Question & Answer Session

Dear Parents, Carers and Children,

Follow the link below to join Mrs Powell and Mrs Huda’s question and answer session every Wednesday at 2pm. We have set aside some time where you can ask any questions you have and also let Mrs Powell and Mrs Huda know how you are feeling and how you are getting on with your online work.

If you are logging in as a guest, please can you use the child’s name so we know who is in our session. There might even be some special guests joining us from time to time. Please click on the link below to join.

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_NTYyY2IyM2MtMWRlYy00ZjlhLTljNmYtM2EyN2Y3MGZlMmVj%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%223813cfda-52af-4ca5-b8e3-231579770aba%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22b7fbccd2-c777-41b6-ba22-f40bcd017bf1%22%7d

Thanks

Mrs Huda
Pastoral Team

26.1.21 Update linked to online learning

Dear Parents/Carers,

Firstly I want to say a huge thank you to all those parents who spent the time filling in the Online Learning Survey (127 received). We are delighted with your feedback and have shared your wonderful comments with the whole team and Governors.  We have now read each and every one and here are just some of the highlights and the areas that we are now working on:

 

Highlights

  • You are delighted that children who are working at home are getting the exact same offer as the children who are attending school.
  • The live learning lessons are a hit! Your children are loving seeing their teachers and friends in the same way that the teachers are loving seeing them too!
  • Communication between school staff and you is brilliant: staff are working hard to support you even out of school hours.
  • You have complimented all our staff teams about how hard they are working.

 

Areas we are now working on

  • Ensuring that work is organised (maybe in dated folders) and daily or weekly timetables are shared so that you can see easily what needs to be done and when.
  • Uploading the work the night before, in order for you to prepare if you wish.
  • Offering a wider variety of lessons e.g. topic days or art days.
  • Giving more opportunities for pupils to meet e.g. carrying out ‘show and tell.’
  • Supporting you further in understanding topics and concepts e.g. vocabulary definitions and Maths knowledge organisers.

 

Year group teachers may also feedback specific points to you based on comments that link to their particular year group.

 

We are constantly reviewing our offer and it is wonderful to have this feedback to work on.

 

We appreciate that it is very difficult for children to maintain the level of concentration and motivation needed for home learning and we are so proud of them for keeping going. Our priority is clearly the wellbeing of your children and of course ensuring they continue to make as much progress as they can, so that when this virus is under more control, they will still remain where they should be with their learning.

 

Senior managers met last night and have begun plans to incorporate some sessions that would have been going on in school, that perhaps have less structure than normal. For example, next week on Tuesday afternoon, all children in school will be given the opportunity to see an online pantomime that we have purchased for them.  The team is also planning in more themed days and practical art days which we know the children will enjoy and will potentially give adults who are supporting a bit of relief! Please remember that teachers are conscious that parents at home, may well be working from home, and therefore the sessions are designed for the children to work as independently as possible – don’t let your children trick you into thinking you need to be supporting them through every minute of every session – they would be working independently in the classroom too!

 

It has gone very quiet as far as announcements from the Government about schools are concerned. As soon as we hear what the plan is, we will of course let you know.

 

Thank you for your continued support,

 

Miss Cook

Headteacher

Update- 25.01.2021

Dear Parents/Carers,

We are delighted to have been able to remain open today, despite the conditions on our site.

Luckily the Newdale team managed to clear enough space on the site to allow staff to get on and carry out their jobs.

We are very keen to support children with consistency of our offer and of course working parents.

The arrangements at the end of the day are slightly altered due to where the site is most easily accessible.

Home time pick-ups are at the location listed –

Year 5&6- Collection from the back of the hall (where sports clubs are normally released)

Year 3- Collection from the back of the hall (where sports clubs are normally released)

Year 1&2- Collection from the year 1 decking at the front of the school

Year 4 & Reception- Collection from the steps up to school opposite the visitor car park

Thank you for your continued support.

 

 

 

 

 

Telford Child Sexual Exploitation inquiry

25.1.21

Dear Parents/Carers,

You may be aware that in 2019 Telford & Wrekin Council commissioned an independent inquiry to fully investigate child sexual exploitation in Telford & Wrekin from 1989 to the present day to identify if, and where, public, and other services have failed and where possible, to establish who is accountable for any failure/s and to make recommendations for the future.

At the end of last year, the Chair launched an advertising campaign and made a further call for witnesses to come forward and give evidence to the inquiry. The inquiry is keen to hear from anyone who has relevant information about child sexual exploitation in the Telford area, including:

  • Victims and survivors of child sexual exploitation, and their families
  • Those who work/have worked in child protection, healthcare, education, or the investigation of criminal offences
  • Anyone who has seen something in the community that is helpful for the Inquiry to know

As members of the community, you may have information to share. You can share information with the Inquiry in a safe and supportive environment and independent support services are available to anyone who gives evidence to the Inquiry. Further information can be found at www.iitcse.com and the Inquiry can be contacted on the details set out below.

Regards,

Miss Cook

Headteacher

School is open- 25.01.2021

School is open as normal today. A couple of points to consider when dropping and collecting your child/ children from school;

  • The car park is closed to parents/ carers and visitors, we ask if you can park away from school and walk the rest of your journey.
  • Only the main gate will be open to enter and exit the school.
  • Please dress your child/ children in warm suitable clothing.

 

Fun in Base Camp 🌳🔥

We have really enjoyed our sessions in Base Camp over the last couple of weeks! We all worked really hard to build dens, identify different birds and design some bird feeders. We even had hot chocolate and toasted marshmallows on the fire.

22.1.21 Update

 

 

Dear Parent/Carers,

 

We are looking forward to having all ‘bubbles’ back in school on Monday, after a period of isolation for both Year 6 and Nursery. We are delighted that the systems in place meant that the virus did not spread further throughout our school or further within the bubbles.

Fingers crossed that we don’t have to close any further ‘bubbles’ moving forward. We know how disruptive this is to children, parents, employers and teachers.

 

As you know, it is so important that you keep a really careful eye on the health of your family. The Rapid Lateral Flow testing centre at Oakengates is open for all residents of Telford and please remember you don’t have to be showing symptoms in order to book a test https://rapidtest.telford.gov.uk

All staff are currently getting tested once or twice a week in order to give colleagues, parents and themselves some self-assurance. The national staff testing initiative launches on Monday. All staff will test at home, twice a week and be duty bound to send results. This we know will again strengthen our drive to keep the virus at bay.

 

We are delighted in the uptake of online learning and look forward to reading your comments in our parent survey that closes at noon today https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=2s8TOK9SpUy44yMVeXcKujfWR1zrUJ1JhQgacqv0-RBUQUcwTEc3ODlOMlhIMjEyRVVUTVFaVUwzTS4u

As ever, if you are struggling with devices or connection please ring us and we will do all we can to help. Paper packs are being phased out and only used in an absolute emergency for those who really cannot get online. Online paper packs simply cannot support progress anywhere near as much as the live teacher sessions.

 

Some staff have reported that a few children in the same year group are accessing the sessions from one house. Under lock down rules there is a ‘childcare support bubble’ element, but please only use this if you really have to. This rule applies for drop off and collection too. We are finding that some parents are allowing other parents to collect their children. In order to keep the virus from spreading, we need to be as strict as we possibly can please.

 

Figures in Telford are coming down, but unfortunately it is at rather a slow rate. The fact still remains that the Early Years and Primary age group of children still show the lowest number of positive cases across the borough.

 

As you know it is a team effort and I can assure that ‘Team Newdale’ are all over doing their bit!

 

Stay safe everyone.

 

Miss  Cook

Headteacher

Telford & Wrekin Laptop Recycling Scheme

Do you have an old laptop that you no longer need? 💻
If yes, why not donate it to help support a child’s online learning? 🙋
❗ In the next two weeks, we are asking for donations of laptops in good condition, that we will collect & trade-in to buy new laptops to help children in our borough who don’t have their own computer at home for online learning.
☑️ Our Council has already provided 300+ laptops through the “Laptops for Learning” scheme – but more devices are needed, as during this lockdown, more children in our borough struggle to learn from home.
If you wish to donate, please note the following:
Laptops condition
☑️ The laptop(s) you are donating should be in good condition, with no damage to keys or casing and with a power supply.
☑️ Please delete any personal data (e.g. documents, photos) from the laptop(s) donated.
Pick-up – to avoid non-essential journey, we will pick up your donated devices from your home or business address in our borough.
To arrange the collection, go to http://orlo.uk/ht4vb
👉 Pick a convenient slot (either morning or afternoon) when you would like us to come and collect your device(s)
🛍️ Ensure your donated device(s) is inside a plastic bag ( to protect from weather conditions), with a label stating ‘For collection by TWC’.
🏠 The bag needs to be placed on your doorstep ready for collection (from 8.30am, for AM pickup slot and from 12.30pm, for PM pickup slot)
🤔 Should you have any issues/ concerns around your collection slot or if you want to change/cancel it after your booking, please email laptopcollection@telford.gov.uk
‼️ We are accepting only laptops for donations (and not other devices such as ipads, tablets) as we can only trade-in laptops for brand new devices that will be given to children who need them.
THANK YOU! ❤️