Scarcliffe Primary School

Information from Public Health England

Below is the latest information from the Director of Public Health in Derbyshire. 

Information for key workers and parents of vulnerable children during the lockdown in January 2021

Parents and carers will have a number of questions about how school will operate for those children who take a place during the lockdown. Please see the letter below which aims to answers these questions. 

Home learning during the lockdown in January

We have pulled together some key information regarding home learning during the lockdown in January 2021.  Please see the letter below:

Guidance from Derbyshire Public Health Protection Team

The letter below outlines some of the changes to guidance which are in place over the Christmas period.  

Expectations around home learning 

The letter below provides some further detail on our expectations around home learning.

Reopening in September - Information for Parents 

We know you will have lots of questions about the reopening of school in September.  This letter below aims to address these. 

Home Learning Timetable

Policies linked to Covid-19

Some of our policies have been adapted while we are operating in a different way.  Please follow the links below to see our new policies. 

Behaviour Policy - Version 2

Safeguarding Policy - Addendum

Letters Home

Below are the letters that have recently been sent home related to school opening and home learning. 

Latest DfE Guidance

Please click the link here to see the latest guidance for parents from the DfE. 

Medical Forms

In order to reduce contact with staff in school, medical forms are now to be completed online.  Follow the link to complete a form if you need us to administer medication to your child in school.  

Online Medication Form

1st April 2022 - Shared on class Dojo

REMOTE LEARNING - Update

As we move back towards normality, the guidance has changed around setting remote learning when children are absent with CV-19. During the pandemic, it became mandatory for schools to set remote learning, but from today this is no longer the case. 

We will now go back to operating as we were pre pandemic. That is, if children are absent from school because they are too ill, then we will assume they are too unwell to work at home and no remote learning will be set. 

Where children are off for longer periods, we will consider setting remote learning but this will generally be in exceptional circumstances and will be decided on a case by case basis. 

As a small school, setting remote learning has put additional pressure on staff and we are pleased that we can put all our focus back on to making sure we offer children the very best lessons we can when they are in school. 

Many thanks

31st March 2022 - Shared on Class Dojo

CV-19 UPDATED GUIDANCE

From tomorrow:

Testing is no longer advised for asymptomatic children at all.

Tests will no longer be freely available. You will also not be expected to test if you have symptoms any more.

Instead: adults and children with the symptoms of a respiratory infection, and who have a high temperature or feel unwell, should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people until they feel well enough to resume normal activities and they no longer have a high temperature.

In other words, it will be treated like flu. 

However, if anyone has a positive Covid-19 test (as there will still be tests around), adults should stay off for 5 days and children for 3 days.

This means that any children currently absent with Covid-19 can return to school after 3 days providing they feel well enough.

Any questions, please ask.

28th Feb 2022 - Shared on Class Dojo

CV-19 Guidance UPDATE

As you probably know, there has been a change in the government's approach to dealing with CV-19 and this has resulted in a change in guidance to schools. 

The main change is that it is no longer a legal requirement to self isolate if you get CV-19, however this is still a recommendation. Therefore, we ask that you follow this guidance and in the event that your child catches CV-19, they isolate and return to school after 5 days AND once they have had two consecutive negative tests OR after 10 days (whichever is sooner).

Please be aware that we are not in a position to police this in school and are relying on parents and carers to adhere to this guidance in the best interests of the school community. 

Contact tracing has now ended as close contacts are no longer required to self isolate. As a result, we will no longer inform parents and carers if there is a positive case in school unless we are instructed to do so by Public Health England. 

We still have the recommended safety measures in place which include:

- Ventilation of indoor spaces where possible
- Encouraging regular hand washing
- Enhanced cleaning

Please be aware that we have plans to step up measures in the event of a local outbreak. In this event, we would work closely with local health protection teams and will keep you informed as appropriate.

Facemasks are no longer required in or around school - but parents and carers can (of course) wear them if it makes them feel more comfortable. 

 

13th Jan 2021 - Shared on Class Dojo

LETTER TO PARENTS AND CARERS FROM BOLSOVER DISTRICT COUNCIL - SUPPORTING VULNERABLE FAMILIES:
 
Dear Parents/Carers,
 
During this difficult time, some of us may be experiencing challenges that you and your family have not faced before. Below are a selection of links containing useful information about situations families may be facing and how you can deal with them. 
 
Click the links below for information on…
• Financial support and advice
• Winter grants, including food vouchers, business 
support and advice on money, benefits and food 
• Navigating redundancy 
• Benefits claims and enquiries
• Foodbanks
• Mental health information
• Fuel insecurity advice and support 
 
 https://www.ruralactionderbyshire.org.uk/Listing/Category/rural-poverty
 
 https://www.ruralactionderbyshire.org.uk/foodbanks
 
 https://www.ruralactionderbyshire.org.uk/feeding-derbyshire
 
• Support with self-isolation
• Support for the clinically extremely vulnerable 
• Supermarket priority slots
 
 https://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/social-health/health-and-wellbeing/health-protection/disease-control/coronavirus/community-response-unit/if-you-need-help/if-you-need-help.aspx 
 
• Business assistance
• Business grants
• Test and trace support payments
 
 https://www.bolsover.gov.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=217
 
Alternatively, If you would like to speak to anyone, Bolsover District Councils Customer services team are on hand to help support you with queries or questions you may have on 01246 242424.

9th Jan 2021 - Shared on Class Dojo

NEW GUIDANCE FOR CRITICAL WORKERS:
 
At the end of last week, the DfE updated their guidance to schools with regard to who is classed as a critical worker. 
 
They have defined CRITICAL WORKERS as:
 
'Parents whose work is critical to the coronavirus (COVID-19) and EU transition response.'
 
The guidance goes on to state that:
 
'Children with at least one parent or carer who is a critical worker can go to school if required...Parents and carers who are critical workers should keep their children at home if they can.'
 
With this in mind, along with my previous post about the number of children currently attending school, please let me know if you no longer feel you are eligible for a school place or if you are able to reduce the number of days your child attends school.
 
Please only contact me or post messages about your own circumstances, as it is impossible for anyone to have a full understanding of anyone else's reasons for sending their child(ren) to school. 
 
The full guidance (including the DfE's definition of vulnerable children) can be found by following the link below:
 
 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/950510/School_national_restrictions_guidance.pdf

7th Jan 2021 - Shared on Class Dojo

***UPDATE REGARDING NUMBER OF PUPILS IN SCHOOL - PLEASE READ IN FULL***
 
This week, we have tried hard to accommodate requests for children to attend school in line with the guidance from the DfE. However, as the week has developed I have become increasingly concerned about the number of children that are attending school during this lockdown at a time when infection rates and pressure on the NHS are so high. 
 
Clearly, the intention of the school closure is to reduce transmission rates as far as possible - something we can help to achieve by minimising the number of children in school. 
 
Next week, we have 51 of our pupils in school at some point during the week. In normal opening conditions we would have 94 children in school. When the lockdown was announced it was said that schools are closed for most children - for us, with almost 55% currently in school, this is not the case. 
 
The high numbers of pupils in school is manageable from an educational point of view, but staff have raised concerns and feel anxious about how safe it is in the current climate to have this number of children in class. In simple terms, the fewer children in school, the safer school is for the staff and children who have to be in as well as for their immediate families. 
 
Clearly, school is the best place for children to learn and we know that managing home learning is challenging. However, the fact that children find it easier to concentrate in school should not be the sole purpose for sending them to us if they are able to access the work at home. Our home learning offer has improved since the start of this pandemic. We now provide detailed videos which explain the tasks and are available throughout the day to offer remote support. The aim is that children can access a number of activities independently. Therefore, I would ask that you consider the purpose of the school closures and whether you might be able to support your child’s learning at home as best you can. 
 
With this in mind, I would like to urge parents and carers who have places in school to consider whether they might be able to reduce the amount of time they send children to us, or indeed keep children at home full-time during the lockdown. 
 
I understand that for many critical workers - particularly those working within the NHS - that this might not be possible and in fact would encourage them to send children to us on a full-time basis while they continue to do their vital work. One example of the pressure our high numbers is causing us is that a parent (who works as a nurse) contacted school yesterday to request more time for their child in school so that she was able to administer the new vaccine for CV-19. We only just managed to accommodate her request. 
 
I hope you can appreciate that in almost all other circumstances I would want as many children in school as possible, however we are in very challenging times and your support in keeping children away from school as much as possible would be very much appreciated. 
 
If you are able to reduce the amount of time your child(ren) are in school, please send me a message on Class Dojo so I can amend our records. 

Thank you.

4th Jan 2021 - Shared on Class Dojo

Given the Prime Minister’s announcement tonight regarding the national lockdown and closing of schools to all but vulnerable children and those of key workers, we are now trying to quickly make plans to revert to remote learning. As you can probably appreciate, this is challenging to do in time for tomorrow given that the announcement came after 8pm this evening. 
 
As a result, we are going to use tomorrow to prepare for the new way in which we need to work. Therefore, school will be closed tomorrow and remote learning will be in place from Wednesday 6th January. 
 
If you are a key worker or if you consider your child to be vulnerable, please complete the form by following the link below. I would appreciate it if you could complete the form regardless of whether you plan on sending your child(ren) to school:
 
 https://forms.gle/5hjbtkGrLnkYKhidA
 
IT WOULD BE INCREDIBLY HELPFUL IF THIS FORM COULD BE COMPLETED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, BUT BY TUESDAY AT 12:00PM BY THE LATEST. 
 
I will be in touch tomorrow to outline our expectations in relation to home learning. I will also send information regarding our plans for opening to eligible children. 
 
We understand that a small number of key workers will be unable to make childcare arrangements for tomorrow at such short notice and so we will make childcare provision for their children. Please be aware though, that for tomorrow this will be childcare rather than schooling. Please send me a Dojo message tonight if you need to make use of this emergency childcare for tomorrow – include drop off and collection times (between 8:00am and 4:30pm) in your message. 
 
I am very sorry that we find ourselves in this position again. Please rest assured that we will do everything we can to support you and your children to ensure that the lockdown has as small an impact on learning as possible. 
 
Ian Marsh

3rd July 2020 - Shared on Class Dojo

SCHOOL UPDATE - Full Opening:
 
You will have probably seen the headlines about the reopening of school for all pupils from September. 
 
The DfE have released lots of guidance which we now need to apply to our school setting. We have a few things to decide upon before we will be able to give you final details about how school will operate from September, but we do fully expect to be open to every child from Thursday 3rd September.
 
The government have made it clear that school will be mandatory from September. I understand that you will have some anxieties around your child returning to school, but we will have lots of measures in place to keep them safe and will be sharing these with you soon. 
 
We will try to get more details out to parents before the end of term, but keep an eye on Class Dojo over the summer holiday as we will undoubtedly by putting further updates on there. 
 
In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns, please send me a message on Dojo or email me: imarsh@scarcliffe.derbyshire.sch.uk
 

31st May 2020 - Shared on Class Dojo

BACK TO SCHOOL TOMORROW
 
Tomorrow home learning activities will resume in all classes. Please ask your child to login to Seesaw to see what staff have planned for them. 
 
For some children of key workers, school will open again this week. There are a number of changes to the way we will run from Monday. These changes are summarised below:
 
• Children will be expected to wear uniform where possible – but trainers for footwear. 
• Children will need to bring their workbooks, a water bottle, a sunhat and their packed lunch if they aren’t having a school meal. 
• Children shouldn’t bring anything else to school. 
• Children don’t need a PE kit in school. 
• Parents are asked NOT to come on to the playground in a morning. Ring the buzzer at the gate and your child will be asked to walk up the playground and ring the doorbell outside Class 2. 
• Children will be seated 2m apart but we cannot keep children 2m apart all day. 
• Children have been put in bubbles – they will stay with the same children and adults. They will not always be with their usual teachers or in their normal classroom. 
• Children who attend school between reception and Year 2 will be entitled to their universal free school meal.
• Children can be dropped off at any time after 8:00am. Breakfast (toast or cereal) will be offered to children arriving before 8:45am. 
• Children can be collected at any time up until 4:00pm. 
• On collecting children, please ring the buzzer on the gate. You will be invited to wait on the NoMow area and your child will be brought to you there. 
• We have written a new behaviour policy which we will share with pupils and parents on Monday. 
• We will work outside when we can. Please apply sun cream to your child before they come to school. 
• Please send all money in to school via the School Money App. 
• Communicate with school via email, Seesaw, telephone and Class Dojo where possible. Face to face meetings must be booked in advance. 
  
Please note that this is not school as you knew it. Until we are in a position to welcome whole year groups back, we will use the time in school to support your child in the home learning they would have otherwise completed at home.
 
We know that you will be a little anxious about sending your child to school if you haven’t needed to over the last 10 weeks, but rest assured that we will work hard to make sure they are safe and happy!

 
I will keep you all updated as the situation about the wider opening of school develops.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

24th May 2020 - Shared on Class Dojo

UPDATE ON WIDER SCHOOL OPENING AND REQUEST FOR INFORMATION FROM KEY WORKERS:
 
Please note that all plans are subject to change if we are given updated guidance from the Department for Education or Derbyshire County Council. This will be communicated with you via Class Dojo. 
 
Following on from the update on Friday about the wider opening of school, I would like to provide more information about what this will mean for our pupils and their families. 
 
For the MAJORITY OF CHILDREN, school will remain closed on 1st June. This means that, after half term, staff will continue to set home school activities through Seesaw as well as directing children to activities in their CGP books. There are a wide range of resources out there now to support home learning. Mr Horton will be making contact during half term to give more details about our home school offer from 1st June. Currently, we are not in a position to know when this situation will change. I do know however that we only have the capacity for 32 children in school while ever we are requirement to seat pupils 2 metres apart. Until this guidance changes, it is clear that we will be unable to offer the majority of children a place in school. 
 
If you have any concerns about the well-being of any child in our school community, please do not hesitate to contact school to seek support! Please also familiarise yourself with the Online Safety guidance we have issued on Class Dojo as we are aware that children are accessing a large amount of learning online at the moment. 
 
KEY WORKERS will continue to be able to send their children to school. Attached is a letter to explain what school will look like for these children from 1st June. If you are a KEY WORKER, please read the letter carefully and complete the short survey (link below). If you are eligible to send your child to school but haven’t done so yet, please complete the survey anyway. We have been asked to ensure that the wider opening of school does not result in limiting places for children of key workers. Therefore, it is crucial that we get an accurate picture of the demand for places now and in the future. 
 
KEY WORKERS SHOULD FOLLOW THE LINK BELOW TO OUTLINE THEIR NEED FOR OUR CHILDCARE SERVICE.
 https://forms.gle/HnicG8FXGduHRkMk9
 
I am sure you are aware that we are very keen to welcome all children back to school as soon as it is safe to do so and are aware of the challenges that the current arrangements will be causing for you and your family. 
 
We really appreciate your continued support and patience!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

22nd May 2020 - Shared on Class Dojo

INFORMATION ABOUT WIDER SCHOOL OPENING:
 
We have just received an update from Derbyshire County Council about the wider opening of schools from 1st June. 
 
As a Derbyshire County Council maintained school, we follow the guidance they set out. They have been working with the DfE to get clarification on some of the points raised in their guidance. Following the discussions, DCC have made the decision to recommend that all of its schools do not open on 1st June to children beyond those currently eligible to attend - key workers and vulnerable children. 
 
The DfE have also now clarified with DCC that children must be seated 2m apart. Having prepared classroom furniture in this way, I'm sure you can appreciate that this doesn't give us very much capacity in such a small school. In fact, our classrooms can only accommodate 6 children. 
 
We have now been given the clear instruction that these limited spaces have to be allocated to vulnerable children and those of key workers. Key worker children will still be able to attend school from 1st June, but they should make other arrangements where possible so that we have the capacity to support those families who need to use our service. It is not expected that they attend everyday. Staff will continue to support the children with the home learning activities that have been set by class teachers. 
 
If we have any spare capacity once we have met the needs of key workers, we will start to open up spaces to the priority year groups identified - Reception, Year 1 and Year 6. However, given the limited capacity we have in school, I wouldn't anticipate we would be able to do this while maintaining social distancing rules. 
 
While we find out a safe way to reopen school(under the guidance of Derbyshire County Council), we will continue to work hard to provide online home learning activities for your child. 
 
I will be sending a further Dojo later early next week to gain an understanding of the demand for key worker spaces. 
 
I am truly sorry that we won't be able to welcome more children to school on June 1st. However, I know that Derbyshire have made their decision based on what is best for keeping its staff and young people safe!