Covid-19 Update 19th March 2020

Thursday 19^th March 2020.

 

Covid-19 Update 4

 

As you will all now be aware schools across the nation will close at the end of the day on Friday 20^th March.

You will also know that schools have been asked to remain open for a small number of children from very specific groups.

 

If you are one of the families who have been identified within this group you will receive a separate letter providing you with information as to how the school will operate next week as soon as we have confirmed our staffing structure.

Please note the school will only be open for a small and specifically identified group of children. School closure is part of national response, which aims to significantly reduce social contact. Where possible the government is still asking families to keep their children away from school.

 

The Following Arrangements will be in place from Monday 23^rd March 2020 for all Parents whose children.

 

Contacting the School

From Monday parents will be able to contact the school using the admin@richardtaylor.ycway.uk email address. This will be checked on a daily basis and a member of the staffing team will respond to urgent enquiries within an appropriate timeframe.

Please do not leave messages on the school answer phone as there may be periods of time when the school office staff are unable to access messages.

 

Communication

There will be a daily update for all families, which you will be able to access via the Headteacher’s Blog on the school website.

The school will also continue to e-mail parents with newsletters and important updates via e mails. The usual texting services will continue to be used as a method of communicating with parents when required.

 

Class Blogs

Teachers will upload a message to all families on Friday with information about the activities which they would like their children to access. They will include website suggestions and hyperlinks to pages, which have been set up by a range of providers. If for any reason you are unable to gain access to your virtual learning platform the weekly blog post will be you first point of contact for learning.

 

Arranged Meetings

If you have any meetings booked in school, which are due to take place in school after 20^th March please note that these will not take place. External agencies are not undertaking outreach work and the school cannot guarantee that staff, due to participate in meetings will be available at this time.

As schools re-open these meetings will be re-arranged at the earliest possible opportunity.

 

 

 

Free School Meals

The trust is currently arranging a system, which will provide all eligible families with a shopping voucher to the equivalent of the free school meal payment. If your child is eligible for a free meal and is going to continue to access school as part of one of the identified groups Mellors will continue to serve school meals as normal.

 

Child Protection Concerns.

If you have any concerns about a child’s wellbeing please contact the local authority using the referral service on 01609 780780

 

Virtual Learning Platforms

 

SEESAW

From Monday all parents will be able to access their classes virtual learning platform. For children in Bishopdale, Airedale, Ribblesdale, Dentdale and Swaledale the SeeSaw learning platform will be their point of access. Every family should have received their access code.

Class teachers will upload activities on a weekly basis for the children to access and will provide updates for their class once a week.

MICROSOFT TEAMS

From Monday all parents will be able to access their classes virtual learning platform For children in Nidderdale, Coverdale, Wharfedale and Wensleydale. All children will be given their own email and login details to access their class pages. Class teachers will upload activities on a weekly basis for the children to access and will provide updates for their class once a week.

 

We will ensure that there is guidance available on the school website for families to learn more about the way these platforms work. Where possible the children have been given some guidance about how the sites operate.

These are new systems and ways of working; please work with us as we iron out the glitches, which will obviously occur.

 

If for any reason your child’s teacher is ill we will attempt to ensure that another member of staff maintains your child’s learning platform.

 

Easter Holidays

The Easter break is due to begin on Monday 6^th April. Staff will not upload new content on to the learning platforms during this period. There will still be a range of activities available for you to access if you wish.

 

How Much Should I Do with my Children?

We recognise that the next few weeks or months will bring huge challenges to all families. Access to technology will be different in every household and many parents will be attempting to work from home as well as balancing childcare arrangements.

We are not publishing daily or weekly recommended periods of study. We ask that families build in time to learn for their children and make use of the platform, which staff have worked hard to prepare.

There are many activities including baking and gardening, drawing, painting and construction kits such as lego, which are not included in the schools learning platforms.

 

We appreciate your continued patience with as we deal with this ever-changing situation. We understand that this latest news will have an impact on you and your family. We will continue to keep in touch with regular updates as the situation develops.

 

Please remember: if you or your child feels ill and you want to know what to do next, please use NHS 111 online.

Thank you again for your continued support,

Yours sincerely

 

Andrew Symonds