Coronavirus Update

Monday 6th July

Dear parents,

It has been a pleasure today to welcome back some of our Year 2 children.  Our school is now fully open, in all year groups, for all children who wish to return. Our children and parents have adapted wonderfully to the safety measures put in place in school.  I'd also like to thank all our families who are continuing to support their children at home.  Please keep emailing your learning to your class teacher.  They will continue to provide home learning for the next 2 weeks online for those children at home. 

Guidance for schools was released by the Government on Thursday. We are working through this guidance to make plans for September and I will communicate these over the next week.  We are delighted that we will be back to full classes  at the start of the new school year.  We will need to stagger the drop-off and collection times slightly to allow for social distancing measures to be adhered to, with some year groups starting a little earlier than usual.  There will also be no before/after-school clubs in September as it is advised that children are not to mix bubbles (classes) where possible. You will be given more information about this over the next week.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me on head@whitefield-inf.lancs.sch.uk

Kindest regards,

Mrs Mason

Covid-19 testing in Nelson

One of our parents has kindly informed me that there will be FREE Covid-19 Testing at a Mobile Testing Unit in Nelson at the Former Fairground next to Victoria Park (Carr Road, Nelson, BB9 6DG), from Monday 6th July 2020 to Thursday 9th July. The site will be open from 10.30am to 3.30pm.The site will be open to foot and vehicle traffic, and is for any symptomatic persons over 5 years old.  There will be a testing capacity of about 250. All persons must have booked an appointment using the government website, and appointments for each day should go live at about 2030hrs the night before. https://www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test

Data shows that there’s been little attendance from the BME community and given the prevalence of Covid-19 in the BME population across the UK, please encourage friends and family to take part

Monday 29th June - Year  2 Places

Dear parents,

We are able to open school to some of our Year 2 children.  If you would like your child to return, please book a place by calling the school office on 01282 612807 or email Mrs Mason at head@whitefield-inf.lancs.sch.uk. Children may attend from Monday 6th July, 8.50pm - 2.55pm, after a place has been booked.  Please use the Albert Street gate.  The Portland Street gate will be LOCKED.  Please read the information leaflet below for further information. Children may wear their home clothes.

Many thanks,

Mrs Mason

Update - Monday 22nd June 2020

Dear parents,

Lancashire Education Authority have given their consent for schools to open wider for the children who are in Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 6. We opened wider on Monday and the children have loved being back ! It has been wonderful to see their smiling faces again!

It is 100% parental choice to make the decision if they would like their child to return for the last 3 weeks of this term. There are no fines if parents choose to keep their children at home until September and teachers will continue to add weekly home learning onto the school website to support those children working at home.

School will be open Monday-Thursday for those children who have had a place confirmed.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me on head@whitefield-inf.lancs.sch.uk .

Best wishes,

Mrs Mason

Pupil Premium Food Vouchers:

All children under 7 are entitled to 'Universal free school meals', however during this time, the Government are only providing support for families who are eligible for Pupil Premium. This is based on the overall family income.

All families that we have registered in school that are eligible for Pupil Premium vouchers have been contacted.  Mrs Snowden in the school office has set these families up to receive a £15 food voucher each week.

If you think you are eligible for Pupil Premium, please see the information on our website about that and details on how to apply. 

Update:

I just want to say what an absolute privilege it is to work with such amazing staff, children and parents!

As a parent, I know how hard it is to make the best decisions for your children during these uncertain times. You have all done everything you can to protect your children by keeping them home where possible. I know many of you have made sacrifices to do this, so thank-you! #stayhomes #savelives.

For our 'key Workers', who are on the front line, please do not struggle.  Any Key Worker’s requiring our 'critical childcare' needs to book this in advance via e-mailing Mrs Mason (head@whitefield-inf.lancs.sch.uk).  School will only be open to support families on request via this booking system. It will otherwise be closed. There are now some Hub schools emerging to support the 1/2 children in each school requiring support.

Please do not hesitate to get in touch for anything - I will do all I can to help.

Keep safe and look after your family. I am missing you all lots!

Love and best wishes,

Mrs Mason

A poem for us all...

THE TIME WE SPRING-CLEANED THE WORLD

The world it got so busy,

There were people all around.

They left their germs behind them;

In the air and on the ground.

These germs grew bigger and stronger.

They wanted to come and stay.

They didn’t want to hurt anyone -

They just really wanted to play.

Sometimes they tried to hold your hand,

Or tickled your throat or your nose.

They could make you cough and sneeze

And make your face as red as a rose.

And so these germs took over.

They started to make people ill,

And with every cough we coughed

More and more germs would spill.

All the queens and kings had a meeting.

“It’s time to clean the world up!” they said.

And so they had to close lots of fun stuff,

Just so these germs couldn’t spread.

We couldn’t go to cinemas

Or restaurants for our tea.

There was no football or parties,

The world got as quiet as can be.

The kids stopped going to school,

The mums and dads went to work less.

Then a great, big, giant scrubbing brush

Cleaned the sky and the sea and the mess!

Dads started teaching the sums,

Big brothers played with us more,

Mums were in charge of homework

And we read and played jigsaws galore!

The whole world was washing their hands

And building super toilet roll forts!

Outside was quiet and peaceful,

Now home was the place for all sports.

So we played in the world that was home

And our days filled up with fun and love,

And the germs they grew smaller and smaller

And the sun watched from up above.

Then one morning the sun woke up early,

She smiled and stretched her beams wide.

The world had been fully spring cleaned,

It was time to go back outside!

We opened our doors oh so slowly

And breathed in the clean and fresh air.

We promised that forever and always

Of this beautiful world we’d take care! 🌎💗

Louise Gribbons

Dear parents,

As you are aware, as a response to the COVID-19 outbreak and in attempt to slow the spread, the Government have closed all schools.  We are unsure when schools will re-open at this stage. The closure will affect the vast majority of children in our school and I am saddened that this unavoidable measure has been taken.

May I thank you for all your support and patience over the last few days! It has been a very hard and emotional time for both staff, parents and children and there has been a vast amount to arrange.

We have spoken to all parents eligible for ‘key worker’ support from Monday 23^rd March.  May I thank the parents who have managed to find alternative child-care, as this has helped keep the numbers down in school and limit the potential spread of the virus.  We have plans in place, but they maybe subject to change if the Government make any new announcements.

‘Key Work Provision’:

• Whitefield Infant School will be opened 9am-3pm. 
• We are offering a breakfast club from 8am for any parents who need to get to work before 9am. 
• All children need to enter the school by the Nursery Gate on Portland Street, as the children will be using the Nursery and Studio as their facilities.  No other doors and entrances will be open during this time. 
• Children are to be collected promptly from the same location at 3pm. 
• Children will be provided with a lunch in school. 
• Children may wear their home clothes (please ensure these are sensible clothes and appropriate footwear for outdoor play).

With regards to our pupil premium families, a food pack for the week is now being delivered to school (this is instead of vouches or ‘daily grab bags’ as initially suggested). I will contact the families eligible on Monday when the packs arrive with details of how to collect.

I wish you all the best of health.  Keep safe and look after each other.

I can’t wait to see you all again VERY soon!  If you need to contact me, please do so on head@whitefield-inf.lancs.sch.uk

Love and best wishes,

Mrs Mason