E-newsletter 60

Covid-19 Update

I hope you have all enjoyed a happy and healthy half term break. As we begin the second half of the autumn term, I wanted to bring you up to date with the school's position in relation to last night's government announcement.

Throughout the global pandemic, the school's default position has always been to follow the guidance of the Department for Education. This approach has served the school well since March where the school remained open to key workers and vulnerable children before opening more widely in June to prioritised year groups and then to all pupils in September. In these strange and difficult circumstances, the school has worked incredibly hard to provide a safe, enjoyable and productive environment for its pupils - attendance rates are high, all children have returned to school and teachers are delivering a rich, broad and balanced curriculum. 

As I write this, the DfE has not made any amendments to its guidance for the full opening of schools and so, for the time being at least, the school's risk assessment remains unchanged. It is likely that the DfE will issue further guidance to schools before the new restrictions begin on Thursday and the school will of course take full account of any new advice and inform you promptly of any subsequent changes to the school's risk assessment.

As we begin a new half term, take some time to once again familiarise yourself with the Parent Information document and please continue to play your crucial role by supporting the school's efforts to provide a happy and safe place for our children to learn in.  

You can view the Parent Information document by clicking here

Parents' Evening: Reminder 

On Monday 2nd November, class teachers will email each parent with a short summary detailing their child's transition into their new year group - the school is very aware that some children have not been in school for a long time (some not at all!) and that children may have been slightly unsettled at the prospect of returning to new routines, so teachers will be largely reporting on how well your child has settled into the new term.  

Parents were also invited to contact their child's class teacher to book a phone call consultation if there is anything they would like to discuss further. This is not obligatory, of course, and many conversations have already taken place. 

If you have not yet contacted your child's class teacher and would like to arrange a consultation, then please do this as soon as possible.

To book a 10 minute phone appointment, you must email your child's class teacher to make the request and they will then be able to provide you with an appointment time on the allocated afternoon.

*Wednesday 4^th November Miss Steed    

*please note this new date for Miss Steed's appointments

Thursday 5^th November Mrs Gookey   

Monday 9th November Miss Hillman  

Tuesday 10^th November Miss Jenkinson   

I would like to remind parents that myself and all of the teaching staff greatly value the dialogue with you, albeit mainly remote, that has existed since our return to school. Staff are highly responsive to any emails and phone calls from parents and so please continue to use this line of communication.

Flu Immunisation: Reminder

The school nurse team will be visiting Grendon CE Primary School on 10th November to administer the nasal flu immunisation to children from Reception to Year 6. This year, parents must provide consent via the online portal which you can access via the link below. There is also a link to an information leaflet provided by the NHS. 

Consent form

Information leaflet

The live consent form will close 7 days before the planned immunisation date. Only those children for whom consent has been granted will receive the flu vaccination in school.