Dear Parents/Carers,
It feels like in the last two weeks you have been bombarded with letters and information as things have changed so rapidly due to the ongoing Covid 19 outbreak. This marks the last of the letters I will be sending while the children remain in school for the foreseeable future. Communication from this point forward will be done while the majority of our children are working remotely from the school, as indeed will be many of the staff.
There are numerous things to update you on, clarify where we can and to provide information about before the school closes to comply with the governmental directive.
Child Care Provision for Key Workers
The provision for Child Care as outlined by the Secretary of State for Education is being coordinated across Cumbria by the County Council. In regards to next week, week beginning 23rd March, Longtown Primary school will be open for some children. Those we are open for, parents have been contacted and arrangement details passed on. Several of our staff have volunteered to aid with the delivery of this provision in addition to providing the remote support of our own students learning.
Children’s work and expectations
We have explained to all children in school this week in assemblies how they will receive their work and expectations for its completion over the upcoming school closure.
Children will be set work according to their timetable each day of the normal term. This work should be completed in the children’s exercise book/sheets where possible.Some tasks will also be set online via our usual platforms such as spelling shed, my maths, phonics play etc. Children also have log ins for an online system called J2e which allows access to Microsoft office and other programmes to support their learning. All updates are to be communicated via Class Dojo which all families should now have access to.
The work will be checked on their return to school – in the weeks after Easter as it becomes clearer how long the length of the closure becomes. We will be monitoring the accessing of what is set and all staff will be available (illness permitting) during the children’s normal timetabled lessons by Dojo to help support with work.
We cannot emphasise enough how vital it is that parents encourage children to complete the work being set. In a worst-case scenario, they could be working remote from school for a number of months and long term recovering the missed learning would be difficult. Together we have to try and ensure that they remain engaged in their schooling.
Staying Safe and being Mindful of others
I do want to remind all parents why the drastic step of closing the schools has taken place. It is to protect people and to try and stop contact between different groups within our communities and to allow people to look after themselves and their families. Children will have work throughout the closure period as if they were in normal school and they should be inside, completing that work during the day. Children and parents should be mindful of the guidance around social distancing and we all have a responsibility to ensure that we follow that guidance. Hanging around with friends, being out and about in their local area and in worst cases causing any disturbance that may divert the emergency services form their vital work would be regrettable to say the least. It is all of our civic duty to make sure the very situation they are off school to help address is not made worse through their actions.
Pastoral Contacts
Class Teachers will be in touch with students and their families periodically through the normal term time within the closure period. If you have any concerns or indeed want to ask something about school, then please contact your class teacher via Dojo.
In other circumstances, senior leadership email addresses are as follows:
lhitchen@longtownprimary.cumbria.sch.uk
ksmith@longtownprimary.cumbria.sch.uk
amitchinson@longtownprimary.cumbria.sch.uk
Reporting a Safeguarding Concern
As a school, acting in a remote capacity or not, we are always committed to ensuring the welfare and safety of all our students. If any members of the school or local community have concerns about the welfare of a student, or if you have any safeguarding queries, please contact our School Safeguarding Team who will be in contact as soon as is feasible. Our Designated Safeguarding Lead is: Mrs Hitchen who can be reached by email lhitchen@longtownprimary.cumbria.sch.uk.
Keeping in Regular Contact
We are acutely aware that we will need to keep in regular contact with parents and students alike. We will do this through a daily update via ClassDojo and social media as well as making phone calls.
The next couple of months will be odd – our school community will not be together but we will still all be connected. We will be here for the students and you if you need us. Supporting where we can and always planning and thinking of when the school will again be allowed to return to its normal running. We hope we will see the students at some time in the summer term. We are one community Longtown, lets stay positive through out this challenge and work together to continue the education of the children.
Yours sincerely
Mrs L Hitchen
Acting Deputy Headteacher
