THIS WEEK'S NEWS

• WORLD BOOK DAY - Date alteration - it is not next Thursday, but the Thursday after, when all of the children are back in - so please remind children of this. The children and the staff can dress up as anything, or normal non uniform if they prefer. We are off timetable for the day. Years 1 and 2 will have PPA as normal. Please prepare a book or an extract to read to the children that they will enjoy. The children will then be creating a 'book' each. They will need a front cover, a blurb, a story and illustrations. Please tailor it to the Year group that you are in. At the end of the day, they may then want to read their story to the class and take it home if you like.

• WHOLE SCHOOL RE-OPENING DETAILS

• School will reopen to all pupils on the 8th March

• All pupils are expected in school, unless they are shielding. Attendance is not optional.

• The entrance and exit routine from Autumn term will continue - with children lining up on the playground and being collected by teaching staff at 8.45am

• Before and After School Club will continue as per usual.

• The class bubble system is still in place

• Coronavirus measures within school will remain. Please see the updated risk assessment (found here)

• All children will be provided with a new school water bottle

• Y6 breakfast booster club will continue after Easter holidays giving pupils a few weeks to settle back into routine

• There will be 2 assemblies per week (Monday and Friday at 10.10am)

• STAFF MEETING Next Wednesday's staff meeting will be to discuss any practical elements of reopening and the plan for how teaching and learning will look once all children are back in with a discussion around curriculum, assessment and catch up.

• PERMANANT TA2 POSITIONS Please see my email sent earlier this week where applicants are invited from internal members of staff. Following a budget review it is clear that we are in a stronger financial position than originally anticipated this time last year and as a result could fill the vacant roles on a permanent basis. We are also in the fortunate position to be able to advertise the post internally as we have so many fantastic staff that are more than ready and able for the role. The deadline for submitting a letter of interest is Friday 5th March at 12pm. Thanks in advance to those that submit a letter.

• STAFF ABSENCE If you are going to be absent please call Marc or Gemma before 8am on the first day of absence. You no longer need to call Karen B as she is now working two days per week.

• TEACHER APPRAISAL REVIEWS Thanks for signing up to the different times next week. As mentioned in the email earlier this week, no preparation is needed - it's a discussion around the progress made towards meeting targets.

• READING BOOKS PLAN The 'normal' reading books outside the staffroom are being scanned and moved into classes for MyOn. When all the children are back in, we will need all of them to have a MyOn session so that we can check who has yet to complete their test etc. The baskets in the classrooms should now be filling nicely with books for the children's ZPD ranges.

• CURRICULUM OVERVIEWS Thanks for getting these updated on the curriculum website.

• BOOK LOOK PROFORMA Following training MK had on Thursday he will share with you a very useful document, that we have adopted, into what OFSTED would be looking for when they conduct a book scrutiny. MK will email the form for reference but it will be looked at and used in staff meetings within the next few weeks as a discussion/training point.

• BIG FINISHES In addition to the info above, information from the book look course demonstrated how vital it was that at the end of a topic (our BIG FINISH) children are given the opportunity to demonstrate the knowledge and skills that have been learnt. This also gives you the opportunity to assess their understanding. A basic example of this would be a presentation to other members of the class where they're explaining their learning to others. In cornerstones they're usually found in the 'EXPRESS' section of the units.

• CHARACTER ASSEMBLY Will be sent by Mrs Gooding next week so please share it with the class.

• INTERVENTION to return on Monday 15th March. (Daily intervention will work well).

• PARENTS EVENING Advanced warning that it is now going to take place on Wednesday 28th April between 3.30 and 7.00pm.

• LFD TESTING Please continue to take the tests and submit your results to https://www.gov.uk/report-covid19-result . Karen Slatford needs to know about any tests tha come back as inconclusive.

• WATER BOTTLES It may sound like a trivial thing but we need to maintain our high expectations and standards and ensure that all pupils use a Parkfield water bottle. Also, please don't allow them to bring juice in their water bottles. For a limited period after half term we'll even provide them for free for those that require a new bottle.

• INSET - SUBJECT LEADER TRAINING Thanks for your input into this week's training and thanks for completing the course review form that was emailed over. If you haven't yet completed it, please do so asap.

• DISPLAYS A reminder to please update your displays in the hall and shared areas - thank you!

• THOUGHT OF THE WEEK You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to swim. Jon Kabat Zinn.