Dear Parents/Carers,

Thank you for all of your support this tricky half term. We all feel very proud of the achievements that have been made. The online learning offer has developed at a rapid pace and the engagement we have had from home has been really positive. We really do understand how hard it is to manage this, as well as run your household and for many, hold down full time jobs.

We have had particularly bad luck in our Nursery despite following the strictest of procedures and hygiene measures. Unfortunately quite a high number of staff have been affected by the virus and I know you will join me in wishing them a speedy recovery. We have tried our hardest to open up as soon and wherever possible to support parents and to give continuity to the children.

It is important that you inform us the moment you know if you or anyone in your immediate family has received a positive test. This includes over half term. The dates that we are interested in are anything up to and including this coming Saturday. Track and trace ask us to back track 48 hours from the first signs of symptoms or from the actual test date if there are no symptoms. Please keep us informed so that we can carry out the necessary arrangements.

Please remember you can get a test as often as you like even if there are no symptoms by using this link https://rapidtest.telford.gov.uk/

We know that it will be a welcome relief for everyone to have some time away from screen lessons, but we do ask that you keep reading over half term if you can. Here are some ideas –

• Visit the ‘Storytime online hub’ for a range of children’s books – you can find a direct link for or simply scan using a QR app. These are already    broken down into books suitable for different age ranges.
• David Walliams Elevenses stories are also available online and prove popular with KS2. Cbeebies bedtime stories are available for EYFS and KS1.There are some wonderful online reading supports available such as E-books and audio books using devices.
• Continue to plan regular reading opportunities into your day, such as bedtime stories – this will help to keep up the love of reading that we promote in school.
• Continue to access the online platform your class uses, such as Oxford Owl, Fiction Express or Purple Mash.
• Don’t forget other formats of reading that your child may enjoy such as comics or magazines!

If you are undergoing any issues over half term that you need support with, we might be able to help! We have staff on call and the school email address newdale.primary@taw.org.uk and the school text messages 07765147868  will both be checked regularly.

We look forward to a lighter, brighter, healthier half term and have our fingers crossed that Newdale will soon be running at full capacity again.

Take care and stay safe

Miss Cook

Headteacher

We would like to remind parents that we have set up year group emails for you to contact your child’s class teacher regarding any issues or concerns you may have. These emails are monitored by all of the teachers and TA’s within the year group team to ensure a swift response and are the first point of contact.  We politely ask that you do not try to send any correspondence to individual members of staff through their personal email addresses.

General school enquiries – newdale.primary@taw.org.uk

Reception Team – newdale.yearrteam@taw.org.uk

Year 1 Team – newdale.year1team@taw.org.uk

Year 2 Team – newdale.year2team@taw.org.uk

Year 3 Team – newdale.year3team@taw.org.uk

Year 4 Team – newdale.year4team@taw.org.uk

Year 5 Team – newdale.year5team@taw.org.uk

Year 6 Team – newdale.year6team@taw.org.uk

Kind regards

Miss Cook

Dear Parents/Carers,

Firstly I would like to thank you all for supporting us so well with the online learning offer we have running at the moment. This learning is accessed by all children in school and with your help, all children at home.

It is so important that your children engage with every lesson. Teachers continue to spend a lot of time planning sessions that we hope will result in the children making the progress they deserve over this prolonged time out of school. Please rest assured that the lessons that are being delivered to children at home are the same as the ones which are being delivered in school. Thank you for supporting us in keeping your children home if you are able to.

We are already planning the priority learning and effective ways forward when they eventually do return, but in the meantime all we ask is that you make sure your children tune into all lessons every day. This includes the children who may be in school for part of the week – when they are not in school, they are expected to log into the lessons from home.

Many of us are parents and certainly share your pain when it comes to managing the household and in many cases work commitments on top of this. Of course we will do all we can to help with any digital issues and any other issues that you may have that may affect your children’s learning.

Email us on newdale.primary@taw.org.uk or call us on 01952 387720

We have been made aware that some children are staying attached to devices late on into the night playing games or on social media. Clearly the amount of time they are online learning at school isn’t ideal, but to add to this with hours more screen time could have a detrimental affect on e.g. sleep patterns and moods.

Again, I have two teenage children myself and know it is hard to peel them off devices, but also see the need to set boundaries and limit this time. Simply insisting they go on a walk could be a nice way to get them outside in the fresh air.

Numbers of cases in our area are thankfully coming down slowly. We cannot afford to relax however. We had another case in our Nursery this week despite the very best routines and risk management. Cases thankfully do not get the chance to spread, as we have systems in place to prevent this from happening.

Please remember you can get a precautionary test at any time even if you don’t have symptoms. https://rapidtest.telford.gov.uk/ All staff at Newdale test a minimum of twice a week to support our drive in keeping the virus out of our school community.

Thank you for your ongoing support and fingers crossed we continue to see more positive news across our borough in the coming days and weeks.

MIss Cook

Headteacher