Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.

• Letters Home

  Tue 24 Mar 2020
  Please see the 'Letters Home' section of our website (under 'News and Events') for the latest on communication and Free School Meal arrangements.

• Key Worker Guidance

  Fri 20 Mar 2020

  Friday 20^th March

  Dear Parents / Carers

  The Government have now clarified who is classed as a key workers.  Please see the link at the bottom of this letter).

   

  “Parents whose work is critical to the COVID-19 response include those who work in health and social care and in other key sectors outlined below. Many parents working in these sectors may be able to ensure their child is kept at home. And every child who can be safely cared for at home should be.

   

  Please, therefore, follow these key principles:

  • If it is at all possible for children to be at home, then they should be.
  • If a child needs specialist support, is vulnerable or has a parent who is a critical worker, then educational provision will be available for them.
  • Parents should not rely for childcare upon those who are advised to be in the stringent social distancing category such as grandparents, friends, or family members with underlying conditions.
  • Parents should also do everything they can to ensure children are not mixing socially in a way which can continue to spread the virus. They should observe the same social distancing principles as adults.
  • Residential special schools, boarding schools and special settings continue to care for children wherever possible.
  •  

  If your work is critical to the COVID-19 response, or you work in one of the critical sectors listed below, and you cannot keep your child safe at home then your children will be prioritised for education provision” (DFE Guidance 19th March 2020)

  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision

  If one parent is a key worker then children can come into school next week. We will be operating a booking system so it is possible for you to opt in and out of days throughout the week.  Remember Government guidelines do stress that ‘If it is at all possible for children to be at home, then they should be’ so we hope that by you booking only when needed we will have the capacity to support more key workers in our community.

   

  Please contact the school office by 12:30pm today to book in for next week.  If you are unsure about the days because of shift patterns, call anyway and we will sort something out together. 

   

   

   

• Purple Mash - Online Learning

  Thu 19 Mar 2020

  ***Please note the Purple Mash log in can be accessed through the 'Useful Links' menu at the top of our website***

   

  Dear Parents and Carers

   

  As you are aware the government has ordered the closure of all school from Friday 20^th March for the foreseeable future. Therefore, we will be using an on-line system to provide an alternative education provision for your children during this difficult time.

   

  Purple Mash is the school on-line service that all children in school are familiar with. Every child has their individual username and password and slips have been sent home containing this information. (Please contact the school office if you haven’t received this.) Every day your child’s class teacher will set a Maths and an English task. There will also be a weekly topic and a science activity for your child to complete. Class teachers are able to monitor which children have logged on and daily feedback will be given.

   

  We are aware that some of you may experience difficulties in accessing this service initially and staff will be available to deal with any queries through the school office. We will be constantly reviewing the situation and will update you whenever necessary.

   

  Kind regards

   

  Mrs K Boam

  Mrs L Upton

  Heads of School

• Monday 23rd March - key workers letter

  Thu 19 Mar 2020

  Dear Parents and Carers,

   

  As you will have heard yesterday all schools will be closed from Monday to most children. If you are a key worker such as an NHS staff member, police worker or supermarket delivery driver and you need your child to come to school so that you can continue your role, could you please let us know by 10.00 am tomorrow. We will then book a place for these children in school from Monday. (We will update the list of key workers on the website and by a further email when we receive further clarification from the government, so please keep checking).

  With regard to free school meals, we will provide these to those parents who contact us as we made clear in our communication yesterday. If this changes after further government advice we will contact you.

  There are some children who have been identified by the government as being particularly vulnerable when schools are closed. We will contact these families individually to arrange provision for these children if required.

   

  Yours sincerely,

   

  Mrs M. Sheehy

  Executive Head

• Monday 16th March

  Fri 13 Mar 2020

  Alumwell Junior School has now been deep cleaned and we are pleased to inform you that we will re-open on Monday 16th March.  

   

  Thank you for your understanding and co-operation.

• School Closure

  Tue 10 Mar 2020

  Dear Parents/Carers,

   

  As a precautionary measure, due to the fact that we have several members of staff absent with flu-like symptoms, we have decided to close the school tomorrow (Wednesday 11th March), Thursday 12th and Friday 13th March in order to conduct a deep clean of the premises.

   

  The school intends to re-open on Monday 16th March.

  Please be assured that this is a precautionary measure only and a decision taken by the school following advice from the local authority and health colleagues.

   

  I’d like to reiterate that good hygiene is the best prevention for the spread of viruses and there are some simple steps you can take to protect you and your family by washing your hands regularly and thoroughly and if you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue and bin it. If you or a member of your family have flu-like symptoms please contact NHS 111 and follow advice.

   

  We will keep you updated by email and on the school website.

   

  Yours sincerely,

   

  Mrs. M. Sheehy Executive Headteacher