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

• January Remote Learning

  Thu 31 Dec 2020

  31st December, 2020 

  Dear Parents and Carers, 
   

  I know it is normally very unusual for a Headteacher to be emailing you on New Year’s Eve, but, again, this is another element of the unprecedented circumstances we find ourselves in.  

   

  Some of you may have heard the news that some primary schools will have a delayed physical opening to the start of the new term. These are schools in a high-risk category. I am writing to inform you that Waltham Forest is one of those areas and, as such, the start of our school term on Tuesday 5th January will now be remote.  

   

  You may recall that the last week of term was fraught with lots of challenges and lots of high-pressured last-minute organisation. Some of you were also probably able to surmise that operationally, as a school, we were at a very volatile stage of how the virus was presenting itself. I wrote to you then that I had a great deal of respect for the leaders in Waltham Forest for making the call they did to keep our children, and us, safe. Again, I must reiterate this message and say that I believe the right call has been made and that this is the right thing to do for us as a school and for the whole of Waltham Forest.  

   

  For ease of reference these will be the arrangements for the first two weeks of school (5-15th January): 

  • School will only be open to children of key workers and those classified as vulnerable (EHCPs or social care involvement) 

  • Nursery - Y6 children will have remote learning. Children have packs which they have taken home which will be used to support online teaching  

  • A timetable of when lessons will take place will be posted by class teachers on Google Classroom by the end of the day on Monday 4th January  

  • Children who are eligible for a free school meal will have more information provided to them in the first few days of term as we sort out arrangements. Our intention is that all children who are eligible have access to what they are entitled to- we are yet to determine what this will look like. 
     

  One of the things I have been really pleased about is how we have always tried to be as prepared as we can be. Some of you have been in touch with us to say: how impressed you have been with the resource packs and the practical equipment we have provided to aid online learning; the structures we have put in place re timings for live teaching elements; and how ready the teachers have been to deliver lessons. We have been really appreciative of the time you have taken to make contact with us and that you have recognised how strategically we have planned for varying scenarios. As well as being prepared and ready to move to remote learning at short notice, we are again pleased that as a school community we have had a short run at whole school remote learning; this will now stand us in good stead. Reception to Y6 have all had a chance to ready themselves and everybody has had a chance to familiarise themselves with how it will work for you in your homes.  

   

  If your child does not have a pack which was taken home when we moved to remote teaching, then please get in contact by calling the school office on Monday 4th January and please request one.  

   

  I would also ask that at this stage families, who have new members of staff teaching classes, are mindful that this is the first time the teachers will be meeting their children and that they may well be apprehensive; it is a tall order to deliver remote lessons when you haven’t even met your class properly. I am sure our community characteristics of kindness and consideration for everybody will be at the forefront of the minds of those families. We will, of course, support those members of staff settle into our remote system and the life of our school in general. Please support us with this as well.  

   

  I will be in touch when I have more information; particularly in regards to how we will organise meals for those who are eligible for Free School Meals.  

   

  I hope you all have a peaceful and safe New Year. We look forward to seeing the children, remotely, on Tuesday 5th January.  

   

  With our very best wishes,  

   

  Zakia Khatun 

• Last Day of Term

  Wed 16 Dec 2020

   

   

  Wednesday 16^th December 2020

   

  Dear Parents and Carers,

   

  Last day of term 1

   

  I am writing to inform you that our last day of term will now be Wednesday 16^th December 2020. This will now be one of our INSET days alongside Friday 18^th December. This will impact on the end of the school year, in July, which will be extended by one day. I will write to you in the New Year to firm up school dates as soon as I am able to confirm them.

   

  Last time I wrote to you I expressed the number of bubbles that we had closed and the rising numbers of Covid cases we were seeing in school. I thank the governors for agreeing to move terms dates in light of how many children we may be exposing to further risk.  This comes at a time when the cases at school are rising very fast and questions of safety and being able to operate are called into question.

   

  I also wanted to thank you all of you for your outpouring of support for myself, SLT and all staff in school and those who are working from home offering remote lessons at this time. Your understanding and support of the school makes such a difference to how we face challenging times and demonstrates our core values of collaboration and community. It is how we come together at times like these that makes me very proud and honoured to be part of something that is bigger than any one of us. It is a key value that we cherish and hope our children also learn, demonstrate and appreciate it, too.

   

  I also wanted to take this opportunity to thank Waltham Forest officers and Leaders and Waltham Forest Public Health for their support for schools such as ours during a term like no other. Their support of schools has been tremendous and has ensured that we have always been supported to act in the best interests of the children.

   

  Lastly, I wanted to thank staff, many of whom have worked tirelessly on so many platforms to ensure that each and every child has access to the provision that they need. I, and the governors, have been impressed with the way they have supported myself and SLT in ensuring that the school runs as smoothly as it can and that we have moved as one with confidence and determination to provide the best that we can under these circumstances.

   

  I wish you all a Merry Christmas, a happy Hanukah and a peaceful New Year. We look forward to seeing you all again on Tuesday 5^th January.

   

  With my best wishes for you all and your families,

   

  Zakia Khatun

   

   

   

• Whole School Remote Learning

  Mon 14 Dec 2020

  Monday 14^th December 2020

   

  Dear Parents and Carers,

   

  Whole School Remote Learning

   

  I am writing to inform you that, with regret, the school will move to remote learning from Tuesday 15^th December. The school will offer remote learning from tomorrow until Thursday 17^th December 2020. This is not a decision that has been taken lightly and one that has been reached with careful consideration.

   

  The school now has 4 bubbles isolating as well as our after school care bubble. Waltham Forest has a high infection rate at present and there are growing concerns that the rate of infection will continue to rise unless further controls are put in place. As such, many Waltham Forest schools will now move to remote learning for the remainder of this term.

   

  Whilst every care is taken to ensure that schools are able to remain open, there is a time when national pandemic concerns regarding health and safety for all members of the school community take precedence. Like Waltham Forest, we are seeing a growing number of confirmed positive test cases emerging in school.

   

  Like in March, we appreciate that key workers and vulnerable children will still need to attend school so that those families and adults can continue to play their part in ensuring that we all have what we need and that they continue to attend work to keep key services working.

   

  The school will remain open to families who are:

   

  • key workers
  • families who are deemed vulnerable with children who have EHCPs or have social care involvement

   

  Where one parent is a key worker, and provision can be made to have the children at home, we would strongly advocate this. This will reduce the number of children who have to physically be in school.

   

  I am sure you can appreciate how hard it has been to manage an ever changing and unprecedented situation. We have always followed advice from Public Health, the Department of Education, and from the London Borough of Waltham Forest and will continue to follow guidance and update you as the need arises. 

   

  I will continue to update you all with any news I receive; this will be through the school website and our text service. Senior members of staff will continue to work on Track and Trace and we will monitor information you send in re confirmed cases until 23^rd December. There will be more information on this in our newsletter later on this week.

   

  I would like to also take this opportunity to thank staff who shown such professionalism and continued to put the needs of our community first whilst remaining positive and extremely supportive of myself and SLT and the decisions we have to make on behalf of everybody. In this time of continued national challenge, I have been very proud to lead a team who continue to work for the greater good of our communities. 

   

  I would also like to thank you all for your ongoing support and understanding. I am sure it has been a time of great confusion and uncertainly for you all, as it has been for us, but I am sure that by working together and supporting each other, we will strengthen our partnership as a school community; always acting in the best interests of all of our children. 

   

  With my very best wishes,

   

  Zakia Khatun

   

   

• Confirmed case in Y2

  Mon 14 Dec 2020

  Monday 14^th December 2020

   

  Dear Parents and Carers,

  Confirmed case in Y2

  We regret to inform you that we have one confirmed case of Covid-19 in Y2. All children and staff in this bubble are now self-isolating. This bubble will return to school on Tuesday 5^th January 2021 when school reopens.

   

  We have been in contact with the local authority and Public Health Waltham Forest. We will continue to maintain the guidelines we have outlined in our risk assessment and now offer remote learning for our Y2 bubble from tomorrow until Thursday.

   

  School will remain open for all other year groups. The advice from the clinicians is that those children with siblings in Y2 should continue to come to school as normal; they do not need to self-isolate.

   

  We are doing everything we can to keep children safe and following all the guidelines. This includes children remaining in bubbles, not mixing with children in other bubbles, and washing/sanitising hands regularly throughout the day.   Regular and additional cleaning has taken place throughout this time.

  Please remember that even if children do catch the virus, most children have a very mild illness and some are not ill at all.  

   

  We have included further information for your reference below.

   

  What to do if your child develops symptoms of COVID 19 

  If your child develops symptoms of COVID-19, they should remain at home for at least 10 days from the date when their symptoms appeared. All other household members who remain well must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill.

   

  Household members should not go to work, school or public areas and exercise should be taken within the home. 

   

  Household members staying at home for 14 days will greatly reduce the overall amount of infection the household could pass on to others in the community.

   

  If you are able to, and can, move any vulnerable individuals (such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions) out of your home, to stay with friends or family for the duration of the home isolation period.

   

  Symptoms

  The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of:

  • new continuous cough and/or
  • high temperature
  • a loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)

  For most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness.

  If your child or anyone in the household does develop symptoms, you can seek advice from NHS 111 at:

  https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/symptoms/ or by phoning 111.

   

  How to stop COVID-19 spreading

  There are things you can do to help reduce the risk of you and anyone you live with getting ill with COVID-19.

   

  Do

  • wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
  • use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
  • wash your hands as soon as you get home
  • cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
  • put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards

   

  Further Information

  Further information is available at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/.

   

  I would also like to take this opportunity to remind everybody that family groups should be maintaining their distance from each other when dropping off and picking up children- this is to prevent community transmission. This is also the case when talking to school staff- there should be a two metre distance from school staff at the gates and at classroom doors.

  Thank you for your support during this challenging time. 

   

  Best wishes,

  Zakia Khatun

   

• School Closes Thursday 17th December @ 3.15pm

  Mon 14 Dec 2020

  School Closes Thursday 17th December @ 3.15pm 

   

  You may have seen in the news the DfE announcement that schools are being recommended to close before 18th December. With the climbing number of cases we have in school that have been confirmed, and the number of families who are having to self-isolate, we have made the decision that the last day of term will now be Thursday 17th December.

   

  We will be closing at normal time. School will reopen on Tuesday 5th January.

• Confirmed case in Y5

  Fri 11 Dec 2020

   

   

   

   

  Friday 11^th December 2020

   

  Dear Parents and Carers,

  Confirmed case in Y5

  We regret to inform you that we have one confirmed case of Covid-19 in Y5. All children and staff in this bubble are now self-isolating. All children will need to self-isolate until the end of day on 17^th December 2020. This bubble will return to school on Tuesday 5^th January 2021 when school reopens.

   

  We have been in contact with the local authority and Public Health Waltham Forest. We will continue to maintain the guidelines we have outlined in our risk assessment and now offer remote learning for our Y5 bubble from Monday.

  School will remain open for all other year groups. The advice from the clinicians is that those children with siblings in Y5 should continue to come to school as normal; they do not need to self-isolate. Children will only need to get tests if they present with symptoms. Even if results come back negative, bubbles will need to continue to self-isolate until the end of the self-isolation period.

   

  We fully understand that this news will cause you to feel anxious about sending your child/ren to school.  We are doing everything we can to keep children safe and following all the guidelines. This includes children remaining in bubbles, not mixing with children in other bubbles, and washing/sanitising hands regularly throughout the day.   Regular and additional cleaning has taken place throughout this time.

   

  Please remember that even if children do catch the virus, most children have a very mild illness and some are not ill at all.  

   

  We have included further information for your reference below.

   

  What to do if your child develops symptoms of COVID 19 

  If your child develops symptoms of COVID-19, they should remain at home for at least 10 days from the date when their symptoms appeared. All other household members who remain well must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill.

   

  Household members should not go to work, school or public areas and exercise should be taken within the home. 

   

  Household members staying at home for 14 days will greatly reduce the overall amount of infection the household could pass on to others in the community.

   

  If you are able to, and can, move any vulnerable individuals (such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions) out of your home, to stay with friends or family for the duration of the home isolation period.

   

  Symptoms

  The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of:

  • new continuous cough and/or
  • high temperature
  • a loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)

  For most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness.

  If your child or anyone in the household does develop symptoms, you can seek advice from NHS 111 at:

  https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/symptoms/ or by phoning 111.

   

  How to stop COVID-19 spreading

  There are things you can do to help reduce the risk of you and anyone you live with getting ill with COVID-19.

   

  Do

  • wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
  • use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
  • wash your hands as soon as you get home
  • cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
  • put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards

   

  Further Information

  Further information is available at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/.

   

  I would also like to take this opportunity to remind everybody that family groups should be maintaining their distance from each other when dropping off and picking up children- this is to prevent community transmission. This is also the case when talking to school staff- there should be a two metre distance from school staff at the gates and at classroom doors.

  Thank you for your support during this challenging time. 

   

  Best wishes,

  Zakia Khatun

• Confirmed case in Year 3

  Mon 07 Dec 2020

   

  Monday 7^th December 2020

   

  Dear Parents and Carers,

   

  Confirmed case in Year 3

   

  As some of you will know, we have had one confirmed case of Covid-19 in Year 3. All children and staff in this bubble are now self-isolating. Their last day of isolation will be the 15^th December.   This bubble can return to school after on the 16th December. 

   

  We have been in contact with the local authority and Public Health Waltham Forest. We will continue to maintain the guidelines we have outlined in our risk assessment and now offer remote learning for our Year 3 bubble from Tuesday.

   

  School will remain open for all other year groups. The advice from the clinicians is that those children with siblings in Reception should continue to come to school as normal; they do not need to self-isolate. Children will only need to get tests if they present with symptoms. Even if results come back negative, bubbles will need to continue to self-isolate until the end of the self-isolation period.

   

  We fully understand that this news will cause you to feel anxious about sending your child/ren to school.  We are doing everything we can to keep children safe and following all the guidelines. This includes children remaining in bubbles, not mixing with children in other bubbles, and washing/sanitising hands regularly throughout the day.   Regular and additional cleaning has taken place throughout this time; however, we will now put in additional cleaning of the classrooms and the surrounding areas.

   

  Please remember that even if children do catch the virus, most children have a very mild illness and some are not ill at all.  

  We have included further information for your reference below.

   

  What to do if your child develops symptoms of COVID 19 

  If your child develops symptoms of COVID-19, they should remain at home for at least 10 days from the date when their symptoms appeared. All other household members who remain well must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill.

   

  Household members should not go to work, school or public areas and exercise should be taken within the home. 

  Household members staying at home for 14 days will greatly reduce the overall amount of infection the household could pass on to others in the community.

   

  If you are able to, and can, move any vulnerable individuals (such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions) out of your home, to stay with friends or family for the duration of the home isolation period.

   

  Symptoms

  The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of:

  • new continuous cough and/or
  • high temperature
  • a loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)
  •  

  For most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness.

  If your child or anyone in the household does develop symptoms, you can seek advice from NHS 111 at:

  https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/symptoms/ or by phoning 111.

   

  How to stop COVID-19 spreading

  There are things you can do to help reduce the risk of you and anyone you live with getting ill with COVID-19.

   

  Do

  • wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
  • use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
  • wash your hands as soon as you get home
  • cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
  • put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards

   

  Further Information

  Further information is available at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/.

   

  I would also like to take this opportunity to remind everybody that family groups should be maintaining their distance from each other when dropping off and picking up children- this is to prevent community transmission. This is also the case when talking to school staff- there should be a two metre distance from school staff at the gates and at classroom doors.

  Thank you for your support during this challenging time.  I continue to be impressed with your continued patience and how we have all been working as a team since the start of this, all the way back in March.

   

  Best wishes,

  Zakia Khatun

   

• Confirmed case in Reception

  Fri 04 Dec 2020

   

  Friday 4^th December 2020

   

  Dear Parents and Carers,

  Confirmed case in Reception

  As some of you will know, we have had one confirmed case of Covid-19 in Reception. All children and staff in this bubble are now self-isolating.  The last the day of isolation is 16th December.  This bubble will return to school on 17^th December 2020.

   

  We have been in contact with the local authority and Public Health Waltham Forest. We will continue to maintain the guidelines we have outlined in our risk assessment and now offer remote learning for our Reception bubble from Monday.

   

  School will remain open for all other year groups. The advice from the clinicians is that those children with siblings in Reception should continue to come to school as normal; they do not need to self-isolate. Children will only need to get tests if they present with symptoms. Even if results come back negative, bubbles will need to continue to self-isolate until the end of the self-isolation period.

  We fully understand that this news will cause you to feel anxious about sending your child/ren to school.  We are doing everything we can to keep children safe and following all the guidelines. This includes children remaining in bubbles, not mixing with children in other bubbles, and washing/sanitising hands regularly throughout the day.   Regular and additional cleaning has taken place throughout this time; however, we will now put in additional cleaning of the Reception classrooms and the surrounding areas.

   

  Please remember that even if children do catch the virus, most children have a very mild illness and some are not ill at all.  

   

  We have included further information for your reference below.

   

  What to do if your child develops symptoms of COVID 19 

  If your child develops symptoms of COVID-19, they should remain at home for at least 10 days from the date when their symptoms appeared. All other household members who remain well must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill.

   

  Household members should not go to work, school or public areas and exercise should be taken within the home. 

   

  Household members staying at home for 14 days will greatly reduce the overall amount of infection the household could pass on to others in the community.

   

  If you are able to, and can, move any vulnerable individuals (such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions) out of your home, to stay with friends or family for the duration of the home isolation period.

   

  Symptoms

  The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of:

  • new continuous cough and/or
  • high temperature
  • a loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)

   

  For most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness.

  If your child or anyone in the household does develop symptoms, you can seek advice from NHS 111 at:

  https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/symptoms/ or by phoning 111.

   

  How to stop COVID-19 spreading

  There are things you can do to help reduce the risk of you and anyone you live with getting ill with COVID-19.

   

  Do

  • wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
  • use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
  • wash your hands as soon as you get home
  • cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
  • put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards

   

  Further Information

  Further information is available at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/.

   

  I would also like to take this opportunity to remind everybody that family groups should be maintaining their distance from each other when dropping off and picking up children- this is to prevent community transmission. This is also the case when talking to school staff- there should be a two metre distance from school staff at the gates and at classroom doors.

   

  Thank you for your support during this challenging time.  I continue to be impressed with your continued patience and how we have all been working as a team since the start of this, all the way back in March.

   

  Best wishes,

  Zakia Khatun