Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.
Important messages for parents in readiness for September 2021 return.
Covid considerations:
By the time the new academic year begins, bubble and isolation restrictions currently in place across UK schools will have changed. Whilst there will be some practices required to manage proven positive cases, the following procedures should be noted by all.
If your child has symptoms, they will still be expected to isolate in line with wider government guidance and you must get them tested
Key dates reminder and procedural updates.
School starts for the children on Monday 6th September. Term dates have already been issued on the school website, including INSET dates. School will be open to all from 8:45am until 3:20pm.
INSET dates reminder:
First day in September
Staff will be available to guide children.
Important: Parents of children in Key Stage 2 are not permitted onto the rear playground (in line with current arrangements) at the start of the school day; however, parents can continue to collect from said playground at the end of the school day. The exception to this is for parents of children in Year 3 for the first week only.
Entrance to school
Access to the school reception area will remain restricted to avoid overcrowding. Anyone wishing to enter the school must do so via the main entrance and this may require you to be patient.
Owing to safeguarding considerations the playground entrance to the reception area will not be available to parents – only the main door is to be used for entry and exit.
No cash payments
A reminder that cash payments will not be accepted by the school office other than for school uniform purchases. All other payments, including school dinners and trips should be continued to be paid through ScoPay.
Contact details
Please ensure that if you change your mobile phone or number you inform us of this. It is vital that we have your up-to-date details so that we can contact you in an emergency.
Physical Education
PE lessons will commence in full as of September and children will be required to change for PE. Please see the school uniform policy for guidance. A reminder that PE is a part of the national curriculum and not optional. Children will be required to take part in PE even without the correct attire if it is deemed safe to do so. Absences owing to medical conditions may require NHS confirmation if deemed persistent/long term.
School Uniform – Remember, remember, school shoes in September!
I have not placed too much pressure on parents to adhere to the school uniform policy during the pandemic. This was in recognition of the financial pressures placed on some families and the recognition that some were reluctant to buy new uniform (notably school shoes) so close to the end of the academic year, and at the same time running the risk of being placed in repeated isolations.
As of September there is an expectation of strict adherence to policy once more. 7 week notice is hereby given and is deemed reasonable and appropriate.
Policy states: Children are to attend school in/with the following items, in a clean and good condition:
Note on school shoes: Some companies produce school (all black) specific fashion training shoes. These are permitted on the understanding that:
The full school uniform policy is available on the school website under Key Information>Policies & documents
Consequences of non-uniform compliance
By sending your child to Ashgate Primary School, you are agreeing to the terms and conditions of governor approves policies.
As of September 2021, parents will may once again be called to collect children to amend their attire or bring to the school the appropriate clothing.
Department for Education guidance (Guidance for governing bodies, school leaders, school staff and local authorities 2013)
“A head teacher, or a person authorised, may ask a pupil to go home briefly to remedy a breach of the school’s rules on appearance or uniform. If the pupil continues to breach uniform rules in such a way as to be sent home to avoid school, or takes longer than is strictly necessary to effect the change, the pupil’s absence may be counted as an unauthorised absence. If a school is considering excluding a pupil in response to breaches of uniform policy then this must be in line with the legal requirements for exclusion”.
This date has been applied in order to allow parents to purchase the appropriate clothing if they do not have it at this time and is deemed reasonable and appropriate notice.
Objections or complaints about the school uniform policy or actions following the above guidance can be addressed to the Headteacher directly, or through the school’s governor agreed Complaints Policy (available on the school website). Parents are however reminded that admission to the school is on the grounds that governor approved policies are adhered to.
In the interim the staff are directed where it is appropriate and reasonable to ask children to remove items that do not match policy and parents will receive notice that they have sent their child to school incorrectly dressed.
Punctuality and attendance
A reminder to all that persistent absenteeism has a significant impact on your child’s education, particularly in light of the number of enforced forced absences during pandemic lockdowns and isolations.
Your child’s academic recovery is reliant on good attendance.
It is the Department of Education/Ofsted that dictate attendance below 95% is poor and that below 90% is ‘persistent absenteeism’. The reasons for this have been made clear before; good attendance is vital for the success of pupils and their wellbeing. Our own school data, as well as that issued nationally, makes clear that poor attendance results in poorer outcomes for children.
Attendance - the law
Children must attend school under the Education Act 1989 (revised). Poor attendance at school can result in one or more of the following:
I will actively seek to enforce the necessary legal actions to address absence affairs where improvements are not seen and /or parents do not engage with or recognise the legitimate concern.
Please note that attendance related to Covid that is not linked to a direct positive test outcome for the pupil will not be authorised, nor will absences resulting from wider Covid related concerns/anxieties raised by parents.
Drop off and collection to school – Punctuality matters
Arriving to school late for either drop off or collection places significant pressures on staff and restricts the support we can give to other pupils, not to mention the challenges it places on the child themselves. The school does maintain punctuality records and repeated or significant poor punctuality may result in agency actions, including a conversion to an unauthorised absence where appropriate (counting against your child’s attendance.
Collection from clubs/afterschool activities
Some clubs are run by external agencies and they work beyond the opening hours of the school office. As a result of this, should late collections be deemed a pattern, your child may have to forego their position at the club so that the place can be offered to another child.
Derby
A2C
Churches-in-community
We are running our School Holiday Project again this year,
with more than just food provision.
Please email: vickylongbone@gmail.com
Dependant on numbers, we will run at either the Lonny Wilsoncroft Community Centre or Ashbourne Road. We will notify you nearer the time. Should Covid restrictions become tighter again, we will supply a ‘take away’ service.
Monday (3pm – 5pm)
A cooked meal
A breakfast food parcel
Tuesday (3pm – 4pm)
On line cookery session (via Zoom)
Ingredients will be provided
Wednesday (times dependent on activity)
An activity away from the building followed by a picnic
Thursday (3pm – 5pm)
A cooked meal
Friday (12pm – 1pm)
Packed lunch
Weekend food parcel
Uniform, book and toy exchange will happen on a Monday and Thursday so please bring along anything that might be useful for another family.
Craft activities will be provided on a Monday and Thursday – ADULTS WILL BE ASKED TO SUPERVISE THEIR OWN CHILDREN.
For more information please contact Vicky Longbone on 07952 751635 or vickylongbone@gmail.com.
Bookings are required so please complete the form attached and return to us either by email or drop it into the letter box of either the Lonny Wilsoncroft Community Centre or Ashbourne Road Church.
We look forward to seeing you!
Please complete and return as instructed below:
FAMILY NAME:
ADDRESS:
PHONE NUMBER:
EMAIL:
NUMBER OF ADULTS:
NUMBER OF CHILDREN:
EMERGENCY CONTACT:
ATTENDANCE
|
Week beginning |
Mon |
Tues |
Wed |
Thurs |
Fri |
|
26th July |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2nd August |
|
|
|
|
|
|
9th August |
|
|
|
|
|
|
16th August |
|
|
|
|
|
|
23rd August |
|
|
|
|
|
|
30th August |
|
|
|
|
|
Please return to Vicky Longbone as soon as possible, but definitely before attending.
vickylongbone@gmail.com
Or post through the letter box at Ashbourne Road Church (by the side door)
Any queries, don’t hesitate to get in touch
These details will be stored for the duration of the holidays only. They will not be passed on to any other person or organisation. If you agree to us holding your personal data please tick the box
Welcome to Mr Donaldson
Earlier last week I informed parents that Mrs Whitney is to move on as of September and that I would be announcing the outcome of the process to recruit her replacement.
I am delighted to reveal that following a rigorous two day selection process we have decided that a Mr Donaldson will be joining the Ashgate teaching staff as of September (selected from 18 applicants). He will join Mrs Morris and Miss Hilton teaching the year 5 and 6 children.
We are fortunate to have secured Mr Donaldson’s position at our school. He is a teacher who has an extensive range of quality first teaching skills as well as a specialism in supporting those with inclusion needs. I am sure you will all make him welcome on his first day in September.
Class lists
I am aware that the office are currently fielding calls from parents asking who the class teacher will be for their child in the coming year. As we have done for the last 6 years, this information will be shared with parents in the annual reports which are scheduled to be sent out to parents tomorrow.
Bodhi - Training and 'pup-date'.
Bodhi, our new 'in training' therapy/school dog (puppy)' has now visited the school on two occasions to meet some of the children. The purpose of these initial visits has been to get him used to the sights, noise and smells at Ashgate Primary School, in particular larger groups of children.
He has met some classes, but in line with C19 restrictions, this has been with only one group bubble (Year 5/6). In addition, as orientation to the school is new it has been predominantly with older children who are more likely to follow the instructions given and who are less likely to be startled should he move suddenly, bark with excitement or, as is more often the case, attempt to lick them! Before his official role begins, it is important that he is used to a wide range of in school settings, groups and individuals.
Training is going very well. Although initially excited when introduced to a physical classroom (he only 5 months old), he greets the children calmly, wags his tail and sits when they stroke him (or rolls on the floor for belly rubs). He gives the children 'high fives' with enthusiasm and shows them some of his basic tricks.
Next steps: The plan is that when ready, Bohdi (as with his counterpart Molly and previously Fred) will visit children who would benefit from some emotional support, confidence building and 'smile time'! Likewise, he will visit other children for reading sessions or simply for a fuss. He is on track to be able to do so as of September, when a more structured programme will be put in place.
School dogs in general - information for parents.
If you would like to know more about our school/therapy dog and pets, there is a dedicated page on the school website called 'Meet the Therapy Pets'. All the key information around the purpose, planning and expectations are available on this page.
As shared before, a school dog is risk assessed, provided opportunity to function in a school setting and has an established, well- known and safe temprement. The close supervision, assessment and planning for a school dog is not mirrored by other family pets in the community, and for that reason parent and children dogs are not allowed on school site.
Online activities off school site.
Whilst the risks associated to online access to social media is now generally well understood by parents and children alike, what is often not recognised is that online gaming is a platform by which children can communicate with others and others communicate with them.
The spectrum of risk
We do occasionally hear of parents who are not mindful of this and fail to monitor what, who and when children are communicating – or indeed what platforms allow this (including Fortnite, general PC online gaming and TikToc). On a lower-level this means that the language, nature of discussions and social groupings are not overseen, and at a higher-level means those wishing harm to can have unsupervised access to children.
What is your child hearing?
One phrase I hear more regularly from parents when I address with them any unacceptable language (swearing, sexual references and racist language amongst others) is, ‘Well I don’t know where they got that phrase from, they have not got it from home…’. I put it to many that whilst they may not hear the language from adults and general conversations in the home, they are likely to be hearing it under their headsets whilst they appear to be playing innocently with friends (and strangers!).
The unseen adult in your child’s bedroom
Frighteningly, the issue of adults posing as children to gain access to them, befriending and groom children through online gaming continues and is becoming an ever-increasing risk.
Note: In 2020, the police recorded over 10,000 ONLINE child related sex crimes for the first time and the risk is unlikely to diminish. (NSPCC)
For those adults that feel it is not their role to oversee and manage their child’s access to such platforms I put this to you:
You would not allow an adult posing as a child and whom you have never met to arrive unannounced at your door, walk them into your child’s bedroom late at night with a camera and recording device on the premiss that they ‘want to play’. Unmonitored online access can do just this – online gaming and social media profiles are a readily accessible, anonymous and difficult to trace route to children left alone.
Support in school
Children regularly receive online access safety messages / assemblies, and as a school we have a very strict monitoring and filtering system on our online facilities. We limit and monitor what resources children have access to and are ever mindful to highlight to all that what accessed is monitored and recorded. You however, are unlikely to have this level of security in your home.
Here are a few tips for parents on kids’ internet safety
It has been brought to my attention that a minority of parents are breaching the expectations for conduct in and around school.
Adults are role models for children and should act in a manner that is of the highest standard and that includes parents.
Parents rightly expect my staff to model acceptable conduct and this is no less so for our expectations of parents.
Worryingly, an increasing amount of my time and that of my staff is spent mediating issues between parents whose actions and personal conflicts are impacting on their own children's life in school. Brutally put, some adults need look carefully at their own conduct and how this influences that of their children.
The school has a clear policy for expectations for parents on site that outlines my option to ban anyone from the school premises (removing permissive right of access under the Education Act 1996) if I believe their conduct is not acceptable. This has been enacted in the past and I will do so again if necessary. That document will be shared directly again today and is on the school website under the Key Information >documents and policies.
Important note: Issues between parents are not a legitimate reason to take children off school site early, arrive late or alter arrangements in other ways. Parents are expected to manage their issues out of school and not allow these to impact on school life, placing the interests children first and not focussing on their own grievances and external matters.
Dear parents and carers.
Staff changes – retirements, pastures new and appointments
Retirements:
Some parents may already be aware that Mrs Ilic and Mrs Barker, two of our EYFS Learning Support Assistants will be retiring from service at the end of this term. Together have served the school, its children/families for many years (21 Years for Mrs Barker and 19 years for Mrs Ilic). Both have been an integral part of school life; as a result, they will be greatly missed.
I am sure that you will join me in wishing them well in the future as they settle into a relaxing and enjoyable retirement with loved ones and friends.
Leavers:
Teaching staff
Mrs Whitney will also be moving on at the end of this term. Her service to the school has been exceptional, not only as class teacher but in steering many of the changes put in place to advance the teaching of English. We wish her and her family well in the future and pass on our thanks for the 5 years of service and dedication to the school.
Administration staff (office):
Following the birth of her new baby, Mrs Shah has opted to leave her role as admin staff permanently to focus on her new family; as a result will not be returning in the new term. Likewise, Mrs Wilkes also opted earlier in the term to leave her role to be with her family. We wish them and their families well and thank them for their work and commitment to the school.
Appointments
Teaching staff
An announcement as to the replacement for Mrs Whitney will be made at the end of next week following the current recruitment process. Understandably, there has been overwhelming interest in a teaching position at the school and we look forward to announcing the outcome imminently.
Office staff
You will have already met Mrs Millar and Mrs Redding who have been working wonders in the school office as replacement staff during the Covid period. Their appointments will continue into the new academic year. A belated but sincere welcome on board to both of them and thanks for their exceptional work at the school to date. Both have proven to exceptional assets to the team.
Learning Support Assistants
Finally, we welcome Miss Dembrovskis to the Learning Support Assistant Team. She has a wealth of experience and knowledge working with children with specific high needs, as well as working with general learning support. She has already proven to be a real asset to the school and I am confident that her continued work will be exemplary.
Changes following the government announcement of intention to move to Stage 4 of the removal of Covid Restrictions.
As you are no doubt aware, the government announced yesterday a series of intended actions for the removal of Covid related restrictions. In addition, Mr Gavin Williamson (Secretary of State for Education) provided an outline of changes to school guidance as of 19th July and 16th August.
The information contained in this letter sets out key elements and the impact it will have at Ashgate Primary School. There is a lot of guidance available, but I will attempt to be as precise as I can to avoid ambiguity.
Face masks:
Face masks will become optional for staff and parents at the school as of 19th July.
Whilst some families may wish to continue to wear them as a precautionary measure, they will not be required either indoors or outdoors at school. The school will of course respect the wishes of anyone continuing to do so and support them in their positive action.
Staggered starts to the school day:
These will remain until the end of this term. Whilst they can be lifted for the last 3 days before the summer break, this would require a significant shift in planning and organisation for some working families, those with fixed child care arrangements or requiring alternative transport. Therefore, in line with Gavin Williamson’s statement to the House of Commons yesterday, I will maintain this measure until the end of term on July 21st (extending it for 3 days).
There will be no staggered starts to school as of September. From this date school will be open to all from 8:45am until 3:20pm as was the case prior to Covid restrictions.
Removal of ‘bubbles’ for Track and Trace (closures of groups)
Bubbles are not required in schools after 19th July; however, track and trace isolations are not lifted for under 18s until 16th August. This creates an overlap that may result in negative consequences.
Therefore, in order to reduce the risk of unnecessary bubble closures just prior to the end of term, I will continue to group children in bubbles until the end of term, July 21st (extending it for three days).
A premature end to grouping children could close up to 6 classes should there be a single case of Covid 19 between 19th and 21st July. This is a risk not worth taking in light of families looking forward to taking a summer break.
Children will not be grouped in bubbles in September and will be free to extend their learning and play with their wider friendship groups.
Isolations
As of August 16th, the requirement for children to isolate following a close contact with a positive Covid 19 case will end. Responsibility for reporting and informing close proximity contacts will shift form schools to the NHS Track and Trace systems.
Close proximity contacts under the age of 18 will not be required to isolate unless they have symptoms – likewise, adults who have received both inoculations (jabs) will not be required to isolate unless they too have symptoms.
Schools will not be required to close to pupils after 16th August unless directed to do so by NHS Track and Trace who may identify specific local outbreaks.
Testing
Reminder:
Anyone testing positive for an LFD test will continue to be required to book a PCR test and isolate if this is found to be positive. However, close proximity isolations will no longer be required for anyone under the age of 18 or adults who have received both inoculations. This means that if a positive case is identified in school there will be no requirement for other pupils to isolate unless they themselves develop symptoms.
Please note, it remains important for parents to inform us of a positive test as this is recorded on the school register. To date, it has not been confirmed that non-attendance as a result of a positive Covid test outcome will be counted in the absence figures.
PCR testing remains available and should be used if an individual has symptoms. A subsequent positive test will result in an isolation of that pupil, but not close proximity contacts is school. LFD testing remains optional but recommended.
A shift to normality?
Clearly, the steps announced yesterday are a shift to normality and we look forward to children returning in September to a more familiar way of working and moving forward to address need.
I must emphasis that the school is subject to any further announcements made by the government which may in turn supersede what has been shared today. I do not anticipate this to be the case, but one should always recognise that intent can often be side-tracked by changes in circumstance. As it has been throughout the last 16 months, I will update you with any further details, amendments or notices.
Mr Seargent
Headteacher
Despite parents being sent notice of the rules for children in isolation and the letter posted yesterday from the Head of DCC Health, it has come to my attention that some children who are supposed to be in isolation are not.
ISOLATION IS A LEGAL DUTY - IT IS NOT AN OPTION.
If families require further guidance on the rules or confirmation of how they can be supported during an isolation, please visit the Covid 19 page on this website.
The cases in Derby are on the rise and if guidance is not followed will continue to do so. School staff and many parents are doing all that is possible to prevent further bubble closures; some selfish acts are undermining this.
If children who have been identified as needing to isolate are mixing out of the home, it is only a matter of time before I am once again directed to close school to some, be it a bubble or other close proximity contact, - but possibly all.
Dear Parents and Carers,
Thank you for your ongoing support during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Unfortunately, COVID-19 case rates are increasing rapidly in Derby. As with the rest of the country most of these cases are the Delta variant which spreads much more quickly than the Alpha variant. The increase in cases is already having a significant impact on some schools and workplaces. It is too early to judge the impact on our hospitals, and we continue to monitor this closely.
Thank you for all you have done to follow the national guidance and legislation which remains in place until at least the 19th July. These are actions we must all continue to take to protect ourselves and loved ones from the COVID-19 virus.
Prevent infection
Please continue to keep your distance from those you do not live with, wash your hands regularly and continue to use face coverings where you are asked to, e.g. in shops, on the bus. The current guidelines allow up to 6 people or 2 households to meet indoors, please open the windows and let the fresh in if you do, and please consider continuing to meet outside if you can.
Limit transmission
Children of Secondary School age and older should take 2 lateral flow tests per week, this is to find cases without symptoms.
If you or anyone in your household have symptoms you must book a PCR test without delay. You and all the people you live with need to stay at home and isolate immediately. If the test is negative, you may come out of isolation. If the test is positive you must isolate for 10 days from the start of symptoms or positive test whichever is the earlier date.
Dr Robyn Dewis Director of Public Health