THIS WEEK'S NEWS

• THANK YOU AND WELL DONE After an incredibly difficult week - we've smashed it!! We truly have the most wonderful staff at Parkfield who go above and beyond for our children and it has really showed this week. The lessons have been absolutely outstanding and exactly what all of our children deserve. Well done team Parkfield! Remember to be kind to yourself, take one day at a time, take the time that you need and always ask for help if you need it.

• REMINDERS Please remember to update the curriculum site. No learning logs to go out.

• TWILIGHTS We have 2 twilight sessions coming up. Save the dates: Tuesday 12th January and Monday 18th January. Both dates are from 3.30 - 5.30pm and will be via zoom. The sessions are going to specifically for subject leaders. As a result not all staff are required to attend. A separate email will be sent with further details. For info, this means that all 5 INSET days for this year are complete.

• CURRENT GUIDANCE the most up to date guidance was published last night. It's very lengthy, so if you would like the link to read it all, this is the link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/950510/School_national_restrictions_guidance.pdf I've copied here some parts for us to save you some time. The good news is that we are following all current government guidelines correctly.

'Limiting attendance does not suggest that schools and colleges have become significantly less safe for young people. Instead limiting attendance is about supporting the reduction of the overall number of social contacts in our communities.'

'Specialists, therapists, clinicians and other support staff for pupils with SEND should provide interventions as usual.'

'During the period of national lockdown, primary, secondary, alternative provision and special schools will remain open to vulnerable children and young people and the children of critical workers only (recognising that the characteristics of the cohorts in special schools and alternative provision will mean these settings continue to offer face to face provision for all pupils, where appropriate). All other pupils should receive remote education.'

'Clinically extremely vulnerable pupils are also advised not to attend school. '

'Children with at least one parent or carer who is a critical worker can go to school if required. This includes parents who may be working from home. '

'We know that every school will have a different number of children of critical workers who need to attend. It is important that on-site provision is provided for these pupils, and there is no limit to numbers of these pupils who may attend and schools should not limit attendance of these groups. This is because we are reducing overall social contact across areas and the country rather than individually by each institution.'

'Schools are expected to allow and strongly encourage vulnerable children and young people to attend. Parents/carers of vulnerable children and young people are strongly encouraged to take up the place.'

I hope this helps to answer any queries that you have had. It's been a lot to take in but we have adapted to all the sudden changes very well. If you have any questions I'll try to answer them the best that I can.

• ASSEMBLY CHANGES We're not going to have assemblies in the morning. We'll just have one assembly on a Friday afternoon at half two. This is to ensure our pupils (and staff) aren't 'zoomed out'.

• TWITTER Please keep on tweeting the amazing work you're doing. It's great to see and is a quick way to demonstrate to parents and the school community the work taking place across the school.

• ANDY HELLON We are having a collection for Joshua. Andy would like to purchase a bench of some sort to remember Joshua by. Please transfer your contribution to Mrs Mullane. Thank you.

• TOPIC LEARNING RECOMMENDATIONS some lessons are going to be impossible to teach through blended learning. Please plan to meet your knowledge organiser and find simple activities that can be completed or uploaded so that you can cover what they need to know for topic. If you have some good ideas for this then please feel free to share. Thank you.

• THOUGHT OF THE WEEK Keep calm and carry on :)