Important Information and Letters
10.01.22- Information Regarding Updated COVID Guidance
Please find attached the latest guidance from Durham County Council. If your child has to self isolate, please contact the school for a work pack, or laptop to access online learning. Packed lunches are also available for eligible children. Thank you for your co-operation during these challenging times.
Letter for Parents – Updated COVID Guidance January 2022
02.12.21 – Information Regarding the Omicron Variant of COVID-19 and Additional Measures in School
Parents/Carers Letter – Additional Measures in School
06.07.21 – Information for Parents/Carers Regarding End of Year Activities – Durham County Council
Parents/Carers Letter – End of Year Activities June 2021
30.06.21 – Information for Parents/Carers Regarding Circulation of COVID19 – Durham County Council
Dear Parent /Carer,
As you will have no doubt seen in the news, COVID19 is on the rise again across the country and also in County Durham.
We obviously do not want the last couple of weeks of term to be disrupted by closing bubbles and sending children home. However, as society opens up, regulations relax and people mix more, this will help COVID19 to spread. We are still working under our system of controls in school, and the guidance is being followed.
Durham County Council has asked us to share this letter with all parents. Please read it as it contains important advice.
Parents/Carers Letter DCC (COVID19)
Parents/carers, please take the following advice:
- Do not send children to school if they have Covid symptoms or seem generally unwell. The Covid symptoms are changing. If your child has a runny nose, cough, headache, high temperature, sore throat (even if it seems like a cold) please keep them off and book a PCR test. If it is negative, they can return to school.
- If you are notified by Test and Trace that you or your family must isolate, please do not send the children to school until the isolation period is over.
- Please encourage your child to wash their hands and sanitise, as we do in school.
- Please continue to wear a face covering when bringing or collecting children. We are outside, but it is busy and sometimes it is difficult to socially distance.
- Please follow the national guidelines around mixing households.
Children’s attendance is not affected if they are isolating or off as awaiting the results of a test.
29.06.21 – Parent Information and Letters – Positive Case (June 2021)
Please click the links below to view parent letters/information which apply in the instance of a positive Coronavirus case in school. You will have been contacted via the school office if your child needs to self-isolate due to being in close contact with a positive case.
Parents of children who have been identified as a close contact (29th June), please note, your child should return to school on Tuesday 6th July.
Self Isolation Information – Durham County Council
Parents/Carers (Close Contact Letter) – 29.06.21
Parents/Carers Support Payment Letter – 29.06.21
08.06.21 – Parent Information and Letters – Positive Case (June 2021)
Please click the links below to view parent letters/information which apply in the instance of a positive Coronavirus case in school. You will have been contacted via the school office if your child needs to self-isolate due to being in close contact with a positive case.
Test and Trace Support Payment Letter
Parents/Carers – Close Contact Letter
Parents/Carers – Not in Close Contact Letter
Self Isolation Information – Durham County Council
21.08.20 – Return to School – September 2020 Update
Updated information regarding the return to school on Wednesday 2nd September. Click the individual links below to access the documents directly:
Frequently Asked Questions
Guide for Parents
Sept 2020 School COVID 19 RA
10.07.20 – September 2020 Update
02.07.20 – Updated Government Guidance
Updated information about what parents and carers need to know about early years providers, schools and colleges during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Updated information for parents and carers about the opening of early years providers, schools and colleges, safety in schools, attendance, transport, school meals and exams. Click on the link below to access the document directly:
Updated guidance for parents and carers of children attending community activities, holiday or after-school clubs, tuition and other out-of-school settings. Click on the link below to access the document directly:
12.06.20 – Additional Safeguarding Guidance
To read our school’s updated safeguarding guidance, please click the link below:
Additional Safeguarding Guidance – A Response to COVID 19 Update
08.06.20 – Opening of County Durham Schools to More Children
Dear Parents,
Durham County Council have published a letter regarding the opening of County Durham schools to more children. To download the PDF version of this letter, click here.
27.05.20 – Latest Durham County Council Guidance
Dear Parents,
In order to keep you as informed as possible, I have uploaded the guidance I received this morning, regarding reopening the school. In light of the guidance, school will continue to offer provision for vulnerable and key worker children only, until June 15th.
To download the PDF version of this letter, click here.
21.05.20 – School will Open to Reception, Year 1 and Year 6
To download the PDF version of this letter, click here.
14.05.20 – Government Guidance for Parents
The Department for Education understand this is a challenging time for parents, as many of you are supporting your children’s learning at home. You may also have questions about your children potentially returning to school.
They have developed the following guidance and resources for parents:
- Q&A which answers key questions parents may have
- Guidance for parents on phased reopening of education settings
- Guidance for parents on supporting learning at home for early years and primary age children (secondary school guidance to follow)
- List of online resources to support children’s development
12.05.20 – Response to Prime Minister’s Announcement
To download the PDF version of this letter, click here.
02.04.20 – Easter Childcare for Key Workers
School will continue to offer childcare throughout the holidays. Please contact the school via telephone, text or email for more information.
17.03.20 – Update for Parents
Please find attached an update about the school’s current position regarding the Coronavirus. Please contact the school if you require any more information.
Keeping in Touch
Class Dojo
Class Dojo – this is the online platform we use in our school, which is the preferred method of communication and work for our children. Class teachers can be contacted via Class Dojo, and they will return messages as soon as possible. If you need your child’s Class Dojo code, please contact the school office, and we will happily provide this for you.
Weekly Tasks During Closures
Over the coming weeks, tasks for children to complete will be posted weekly on individual class blogs. You can access the class blog by clicking on the ‘Year Groups’ tab and selecting the appropriate class.
Useful Advice and Information
Online Safety Advice for Parents
Please find below a document outlining online safety advice for parents, this will provide you with help and guidance to keep your children safe online during this time.
Click on this link to access the document:
Online Safety for Parents – Covid 19
As children are staying in touch with friends/family online, please stay vigilant at this time. A link for information and guidance for parents (NSPCC Net Aware) is below:
School Nurse Virtual Drop-In Sessions
SEND Support During Coronavirus
Help and Support for Children with SEND During School Closures
Free Webinars for Parents
Children in Scotland are a charity, who are delivering five free webinars that are aimed at parents and carers of children with additional support needs.
Tuesday, 7 July 2020, 10.30am-12pm (FREE) Discussing coronavirus and lockdown with children/teens with ASN Delivered by Corrie McLean, Three Sisters Consultancy
Monday, 20 July 2020, 3pm-4.30pm (FREE) Supporting children/teens with ASN to manage health anxieties Delivered by Corrie McLean, Three Sisters Consultancy
Thursday, 23 July 2020, 10.30am-12pm (FREE) Understanding children’s rights and additional support requirements Delivered by My Rights, My Say
Tuesday, 28 July 2020, 10.30am-12pm (FREE) Creating positive home routines for children/teens with ASN Delivered by Corrie McLean, Three Sisters Consultancy
Friday, 31 July 2020, 3pm-4.30pm (FREE) Supporting children/teens with ASN with their transition back to schooling Delivered by Corrie McLean, Three Sisters Consultancy
Mental Health and Well-Being Resources
If you have any concerns about your child’s mental health or well-being, CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) have created a site for young people, carers and professionals to pool together lots of helpful resources from across the internet, that are available to help support you.
There are some videos, information sheets and books available to read. These resources may help you to explain the virus to young children, in a way that can help reduce the fear and worry it can cause in children.
Should you find it helpful, you can access the website using the link below:
Helping Children Understand Coronavirus
Talking Tips for Coronavirus
Please find attached a couple of resources that you might find useful.
The Keeping Calm document has lots of tips from Incredible Years about parenting with the children at home, during lockdown.
The book below, that can be printed off, is a lovely book illustrated by Axel Scheffler, to help explain Coronavirus to children, if you feel it is appropriate or needed.
There is also some information about the support that Little Treasures are providing during this time, this is for all parents, but has additional information about children with special educational needs.
Keeping Calm and Providing Supportive Parenting During the Coronavirus
Coronavirus – A Book for Children
Little Treasures Support During COVID -19
The Book of Hopes: Words and Pictures to Comfort, Inspire and Entertain Children in Lockdown
A brand new book by 110 children’s authors & illustrators is available to download from today FOR FREE!
#TheBookofHopes, edited by Katherine Rundell, is dedicated to all hospital workers & you can read it in full on the @Literacy_Trust website. You can download the book by clicking on the link below: