Free SIM cards

At school we have a limited number of a 30GB data-only SIMs for which last for 90 days. We would like to offer these to help support children access the online learning.  The SIM cards will work with a Smart Laptop/Dongle if it has a slot for a SIM card, you simply place it in.

 

The SIM card can be placed into a Smartphone. You can then use that data to connect or ‘tether’ your others devices (eg tablet, laptop) by using the ‘Hotspot’ feature on the phone. You would not be able to use your phone to make calls/texts while using your data SIM.

 

If you would like a 30GB sim card, please email newdale.primary@taw.org.uk and request one (first come, first served). The data must be used to support home schooling during this national lockdown.

 

The SIM cards are limited to 30GB, so once that data limit is reached, no further data is available and once the 90 days has ended, any remainder of the 30GB of data will expire.

 

Regards

 

The Newdale Team

Update 05.01.2021

 

Dear Parents/Carers,

We are delighted that our efforts to open today paid off with key worker children back in school loving learning. Staff also worked tremendously hard in making sure the online learning offer is as good as it can possibly be.

It is really important that both staff and parents do all they can to keep children engaged and learning. Staff are aware of the fact that many parents will be ‘home working’ and hence not have as much time as they would like or need to support children. Teachers are trying to make the learning as clear as they can to children in the hope they can manage to get on without the need for too much adult help whilst ensuring a quality provision.

We are keeping our Breakfast and After School Club open to support critical workers but have decided to postpone some clubs until a later date e.g. Crossbar clubs.

We have been inundated with requests for school places and this is becoming a real challenge to us due to teacher capacity and space. Ultimately, schools have closed to limit the potential to spread the virus. We are already close to our maximum capacity to operate safely. We do ask that you only request places if you are a Critical Key worker and that you have no other option in keeping your children at home. We are going to look at whether there are ways we can increase any capacity but in the end we will need to cap numbers and move forward in a safe way for everyone. We really hope you can support us in this.

The new booking form will be coming out soon please keep an eye out for it.

Kind regards

Miss Cook

Update 5.01.21

Good morning,

 

Many staff working in our school have children of their own and therefore can completely sympathise with you this morning. We know that the last minute decision by the Government will undoubtedly cause mass disruption on so many levels. Many schools have closed their doors today in order to plan for the forthcoming weeks. We worked very late into the night in order to be able to at least allow some of our critical, key workers access to school places for their children, so that they can go to work to support us all. As you know, it is so important that everyone supports each other over this difficult time.

 

We understand that some people may have missed the communication that we sent more or less immediately after the announcement last night and we will look at what further we can offer later on today after we have processed the applications we have already received.

 

Please help us by not turning up for school if you are in anyway unsure as to if your child qualifies for a place. We are only able to accept certain children as per the guidance and only children that we have received a form from at this point. A ‘lock down’ is a ‘lock down’, and we need to only have children in school whose parents really do qualify as key workers please. Please also only take up the place if you really need it e.g. shift work patterns may mean you can in fact safely keep you child at home. Please do not be offended if we ask for proof of key worker status and even ask for shift patterns so that we can plan accordingly.

 

School staff will be contacting parents of children who we believe qualify for places who have not yet been in touch. Please wait for communication from school and access the online learning offer for your child today.

 

If you are struggling with accessing the online offer, please contact either the office or your child’s teacher through their email contact.

 

Again, thank you for all of your support.

 

Miss Cook

Headteacher

Last letter of 2020

 

Dear Parents/Carers,

 

We would firstly like to thank you for all of the support we have had over this tricky period. It has not been easy and despite our best efforts, we have had to deal with a very small number of cases in school this term. Our number of cases is relatively few in comparison to many other schools and we know that our partnership working with you, the Health Protection Hub, the Local Authority along with our strict procedures have helped to keep this figure so low.

 

Should your child(ren) develop symptoms or have a positive test on either Friday 18th, Saturday 19th or Sunday 20th December then you MUST let us know. Could you please do this by using the following email address newdale.primary@taw.org.uk, this will be monitored over that period by two members of staff who remain on call or alternatively calling the school office on 01952 387720.  The school number will be diverted until 6.00pm on 24th December.  Please only call this number to report symptoms or a positive test and not for general enquiries.

 

If your child(ren) develops symptoms or tests positive outside of this time period (Monday 21st December onwards) then please use the NHS Track and Trace system and you do not need to let us know, unless they are continuing to self-isolate once we return on 5th  January. This is because it will have been longer than 48 hours since they were in school and will therefore, not affect any other staff or students. Please note as of Monday 14th December, the isolation period is only 10 days.

 

Thank you for your continued support with this and I sincerely hope it will not be needed for any family over the festive period. I hope you all have a well-earned rest and have the opportunity to spend it with loved ones.

 

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all of the staff at Newdale primary School and Nursery. We look forward to welcoming you back on Tuesday 5th January 2021.

 

Miss Cook

Winter Free School Meal Vouchers

All vouchers have been sent by the council by email a week ago today, the only exceptions being the ones that have come directly to the school that we have sent home today.

 

If you have not received a voucher for a child that receives FSM,  please email the winterfunding.grant@telford.gov.uk  giving your name, the child/children’s names you haven’t had the voucher for and the home address.

 

If you have not applied for free school meals and your child receives them under the universal Free School Meal offer, where by all reception and year one students get a hot meal each day, you will need to head to www.telford.gov.uk/FSM and make an online application. Eligibility can be checked and if you qualify they will be notified and can issue the voucher.

 

If you have any problems redeeming the voucher this is the number you will need to contact  0344 693 9901

 

Sport after school clubs after Christmas

The sports clubs running after Christmas are as follows;

Monday- Year 1&2 Football and Year 3&4 Strictly come dancing

Tuesday- Year 3 to 6 Football and Gymnastics

Wednesday- Streetdance and Year 3 to 6 Basketball

Thursday- Year 3 to 6 Girls Football

Friday- Year 3 to 6 Dodgeball

All clubs are now live on Parentpay, please log in to view more details and sign up.

Up to date contact details

If you have changed your contact details recently, please can you let the school office know on 01952 387720. It is very important that school have your up to date details especially mobile numbers in case we have to contact you over the Christmas holidays (please see ‘important information for the Christmas holiday’ post).