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Regents Park Community Primary School
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Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.
Dear Parents,
Next week, we know that the majority of our families will be celebrating Eid Al-Fitr. We appreciate that this is a very special celebration for many of our children, parents and staff.
We are trying to plan how best to organise things in school next week as we know that Eid will fall on a school day. However, we appreciate it is likely to remain unclear until Tuesday night which school days will be affected. We understand that for some families celebrations will be on either Wednesday 12th May or Thursday 13th May, whilst for others they may be on either Thursday 13th May or Friday 14th May.
If celebrations are on Wednesday 12th May or Thursday 13th May, then we plan to organise Eid celebrations in school on Friday 14th May. This will be a non-uniform day for all children - children may wish to wear their Eid clothes on that day. We will provide party food for children on that day and they will celebrate in their class with all of their friends.
If celebrations are on Thursday 13th or Friday 14th, then we will reorganise the Eid celebrations in school to Friday 21st May instead.
As in previous years, children who are celebrating Eid with their families will be given one day of authorised absence. Unfortunately, any further days absence will be marked as unauthorised absence.
Children who are not celebrating Eid should attend school as normal. Although it's likely that pupil numbers will be low on these days, we will make sure that children are taking part in worthwhile learning activities. Children should attend school on these days with appropriate clothing so they are prepared to take part in activities outdoors such as in the Forest School or for PE.
There could be a situation where, due to a lack of available staff, school has to close to all pupils for maybe one day. It is unlikely but we will send messages via text and on the school website should this happen.
We will update all parents again next week by text and on the school website when we are clearer about when exactly Eid will be celebrated.
Thank you for your understanding,
Mr Beale
Dear Parents,
We are delighted to be supporting the NSPCC by taking part in Number Day on Friday 7th May 2021.
Everything the NSPCC does protects children today and prevents abuse tomorrow.
The NSPCC needs our support more than ever. By raising money, we can help to fund their vital services such as Childline – the helpline that’s always there for children and young people whatever their problem or concern.
Making maths meaningful
Number Day is a great way to make maths fun and bring about a positive, ‘can-do’ attitude towards it.
We are having a fun day of maths activities and we will be taking part in Dress up for Digits. Pupils are asked to wear an item of clothing with a number on it (football shirt, cap, netball shirt or even a onesie!). Or get even more creative by dressing in a maths or numbers theme. To help raise money for the NSPCC, we are asking for a suggested donation of £1.02 (£0.02 transaction fee) payable on your child’s account on sQuid trips and offers, and we’d love everyone in the school to take part in this special event.
It all adds up
We’re looking forward to all the fun of Number Day, and we really appreciate your support. All the money we raise at Regents Park School will make an enormous difference to children today and help change the lives of children tomorrow.
Mr Beale
Head Teacher
Ramadan Food Collection
Dear Parents,
At Regents Park Community Primary School, we feel it is important to recognise the key religious events of all members of our school and the local community.
As it is the month of Ramadan, this is a time when we think more about helping and giving food to those in need. This year we will be collecting food for Green Lane Masjid Food Bank who support the elderly, homeless and others in need.
It would be great if all children were able to make a small contribution. If you have any dried or tinned food that you wish to donate, please could you send this in with your child by Friday 30th April, to your child’s class.
We really appreciated the donations that were made in previous years towards the various charities which were very much welcomed by them.
We hope we can continue to support those in need within our community.
Thank you for your support,
Mr Beale
Head Teacher
Dear Parents,
Our school has entered an exciting competition, where our children will be involved in creating a stamp design to honour the heroes of the pandemic. Children have received entry forms from their Class Teacher, which they can hand back once completed. Please read the attached letter, which informs you of entry requirements. Click here to understand about information sharing.
Dear Parents/ Carers,
Thank you for your support and understanding during what has been another difficult term for everyone at Regents Park. As you know, for much of the term school was closed for most children during lockdown. Despite this closure, all the staff at Regents Park were busy making sure that the children were safe and supported with their learning.
I believe that the teaching staff did a fantastic job of organising (at short notice) remote learning for children at home whilst other support staff continued to work in school every day during lockdown to support critical worker and vulnerable children in school. Other support staff were involved in making sure that laptops and tablets were loaned out to families that needed them, that vouchers were given to families that are eligible for free school meals, children and parents that needed pastoral support were given necessary help and guidance and, of course, that school continued to remain open and was a safe and clean environment for everyone.
Since we reopened for all pupils on March 8th, all the staff have continued to work hard and help all children to continue to make progress. Staff have supported children where they have found it difficult to return to school and to reassure parents that may have been anxious. The children enjoyed the opportunity to be eased back into school life again, particularly by taking part in their arts focus week which gave them a chance to do something which was fun, creative and practical instead of staring at a computer screen. Since then they have begun to do assessments and teachers are planning work for the summer term to help children to catch up and plug where there may be gaps in their learning.
I’m sure as parents you are aware of the hard work that all of the teachers and staff at Regents Park have put in to support your children and families during this term and throughout the last 12 months and you’d be happy for me to thank them all on your behalf.
Easter holidays– We are closed from 3.00pm today (April 1st) for the Easter holidays and will reopen for all children on Monday 19th April 2021.
It’s important that you contact us if your child develops COVID symptoms during the holiday and/ or tests positive. Please contact school by email using the school email address (enquiry@rgntpark.bham.sch.uk) and make sure you state your children’s full names and class names when you contact us. Please do not ring and leave a voicemail as we may not pick up your message until after the holiday.
COVID Guidelines in school after Easter– Again, thank you for your understanding about the COVID guidelines that have been in place since September and that resumed when we reopened for all pupils from March 8th. Although there has been some easing of COVID restrictions this week and there will be more from April 12th, we will return to school on April 19th following the same COVID guidelines that are currently in place. For example, this means continuing with:
Staggered finish times at 2.50pm and 3.00pm with arrangements for children to be picked up at either Dixon Road, Camelot Way or Arthur Street
Children remaining in class bubbles indoors and year group bubbles when outside in the playground
Staggered playtimes and lunchtimes with KS2 children having their lunch in their classrooms
Parents being allowed on site to collect children providing they are wearing a face covering
No parents or visitors allowed on site without an appointment
Expectations that any child or adult who is showing signs of COVID symptoms will not be allowed in school, should get tested and will only return if they have a negative PCR test or have self-isolated for 10 days and no longer have symptoms
Ramadan and Eid – When we return after the holiday it will be Ramadan will have begun. I understand what an important time this is in the Islamic Year and I appreciate the observance of fasting for adults and children of secondary school age during this time. I also recognise that some older junior school children may want to undertake a partial fast during Ramadan.
However, please try to encourage your children to be sensible about fasting. School is an extremely busy working place and fasting may not be appropriate for some children. I have had advice that primary age children are not expected to keep the fast every day. Due to the time of year that Ramadan is in this year, the days are getting longer and may be hot, so it would be good if your children were encouraged to fast at weekends with the family instead of during the week when they are at school.
As such, we do not expect any children younger than year 5 to be fasting at school. If you would like an older junior child (years 5 & 6) to fast during the school day, please support us by writing a letter before they begin the fast so that we are kept informed about dinner numbers. Kitchen staff work very hard and we do not want to waste a lot of food during the month of Ramadan.
We know that the date for Eid is not yet known and may not be the same for different families. We will be able to authorise one day of absence for children on the basis of religious observance for those children whose families are celebrating Eid.
Notifications and dates coming up:
Assemblies – These will continue online during the Summer term. I have been doing a weekly assembly which has been posted on the school website to recognise those children who have stood out as Star Learners each week. This has also included the latest news for parents so please look out for it.
Bank holiday and closure for Local Election Day – There is a bank holiday on Monday 3rd May and so the school will be closed on that day. During the same week there is a local election on Thursday 6th May and because the school is used as a polling station we will be closed on that day also. We will use the day as a staff training day instead.
We will continue to update parents if there are any changes but, in the meantime, we would like to thank you again for your all support. Please remember to keep up to date with more school news on our school website, school app, twitter and by text message.
Take care everybody and have an enjoyable and safe holiday,
Mr A Beale
Head Teacher
Dear Parents/ Carers,
On February 22nd, the Prime Minister made the announcement that ALL schools were to fully reopen to ALL pupils from Monday March 8th 2021.
Most of the guidance for reopening that schools have been given following the latest announcement is similar to what was in place during the Autumn term, i.e. social distancing where possible, limiting movement around school, class/ year group bubbles, increased hygiene and cleaning, use of face coverings where appropriate, staggered starts, finishes, break times, lunchtimes, etc.
Attendance at school will again be mandatory for ALL pupils. However, we will be making some changes to our plans in order to ensure less disruption to the school day and increase the teaching time available in order to help children to catch up on missed learning.
Key changes from Autumn term:
Staff will phone and contact all parents and families next week (w/b 1st March) to discuss the reopening and the changes. In the meantime, below is the full guidance for parents and families about the full school reopening on 8th March 2021. Please read through carefully (use Google Translate if you wish to change into home language)
Rationale:
The aim of this guidance is to give a clear breakdown of the key measures to be implemented to ensure that school can successfully and safely open for all groups of pupils from March 2021.
Key aims during this period in terms of COVID-19 response:
Key strategies in terms of COVID-19 response
There are 5 key strategies that will be in place in order to ensure school is a safe environment for all pupils and staff. These are:
Ensuring social distancing is a key strategy in terms of our COVID-19 response. Social distancing between children and between children and staff is almost impossible and will not be an expectation. Instead, children and staff will be encouraged to keep a reasonable social distance between one another wherever possible.
Social distancing between adults (ie. between staff members and between staff and any other adults) is an expectation and should remain 2m+ at all times. All adults in school will be expected to wear face coverings or visors when with other adults in communal areas.
Parents will not be allowed into the school building unless an appointment has been made. Parents entering the school site (e.g. the school playground) will be asked and are expected to wear a face covering at all times.
The principle of minimising contact between groups of pupils and staff is another key strategy in terms of our COVID-19 response. Class and year group bubbles will be used to minimise contact between pupils and other members of staff.
Zones within school and reduction of movement around school will also support the minimising of contact between pupils and staff.
Pupils and staff will be expected to wash hands regularly throughout the school day. More hand washing and hand sanitiser stations will be provided around school.
Pupils will be reminded about and expected to follow good hygiene routines such as “Catch It, Bin It, Kill It” and avoid touching their faces with their hands.
There will be increased cleaning on-going throughout the school day and deep cleaning at least once a week.
There is an expectation that everyone (children, parents and staff) fully engage with Government guidance on self-isolation, quarantine, testing and track and trace procedures. All staff now have access to twice weekly lateral flow testing for Coronavirus and are encouraged to take part in order to reduce possible asymptomatic transmission of the virus.
We would also encourage all eligible staff and members of the community to take up the opportunity for vaccination when it becomes available to protect themselves and others.
Implementation of plan for full reopening to pupils
We have endeavoured to ensure that the safety and welfare of the pupils, staff and wider school community is at the heart of this plan.
Please note:
Date of reopening in Spring 2021
School will reopen to all pupils from Nursery to Year 6 on Monday 8th March 2021. Full attendance is expected for all pupils.
Changes to the start of the day
Changes to the end of the day
Class and Year Group Bubbles
Movement around school
In the classroom
Working with individuals or small groups
Playground zones
Changes to lunchtimes
Children who have packed lunches
Parent/ School Communication
Cleanliness and hygiene around school
Cleaning classrooms and in school
Pupils and staff who are not well
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including wearing face coverings/ masks
Breakfast Club and After-School Clubs
Pupil attendance in school
Behaviour policy
Communication between staff and parents
Uniform
Bringing in things from home
Homework
Educational Visits/Visitors in school
Marking and Feedback
Assemblies
Planning for further school closure or partial closure
Post-lockdown recovery curriculum
Emotional support for pupils in school
Fire Procedures
Dear Parents/ Carers,
Today we close for the half term holiday. School will be closed next week (Monday 15th to Friday 19th February). We reopen on Monday 22nd February for Critical Worker and Vulnerable children; other children will continue with remote learning at home from that date.
Staff may have given children some activities to do during the holiday but there is no expectation for children to be learning online every day like there has been during term time. Next week is a good opportunity for children (and staff) to have a break from laptop and iPad screens and do other things around the house and outdoors where they can.
Please make sure that you continue to stay safe and follow guidelines on Coronavirus when you can. We obviously hope it won't be too long before we begin to have more children back in school but this will all depend on Government decisions and on local infection rates.
Don't forget that if you need to contact school during the holiday (e.g. if your child develops symptoms or tests positive) then you can email school using the address enquiry@rgntpark.bham.sch.uk and someone will get back to you as soon as possible.
Have a really good holiday everyone and see you on Monday 22nd February!
Mr Beale
Dear Parents/ Carers,
School will be closed on Monday 25th January for ALL pupils, including those whose parents are critical workers and vulnerable children. This is because the impact of adverse weather on staff availability and site safety concerns.
All children will be expected to continue with remote learning including joining live sessions on Teams.
School will reopen for CW/V children on Tuesday 26th January.
Take care everyone,
Mr Beale
Please follow the link below to watcha special assembly for all children and parents! Mr Beale will bring you all up to date with latest news from Regents Park and announce the winners of this week's Star Remote Learners of the Week.
We will have more Star Learners next week so keep working hard and joining in with your class remote learning everyday next week.
Please watch the video here: http://bit.ly/2LEgCiy
Dear Parents/ Carers
We are very keen to continue supporting families that would like to borrow a laptop or ipad from school during this lockdown so that children can access remote learning provided by class teachers.
Mr Marlowe, our ICT manager, has been very busy this week and has done an excleent job - he has managed to organise to loan 55 devices to families that have requested them so far.
To begin with, we have prioritised families that had no tablets or laptops at all. We are now at the stage where we can try and help further, particularly with those families where there are a large number of children from Regents Park but they are having to share one device.
We will continue to prioritise in the following order:
If you would like to be contacted by Mr Marlowe about borrowing a laptop or iPad, please speak to a member of teaching staff when they ring or email enquiry@rgntpark.bham.sch.uk stating who your children are, in which class and how many devices you have at the moment.
It goes without saying that we only have a limited supply of devices so there may come a point when we can't offer any more devices. However, Mr Marlowe is working to make sure there are a significant number of laptops available for families to borrow from next week in addition to the 55 devices that have already been loaned already.
From 18th January we hope to begin providing some live teaching to all pupils across school. The live teaching will be at staggered times to support families and make sure that everyone isn't needing to be online at the same time. One device between two children should be enough to make sure that children in different year groups can access this live teaching.
Don't forget that Teams can also be downloaded to and used on a mobile phone. We have also found out that Teams can also be downloaded onto and used on an Xbox and Playstation devices. Children would need to login using the username and password that they use to access the BGfL/ Entrust Launch page.
Regards,
Mr Beale