5 days ago
Posted on January 12, 2022 by Miss McCullagh

Our Positive Behaviour Role Models

We have spotted some pupils in Year 3 and and Year 4 who have been showing positive behaviour since returning to school; they have been noticed around school following the Be SMART code and setting a good example to their peers. Our role models for this week have been rewarded with one of our new positive behaviour stickers!😊 Well done and keep up the super work!

One week ago
Posted on January 10, 2022 by Mr McFarland

Year 3 – Home learning tasks if isolating

Please see below for ideas for your child’s home learning should they receive a positive covid test result and feel well enough to continue learning at home. Please note that online lessons are not running as teachers will be teaching lessons in the classroom to the rest of the class. If your child is isolating at home, please use the tasks below as a guide for their home learning tasks.

-Complete their weekly spellings. Games such as Pictionary, scribble draw and roll and spell are fun ways to practice. These can be found on our year-group page.

-Access Times Table Rock Stars and Bug Club daily.

-Play Hit the Button daily – can they beat their score? https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/hit-the-button

(All of these login details can be found in the back of your child’s reading diary)

-Complete activities on BBC Bitesize https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/primary

-Create a fact file about Africa. This should include a title page, interesting facts, where it is and the different animals that live there.

-Can you sketch some African animals?

Use the links below to help you;

https://www.kids-world-travel-guide.com/africa-facts.html

https://www.dkfindout.com/uk/earth/continents/africa/

Thank you,

The Year 3 Team.

One week ago
Posted on January 10, 2022 by Mrs Millington

Update from Miss Cook

10/01/22

Covid update

As predicted, we are seeing numbers of positive cases of Covid increasing. As we broke up for Christmas, we had 4 positive cases. Today we have 16 positive cases (recorded since being back after Christmas).

The Omicron variant is highly transmissible and case numbers in Telford are doubling every 1 ½ to 2 days.

Although the rate of transmission is having a significant impact on the NHS in terms of admissions, emerging evidence suggests that overall people are experiencing milder illnesses.

We are gaining feedback from the vast majority of staff and parents, that the impact of Covid on health, is thankfully less than the Delta variant, so that is positive.

As I have stated previously, we take advice from the Health Protection Hub, who in turn take advice from the national guidance which is Government led. The next review is the 26^th January so it is likely that we will see yet more change following this.

I just want to clarify for parents some key points currently:

A day 6 and day 7 negative LFT test is required (24 hours apart) for children to be allowed out of isolation and back to school. Please don’t risk it and send them back unless you are absolutely sure.
It is now recommended that the response to a single case in a class is to request 7 day LFD testing for the other children in the class. We understand this is not only a pain when looking at testing our youngest children and more nervous children, but also tricky as testing kits are becoming more and more difficult to find. It really would help us keep the transmission rates at a manageable level if you could do this please.
We will let you know if your child has been identified as a close contact e.g. sits on the same table as the positive case.
From tomorrow, people who receive positive lateral flow results for COVID-19 following testing when they have no symptoms, will be required to self-isolate immediately and won’t be required to take a confirmatory PCR test. People with symptoms must continue to book a PCR test.
Attention to ventilation, face coverings for staff, regular testing for staff, hand washing, hand sanitizing are all continuing as before.
We are still unable to invite parents into school. Any essential visitors e.g. staff carrying out referral assessments are required to bring proof of a negative LFT on arrival.
We are still carrying out some trips out of school, again following robust risk assessments. Part of the risk assessment is that anyone travelling on a coach must wear a face covering. If this is an issue, please contact the office for further advice.
We have produced a detailed risk assessment for e.g. the continuation of part mixing children to carry out phonics teaching. Staff follow this risk assessment so that we can continue to deliver high quality phonics teaching at the correct pitch and pace for all of our children.

We are ever optimistic that we will all be in a much better place with managing Covid come the spring. Until then, we need to continue to work together to keep Newdale open and operational for everyone. I know communication is really important, so will let you know of any changes that arise as soon as we know of them.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Miss Cook

Headteacher

Newdale Primary School and Nursery

One week ago
Posted on January 10, 2022 by Mrs Western

E Safety update 10.1.22

Dear Parents/Carers of children in Year 6,

As you will know, it is very tricky to keep clear tabs on what your children are doing on their phones and computers when you are not there. I have teenagers myself and know how hard this can be.

It has come to light today that many children in Year 6 are part of different groups connected to Whatsapp, Instagram, Tik Tok etc. One of the main reasons that the age limit for these apps is 13, is due to the fact that many children in Primary school have not got the maturity to deal with what can take place on these platforms. We have evidence of misuse happening within our Year 6 cohorts, with unfortunately inappropriate comments being made and children blocking and making other children feeling isolated etc.

We believe there is a bit of a vicious circle now with some children saying to parents, ‘they started it, so I said something back…’. Again, a clear reason why we need to ensure children are not using apps such as these, until they are old enough to do so without things escalating.

We continually speak to children across school about safe use of devices, but alas what they do out of school is beyond our control. I have spoken to both classes this afternoon about the importance of correct use of apps, being kind and showing respect both in person, but also virtually. The vast majority of children admitted they were using these apps and I guess that is the problem. They will tell you, ‘Everyone else uses them, so why can’t I?’ We need your support in this matter as we cannot remove this issue on our own.

Please can we ask you to –

Remove apps that are not linked to their age group. If everyone does this, it would make it a lot easier and fairer as far as the children are concerned. I have told them they need to concentrate on school and getting ready for Secondary school and that the content of these apps is putting other children off.
Regularly hold discussions with your children about what they do online and what to do if they are upset by anything.
Check for yourself what they are doing online and support where necessary.

We cannot control what happens at home, but we will do all we can to influence your child’s behaviour online.

If you have any concerns, do let us know and we will do what we can to support from school.

Can we also ask you to remind your child that if they bring their phone to school (because they travel without an adult), it must be switched off and away when they enter the grounds and passed to their teacher for safe keeping in the office until home time. This is a safeguarding issue and part of our school policy. I have explained this to the children again this afternoon.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Miss Cook

Headteacher