Newsletters

Final Newsletter of 2019/2020

Dear Children, Parents and Carers,

We find ourselves here at the end of the summer term with a very different - and at times - difficult term behind us.

Along with the rest of the world, we could never have foreseen the experiences we have all had since March. As a school, we have tried our best to provide a safe and happy environment for the children of key workers whilst at the same time communicating regularly with children and families via the EYFS Parent Share platform or Google Classroom. As many of us here are parents too, we have discovered that learning at home can have its ups and downs and we will all value that time when our children can return to their classrooms and learn together again. 

Our Google Classrooms and Parent Share will close today for the summer break and school will hopefully begin to regain it's usual annual rhythm.

We want you to thank you for supporting your children at home and for hopefully keeping them emotionally strong in preparation for their return. We would also like to thank our staff for their dedication and strength during this time. It has been lovely to receive some appreciative comments and messages of support from our families - it will be even lovelier to see you all safe and well again.

Our return to school

We have recently sent out plans for our first week back, which you can find on the website under 'Letters'. Please also find some lunchtime information there too.

We will send out further information nearer to September to clarify the important points.

However, here are some key points to note as per the current guidance:

- Your child is expected to return to school in September, from which point the usual rules on attendance will apply. A very small number of pupils may be continuing to shield - please get in touch before we return if you think this applies to your child. 

- If your child is showing symptoms of Coronavirus, they will be isolated and their family member will be expected to pick them up immediately. We will advise that a test be taken and will engage with the NHS 'Test & Trace' process.

- We will be cautious about pupil sickness and may ask a family member to collect if a pupil feels unwell, even if the symptoms are not COVID-related.

- We have a risk assessment in place that will be reviewed and updated regularly.

- Children will stay in their year group bubbles as much as possible.      

- Current guidance advises that we teach children in rows facing the front of the classroom where possible. 

- Children are not currently required to wear masks in school. If your child has travelled to school on public transport, please remove their mask before entering school. If you have a question about masks, please email school before our return.

- Start and end times will be staggered to reduce crowding on Maryville Rd. Children may also enter/exit via different routes.  Parents are expected to leave the school site as quickly as possible. 

- Plan your journeys to/from school with time to spare. Walk or park further away from school to avoid parking issues.  

- Regular hand-washing will be encouraged. Please continue to practise good hand-washing routines over the summer break.

- Children do not need to bring their own hand sanitiser into school. We have sanitiser on site and will regularly wash hands. throughout the day.

- Breaks and lunchtimes will be staggered and will be spent in different year group zones.

- School dinners will be provided as normal but canteen routines may change for a while.

- Face-to-face communication with staff will be limited and parents/carers will be encouraged to email or call school with messages. Appointments can be made to meet wth a teacher in a socially distanced manner.

- Uniform will be worn as normal.

- Coats should be worn if the weather is unsettled or turning cold. the children will be enjoying the outdoor learning environment more than they ever have before.

- Prepare your child's PE kit and await further guidance on PE start dates. We advise trainers with Velcro for those who cannot yet tie laces.

- Name labels are even more important than ever. PLEASE LABEL EACH ITEM OF CLOTHING.

- Bags can be brought to school but please minimise the number of items your child brings. No non-essential toys, footballs etc.

- Children can bring in a labelled water bottle that must be cleaned daily.

- iPads are an integral part of learning at a distance. KS2 children with devices should bring their iPads clean and fully charged every day to school.

- Fruit will be available as usual. Your child does not need to bring a snack into school.

- As per the information on the 'lunchtime' letter, if your child has a home-packed lunch, please send these in disposable bags for the time being. Please do not overfill lunch bags as we want to reduce food waste if possible.

- Breakfast and After School Club will resume on Wed 2nd Sept. You can book your sessions by emailing kath.boadey@prescotprimary.org.uk. We will minimise the mixing of bubbles and encourage social distancing.

- Running Club or after school clubs will not take place initially, as we must minimise the mixing of bubbles.

We hope that this information is useful and helps you to plan ahead. If you have any specific enquiries, please email admin@prescotprimary.org.uk and we will get back to you nearer the time.

If guidance should change, we will be in touch before the start of term.

Emotional wellbeing

With all of the recent changes to everyday life, it is understandable that some children - and adults - may be feeling anxious about life after lockdown. In order to continue to safeguard the wellbeing of our children, we must work closely together as parents and educators.

If you feel that your child may need some extra support as they return to school, please email us at admin@prescotprimary.org.uk nearer to the start of term.

In the meantime, you may find some useful information here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-supporting-children-and-young-peoples-mental-health-and-wellbeing

Goodbye to Mrs Moffatt

Lockdown arrived just as Mrs Moffatt - our Learning Mentor of 17 years - was about to leave our team and start her retirement. We haven't yet been able to celebrate her time with us and fully reflect on the important role she has played in the lives of so many of our PCP families.

Mrs Moffatt has worked tirelessly within our Inclusion Team to ensure that all children have the best chances of success at our school. She has run the School Council, gardening clubs and mental health groups. She has supported families with attendance and in times of sickness or transition. Mrs Moffatt has helped families when they have been in dire need of support with food, transport, uniform - or a shoulder to lean on. 

We cannot express just how much we will miss Mrs Moffatt's positive attitude around school and her special relationships with our families. Mrs Collis - our other Learning Mentor - will carry on the good work and will ensure that our children continue to get the very best care. 

Good luck in your well-deserved retirement, Mrs Moffatt!

Other PCP news...

In June our Y4 teacher, Mrs Roxburgh, had a beautiful baby boy, named James. We wish her and her husband well as they enjoy special times with their new son.

Also in June Mr Atherton, a former pupil and our TA apprentice of three years, left us to begin his teacher training. We are immensely proud of his achievements and the relationships he built with so many of our children. We know he will make an amazing teacher and wish him the best of luck.

We know that our current Y2 children and families have been excited by the news that Mr Stinchcomb is returning as a permanent member of staff from September. He will join the Y3 team just in time to meet his 'old' year group once again! We know that he can't wait to be back in the PCP family and we are pleased to welcome him back.

Mrs Collins has already taken over the Y4 reins from Mrs Roxburgh and will take her class up to Y5. Mrs Collins trained with us at PCP and it is great to have her back on board.

Celebrating success

Congratulations to Cassius Gaskell in Y5, who came first in the art 'Dot Art' competition that we take part in each year. Luke Seddon and Molly Stewart were our runners-up. Cassius attended the virtual awards ceremony and was able to see his artwork in the virtual gallery. You can enter the gallery here:

http://schools.dot-art.com/virtual-gallery/

Congratulations also go to all of our new Word Millionaires who have achieved their reading goals during lockdown. There's nothing better than escaping the world in the pages of a good book. Well done to: Kalli-Jo Stott (Y3), Sum Yee Cheng, Isaac Williams, Jack Patten, Sam Burns (Y5) and Charlotte Rusk and Christopher Hogg (Y6).

In total, our children have read 61,186,155 words! A cracking achievement!

Reading will be a top priority for us all when we return. Try to encourage your child to read over the summer break - read alongside them if you can. Older children can continue to use the Accelerated Reader platform to support their reading at home.

Finally, a huge congratulations to our newly appointed House Captains for 20/21. they have all made brilliant applications during lockdown and are going to be amazing once we get back to it! Thank you and well done to:

Maisie Reilly - Blue

Hallie Segar - Green

Ben Westhead - Yellow

Luke Seddon - Red.

Welcome to our newest families!

At this time of year, we have usually welcomed our newest families into school in preparation for first days at school or nursery. Instead of face-to-face meetings, we have been 'meeting' many of you via Parent Share and it has been wonderful to get to know the children who will be new to school in September.

We hope that you have all of the information you need for a settled start to our school and look forward to meeting you all in person.

Our new Reception children will be known as PCP Zebras!

FORWARD FINANCIAL PLANNING

We wish to advise you that due to the current CO-VID situation, the school office cannot accept cash at the present time. All payments must be made by bank transfer to our account number 24606868 sort code 30-65-62.

Please quote your child's name and a brief description of the payment, i.e. Dinners, BC (breakfast club) ASC (after school club). 

Thank you for your support.

Goodbye to our Sharks

Lockdown got in the way of many things, not least the usual sending of our Y6 children on their way to high school. Our Sharks have kept us smiling on Google Classroom, or when speaking to them on the phone. We have been lucky to welcome more Sharks back into bubbles and this week have enjoyed a Leavers' Picnic for each class. 

While we  have missed our usual traditions, we are in no doubt that our Y6 Sharks are ready to fly. We have thoroughly enjoyed teaching them and can honestly say that they are a funny, caring, determined group of children who will continue to do their best in whatever they do.

Sending a special goodbye to some long-standing families who have collected their children for the last time. Your support has been much apprecaited over the years.

We would like to say a special thank you to our Y6 Pupil Leaders who have led each team throughout the year. You have been excellent role models for other children in school and we know that you will continue to grow as leaders on the next stage of your journey.

Y6 Sharks - you will be remembered and will always be part of the PCP Team.

So, as we wave this academic year off with mixed feelings, we  wish you a very safe and happy summer break and would like to reassure you that we are doing everything we can to ensure a smooth start to the new year in September. 

We will be in touch.

Take care,

From all of us in TEAM PCP