Message from Mrs. Castell

Dear all,

In normal circumstances, today would be the end of term and I would be writing to wish you all a happy Easter break. However these are strange times and we are already missing you all. I want to thank the staff for their hard work this term and their commitment to keeping in touch with you and updating the children’s learning with fresh activities. We are really enjoying seeing the activities the children are doing across the various digital platforms. Keep them coming, we will continue to monitor the email accounts and platforms over the next two weeks.

We did achieve quite a lot before the school closure and I attach an updated School Improvement Plan for you. As we have no idea of the length of time we will be required to close, some of the initiatives may now carry on into the next academic year.

Listed below are a few general resources to support children from all year groups over the Easter holidays.

NHS ChatHealth from our School Nurse service: If you need advice about your child’s health and wellbeing in these unsettling times, #Parentline is available for parents/carers of 5-19 year olds to call/ text a school nurse. Call 0300 247 0014 or text 07520 615731 and they will reply. T&Cs: bit.ly/ChatHealthPrivacy

Julia Donaldson is reading one of her stories in a weekly broadcast at 4pm on Thursdays. Details are on the Facebook page for The Gruffalo. She and Axel Scheffler have also published some lovely illustrations of social distancing using her characters, accessible from the same page.

We have been chatting to our sports providers this week and they are missing the children too! Stuart from Firstkick Football says if you can have a kick about in the garden, try and score as many goals as you can against your mums and dads! Also Chelsea FC are running virtual soccer schools for 4-14 year olds over the holidays. Details are on their website at www.chelseasoccerschools.co.uk.

If you’ve been missing yoga club, Mrs. Easteal has sent us the link to the sun salutation song used in her breakfast and after school clubs, which you can find here: youtube.com/watch?v=0DXMc0WaPws. She has also sent some lovely mindfulness challenge cards to support the children’s wellbeing, which I have attached here.

Finally, we would also recommend this brilliant ebook to explain Covid 19 to younger children. www.flipsnack.com/CSKidsBooks/what-s-going-on.html

In these worrying times it is so uplifting to see the activities from the children and their smiling faces from the pictures we have been sent. We cannot wait until we open the gates again and see the children run in for the start of the day.

Have a lovely Easter at home with your family. Take care, wishing you all good health.

Kind regards
Helen Castell