)

·               Universal Credit (and are on zero earnings)

How to Order BT Basic

If you’re the named account holder, you can get a BT Basic application form by calling 0800 800 864 (8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday). We will talk to you about the calls you make so that you can be sure BT Basic is the best package for you.

You will need to fill in a simple one page application form and return it to us within 14 days of receiving it.

You will also need to give us some personal information:

·               Y0ur date of birth

·               Your National Insurance number

·               Confirm the benefit you are receiving

·               Remembering to sign and date your application before returning it in the pre-paid envelope.

We need these details so we can check your records with the Department for Work and Pensions and find out whether you qualify for BT Basic.

Completed application forms should be returned in the envelope provided. If you do not have an envelope, you can send it to this address (remember to put a stamp on the envelope, otherwise it won’t be delivered by the Royal Mail):

BT plc

BT Basic

Durham

DH98 1BT

What Happens Next?

Don’t worry about contacting us, we’ll tell you as soon as possible whether your application is successful. When we have all your information, we’ll check your personal details against benefits information held by the DWP and we’ll write to you after we’ve processed your application.

If you have not filled in your form correctly, this might take up to 30 days. If we need any more information, we will contact you. If you do not qualify for BT Basic, we will write to you to let you know and tell you about other ways you can save money on your BT bill.

If your circumstances change and you are no longer getting one of the benefits that qualifies you for BT Basic, you must let us know so we can review your situation.

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

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

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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