Latest News
Keep up to date with all the news happening in school at the moment.
Please click a headline to read more.
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Stay at home and save lives
Tue 31 Mar 2020Stay at home and save lives
The Prime Minister has written to every UK household to urge them to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives. This letter will land on the doorsteps of 30 million households across all four UK nations from this week.
The letter outlines the guidance everyone should follow and the measures the government has put in place to fight coronavirus and to support businesses and workers. The Prime Minister urges everyone to follow the rules to save lives and thanks NHS staff working round the clock as well as everyone volunteering their time to protect others.
Walsall Council would like to reinforce the message to the borough that you must stay at home to save lives. You may leave your home to buy food essentials and medicine, for exercise (once a day) and to seek medical attention, and for essential work but only if you are unable to work from home. When you do have to leave your home, you should ensure that you are two metres apart from anyone outside of your household. The police will issue fines and disperse gathering if these rules are not observed.
Stay at home to stop coronavirus spreading
Everyone must stay at home to help stop the spread of coronavirus.
You should only leave the house for 1 of 4 reasons:
- shopping for basic necessities, for example food and medicine, which must be as infrequent as possible
- one form of exercise a day, for example a run, walk, or cycle – alone or with members of your household
- any medical need, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person
- travelling to and from work, but only where this absolutely cannot be done from home
These 4 reasons are exceptions – even when doing these activities, you should be minimising time spent outside of the home and ensuring you are 2 metres apart from anyone outside of your household.
It is essential that children stay in their own home and do not visit other friends or households. This is essential to Stop Coronavirus Spreading.
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Latest News
Mon 23 Mar 202020.3.20
Dear parents/carers,
Re: Coronavirus update – school closure to most pupils
Following on from my last update, I’m now writing to let you know that we have now been instructed to close the school to almost all children after this Friday until further notice.
As advised by the government, we will do all we can to stay open for the children of key workers (e.g. NHS staff, police, school staff and others in frontline services) and children with EHCP’s and children with allocated social workers.
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: Information For Key Workers
(1 Qualifying Parent)
- 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:
Health and social care
This includes but is not limited to doctors, nurses, midwives, paramedics, social workers, care workers, and other frontline health and social care staff including volunteers; the support and specialist staff required to maintain the UK’s health and social care sector; those working as part of the health and social care supply chain, including producers and distributers of medicines and medical and personal protective equipment.
Education and childcare
This includes nursery and teaching staff, social workers and those specialist education professionals who must remain active during the COVID-19 response to deliver this approach.
Key public services
This includes those essential to the running of the justice system, religious staff, charities and workers delivering key frontline services, those responsible for the management of the deceased, and journalists and broadcasters who are providing public service broadcasting.
Local and national government
This only includes those administrative occupations essential to the effective delivery of the COVID-19 response or delivering essential public services such as the payment of benefits, including in government agencies and arms length bodies.
Food and other necessary goods
This includes those involved in food production, processing, distribution, sale and delivery as well as those essential to the provision of other key goods (for example hygienic and veterinary medicines).
Public safety and national security
This includes police and support staff, Ministry of Defence civilians, contractor and armed forces personnel (those critical to the delivery of key defence and national security outputs and essential to the response to the COVID-19 pandemic), fire and rescue service employees (including support staff), National Crime Agency staff, those maintaining border security, prison and probation staff and other national security roles, including those overseas.
Transport
This includes those who will keep the air, water, road and rail passenger and freight transport modes operating during the COVID-19 response, including those working on transport systems through which supply chains pass.
Utilities, communication and financial services
This includes staff needed for essential financial services provision (including but not limited to workers in banks, building societies and financial market infrastructure), the oil, gas, electricity and water sectors (including sewerage), information technology and data infrastructure sector and primary industry supplies to continue during the COVID-19 response, as well as key staff working in the civil nuclear, chemicals, telecommunications (including but not limited to network operations, field engineering, call centre staff, IT and data infrastructure, 999 and 111 critical services), postal services and delivery, payments providers and waste disposal sectors.
If workers think they fall within the critical categories above they should confirm with their employer that, based on their business continuity arrangements, their specific role is necessary for the continuation of this essential public service.
We are grateful for the work of teachers and workers in educational settings for continuing to provide for the children of the other critical workers of our country. It is an essential part of our national effort to combat this disease.
Please contact the school via Email: postbox@st-giles.walsall.sch.uk with full details of your child and class and your Key Worker Role.
All other children will need to stay at home, so we ask that you do not send your child into school from Monday onwards.
Please note that this is a national closure – as you may have heard in the news – so while it is a challenging situation, we are not alone. We’ll re-open fully as soon as we can and will let you know when this is by all the usual methods including Email and Text Messaging.
What we’ll continue doing while your child is at home
Your child’s learning is of course important to us, so we’ll continue to help your child to learn.
Please see our school website for further information. I will also be Emailing you with a home learning letter from your child’s class teacher.
If your child usually receives free school meals we will also be in touch with more information about how we will continue to provide this, with support from a scheme that the government has just announced.
This is as much as we know right now and we appreciate your continued patience with as we deal with this ever-changing situation. We understand that this latest news will have an impact on you and your family and it’s far from ideal, but we’ll continue to keep in touch with any updates as the situation develops.
If you want to get in touch to share any concerns, please don’t hesitate to do so via the school’s Email address and we will do my best to support in any way we can.
And remember: if you or your child feels ill and you want to know what to do next, please use NHS 111 online.
Thank you again for your continued support, and we will be in touch with more information when we can.
Mr M Dakin
St Giles’ CE Primary School
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MASH/Initial Response Service (IRS)
Thu 19 Mar 2020MASH/Initial Response Service (IRS)
IRS is the ‘front door’ for Children’s Social Care when there is a concern regarding a child who may have additional vulnerabilities including when the child is at risk of significant harm. If the child already has a social worker then contacting them is the best course of action. If the child is not known then the front door is the place to start.
Anyone can make contact with us or the police if they are worried or have concerns about a child or young person. This includes:
- children and their families; relatives, friends, neighbours
- professionals such as teachers, doctors, nurses and health visitors
All contacts are initially received and screened by MASH (Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub). The team will gather information held by the partnership and a decision will then be made as to how the family will receive the most appropriate level of support they require. This could be through the following routes:
- signposting to universal services
- family meet the threshold for support by Early Help Services
- child meets threshold for support by the Children with Disabilities Team
- Meets threshold for Children’s Services for an assessment.
On the decision that the contact meets the threshold for Children’s Services the referral will then be transferred within 24hrs to one of the Initial Response Teams.
The IRS teams will then assess and support children, young people and their families who are:
- children in need
- children in need of protection
- children who needs to become looked after
Once the assessment is complete, if further support is needed the child and their family will then transfers to one of the longer term teams on a plan or will be supported by Early Help Services.
Contact Details:
The Civic Centre, 2nd floor Darwall Street Walsall WS1 1TP
Tel: 0300 555 2866
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Re: Coronavirus update – school closure to most pupils
Thu 19 Mar 2020Dear parents/carers,
Re: Coronavirus update – school closure to most pupils
Following on from my last update, I’m now writing to let you know that we have now been instructed to close the school to almost all children after this Friday until further notice.
As advised by the government, we will do all we can to stay open for the children of key workers (e.g. NHS staff, police, school staff and others in frontline services to be announced) and children with EHCP’s and children with allocated social workers.
We are waiting for the government to publish more information on what this means, but it would help us in the meantime if you could let us know if you think your child may fall into one of these categories.
Please contact the school via Email: postbox@st-giles.walsall.sch.uk with full details of your child and class and your Key Worker Role.
We’ll be in touch again as soon as we are sure who this does apply to.
All other children will need to stay at home, so we ask that you do not send your child into school from Monday onwards.
Please note that this is a national closure – as you may have heard in the news – so while it is a challenging situation, we are not alone. We’ll re-open fully as soon as we can and will let you know when this is by all the usual methods including Email and Text Messaging.
What we’ll continue doing while your child is at home
Your child’s learning is of course important to us, so we’ll continue to help your child to learn.
Please see our school website for further information. I will also be Emailing you with a home learning letter from your child’s class teacher.
If your child usually receives free school meals we will also be in touch with more information about how we will continue to provide this, with support from a scheme that the government has just announced.
What we won’t be able to go ahead with
This is as much as we know right now and we appreciate your continued patience with as we deal with this ever-changing situation. We understand that this latest news will have an impact on you and your family and it’s far from ideal, but we’ll continue to keep in touch with any updates as the situation develops.
If you want to get in touch to share any concerns, please don’t hesitate to do so via the school’s Email address and we will do my best to support in any way we can.
And remember: if you or your child feels ill and you want to know what to do next, please use NHS 111 online.
Thank you again for your continued support, and we will be in touch with more information when we can.
Mr M Dakin
St Giles’ CE Primary School
Dear parents/carers,
Re: Coronavirus update – school closure to most pupils
Following on from my last update, I’m now writing to let you know that we have now been instructed to close the school to almost all children after this Friday until further notice.
As advised by the government, we will do all we can to stay open for the children of key workers (e.g. NHS staff, police, school staff and others in frontline services to be announced) and children with EHCP’s and children with allocated social workers.
We are waiting for the government to publish more information on what this means, but it would help us in the meantime if you could let us know if you think your child may fall into one of these categories.
Please contact the school via Email: postbox@st-giles.walsall.sch.uk with full details of your child and class and your Key Worker Role.
We’ll be in touch again as soon as we are sure who this does apply to.
All other children will need to stay at home, so we ask that you do not send your child into school from Monday onwards.
Please note that this is a national closure – as you may have heard in the news – so while it is a challenging situation, we are not alone. We’ll re-open fully as soon as we can and will let you know when this is by all the usual methods including Email and Text Messaging.
What we’ll continue doing while your child is at home
Your child’s learning is of course important to us, so we’ll continue to help your child to learn.
Please see our school website for further information. I will also be Emailing you with a home learning letter from your child’s class teacher.
If your child usually receives free school meals we will also be in touch with more information about how we will continue to provide this, with support from a scheme that the government has just announced.
What we won’t be able to go ahead with
This is as much as we know right now and we appreciate your continued patience with as we deal with this ever-changing situation. We understand that this latest news will have an impact on you and your family and it’s far from ideal, but we’ll continue to keep in touch with any updates as the situation develops.
If you want to get in touch to share any concerns, please don’t hesitate to do so via the school’s Email address and we will do my best to support in any way we can.
And remember: if you or your child feels ill and you want to know what to do next, please use NHS 111 online.
Thank you again for your continued support, and we will be in touch with more information when we can.
Mr M Dakin
St Giles’ CE Primary School
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Re: Coronavirus update – school closure to most pupils
Thu 19 Mar 2020Dear parents/carers,
Re: Coronavirus update – school closure to most pupils
Following on from my last update, I’m now writing to let you know that we have now been instructed to close the school to almost all children after this Friday until further notice.
As advised by the government, we will do all we can to stay open for the children of key workers (e.g. NHS staff, police, school staff and others in frontline services to be announced) and children with EHCP’s and children with allocated social workers.
We are waiting for the government to publish more information on what this means, but it would help us in the meantime if you could let us know if you think your child may fall into one of these categories.
Please contact the school via Email: postbox@st-giles.walsall.sch.uk with full details of your child and class and your Key Worker Role.
We’ll be in touch again as soon as we are sure who this does apply to.
All other children will need to stay at home, so we ask that you do not send your child into school from Monday onwards.
Please note that this is a national closure – as you may have heard in the news – so while it is a challenging situation, we are not alone. We’ll re-open fully as soon as we can and will let you know when this is by all the usual methods including Email and Text Messaging.
What we’ll continue doing while your child is at home
Your child’s learning is of course important to us, so we’ll continue to help your child to learn.
Please see our school website for further information. I will also be Emailing you with a home learning letter from your child’s class teacher.
If your child usually receives free school meals we will also be in touch with more information about how we will continue to provide this, with support from a scheme that the government has just announced.
What we won’t be able to go ahead with
This is as much as we know right now and we appreciate your continued patience with as we deal with this ever-changing situation. We understand that this latest news will have an impact on you and your family and it’s far from ideal, but we’ll continue to keep in touch with any updates as the situation develops.
If you want to get in touch to share any concerns, please don’t hesitate to do so via the school’s Email address and we will do my best to support in any way we can.
And remember: if you or your child feels ill and you want to know what to do next, please use NHS 111 online.
Thank you again for your continued support, and we will be in touch with more information when we can.
Mr M Dakin
St Giles’ CE Primary School
Dear parents/carers,
Re: Coronavirus update – school closure to most pupils
Following on from my last update, I’m now writing to let you know that we have now been instructed to close the school to almost all children after this Friday until further notice.
As advised by the government, we will do all we can to stay open for the children of key workers (e.g. NHS staff, police, school staff and others in frontline services to be announced) and children with EHCP’s and children with allocated social workers.
We are waiting for the government to publish more information on what this means, but it would help us in the meantime if you could let us know if you think your child may fall into one of these categories.
Please contact the school via Email: postbox@st-giles.walsall.sch.uk with full details of your child and class and your Key Worker Role.
We’ll be in touch again as soon as we are sure who this does apply to.
All other children will need to stay at home, so we ask that you do not send your child into school from Monday onwards.
Please note that this is a national closure – as you may have heard in the news – so while it is a challenging situation, we are not alone. We’ll re-open fully as soon as we can and will let you know when this is by all the usual methods including Email and Text Messaging.
What we’ll continue doing while your child is at home
Your child’s learning is of course important to us, so we’ll continue to help your child to learn.
Please see our school website for further information. I will also be Emailing you with a home learning letter from your child’s class teacher.
If your child usually receives free school meals we will also be in touch with more information about how we will continue to provide this, with support from a scheme that the government has just announced.
What we won’t be able to go ahead with
This is as much as we know right now and we appreciate your continued patience with as we deal with this ever-changing situation. We understand that this latest news will have an impact on you and your family and it’s far from ideal, but we’ll continue to keep in touch with any updates as the situation develops.
If you want to get in touch to share any concerns, please don’t hesitate to do so via the school’s Email address and we will do my best to support in any way we can.
And remember: if you or your child feels ill and you want to know what to do next, please use NHS 111 online.
Thank you again for your continued support, and we will be in touch with more information when we can.
Mr M Dakin
St Giles’ CE Primary School
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Home Learning In Case Of Closure.
Mon 16 Mar 2020School remains OPEN until instructed otherwise by the British Government, DFE or Public Health.
In the event that schools are advised by the Local Authority or Government to close due to an escalation of infection, we will be providing ‘Home Learning’ to ensure your child is able to access appropriate work. Please find attached a home learning pack. Remember Education City is our main resource for ensuring continued education in the event of a closure. This is an online resource also. Please visit:
https://www.educationcity.com/parents/
Please contact the school if you are unable to log on.
Primarily, work will be set Online. Please check that your child can access Education City and *MathsWatch (*Years 4-6). If you are unable to access the resources please let us know so that we can facilitate access.
English
- EYFS: Lesson plans & worksheets: https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/educationcity/uploads/2018/10/EYFS-Lesson-Plan-Pack.pdf
- CVC words worksheets (age 5-7): https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/educationcity/uploads/2018/11/English-Literacy-CVC-Words-Worksheets-3-7-year-olds.pdf
- Spelling worksheets (Age 5-11): https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/educationcity/uploads/2018/02/KS1-and-KS2-English-Spelling-Practice-Lesson-Plans.pdf
Maths
- Multiplication Tables Check & planning tools: https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/educationcity/uploads/2019/03/Multiplication-Tables-Check-Teaching-Resources-5-9-year-olds.pdf
- Money Worksheets (age 7-11): https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/educationcity/uploads/2018/09/Worksheets-KS2-Maths-Money-School-INTERACTIVE.pdf
- Practicle Problem solving (age 7-11): https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/educationcity/uploads/2018/11/Maths-Practical-Problem-Solving-Worksheets-7-11-year-olds.pdf
- Factors (age 7-11): https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/educationcity/uploads/2018/11/Maths-Factors-Worksheets-7-11-year-olds.pdf
- Pictograms & Graphs (age 5-7): https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/educationcity/uploads/2018/09/Worksheets-KS1-Pictograms-and-Graphs-INTERACTIVE.pdf
The BBC also offer free resources for students, created and written with teachers, right across the key stages and curriculum subjects. Please make full use of them.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize
Online Learning
A selection of free online resources and advice about online learning for schools
Advice:
SouthWest Grid For Learning
TES
Advice from closed international schools
Microsoft Remote learning
Its learning resources
Resources:
BBC Bitesize - https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/primary
2Simple
Using Purple Mash for school closure - update - 2simple.com
TTS
Twinkl
EYFS - EYFS Home learning pack
KS1 - KS1 Home learning pack
KS2 - KS2 Home learning pack
Classroom secrets Resources for school closures
Seesaw information - Seesaw Home learning advice
Showbie - Distance learning with Showbie
Pobble - Writing resources
White Rose Maths - White Rose maths resources
Free Children’s Classics -Audiobooks
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Government announces move from Contain to Delay phase
Fri 13 Mar 2020Yesterday, the Government announced that we are moving from the Contain phase of the coronavirus action plan and into the Delay phase, in response to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
Full details of each stage in the government action plan can be found here:
To support the delay of the spread of the virus, the Department for Health and Social Care has asked anyone who shows certain symptoms to stay at home for 7 days, regardless of whether they have travelled to affected areas. This means people should stay at home and avoid all but essential contact with others for 7 days from the point of displaying mild symptoms, to slow the spread of infection.
The symptoms are:
- A high temperature (37.8 degrees and above)
- A new, continuous cough
You do not need to call NHS 111 to stay at home. If your symptoms worsen during your stay at home period or are no better after 7 days contact NHS 111 online at 111.nhs.uk. If you have no internet access, you should call NHS 111. For a medical emergency dial 999.
Current advice remains in place: no education or children’s social care setting should close in response to a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case unless advised to do so by Public Health England.
The Chief Medical Officer has advised that the impact of closing schools on both children’s education and on the workforce will be substantial, but the benefit to public health may not be. Decisions on future advice to schools will be taken based on the latest and best scientific evidence, which at this stage suggests children are a lower risk group.
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