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We are excited to be welcoming all pupils back to school on Monday 8th March. Make sure you have read the latest issue of our weekly newsletter which contains lots of information about our return. Download your own PDF copy of Woodcroft Weekly Issue 404 using this link. Alternatively, view the slides below … See you all on Monday!
Helping children back to school
It’s been a challenging year for children and young people which is why it’s so important that we so what we can to help support their mental health and wellbeing as they return to the classroom on 8 March.
We have a wide range of useful resources for parents, carers, teachers, children and young people on our Back to School page. Some of these include links to the latest government guidance, tips on how to get back into a routine, important information on potential changes to the school setting and advice on dealing with anxiety:
Also, Barnet Integrated Clinical Services (BICS) have organised a series of FREE wellbeing workshops for children, young people, parents and carers. View the list of workshops and details on how to book here.
We’re wishing you and your child the best of luck on their return to school!
After the announcement that schools are fully reopening on 8th March we have been busy at school preparing for the big day! We hope you are all excited to be coming back. In the meantime, there are lots of things you can do to get ready. Issue 403 of Woodcroft Weekly News contains lots of helpful advice.
It’s also a big week for Year 6 who will find out out their secondary school offers on Monday! Fingers crossed for your preferred choices.
Download your PDF copy of Woodcroft Weekly – Issue 403
Click on the image to read the government press release.
We have now begin to finalise planning following the most recent Government Guidance. Arrangements will be very similar to those that were put in place in September which aimed to:
This will be achieved by:
Staggered entry 8.30am – 8.55am
Pupils can arrive at school between 8.30am and 8.55am and go directly into class. Families will follow the current one way system for drop off.
Lessons will start at 8.55am
Please ensure you are on time. We advise that pupils are in school by 8.45am to benefit from early work support from teachers.
Breaktimes
Pupils will have staggered break times within their year groups. They will not mix with other pupils.
Lunchtime
Children will have staggered lunchtimes within their year groups and will not mix on the playground with other pupils.
End of the Day Collection between 3.00pm to 3.15pm
Lessons will finish at 3.00pm. Children who walk home from school will be dismissed at 3.00pm. Parents will be able to collect children between 3.00pm and 3.15pm. We have a marked queuing area at the front and back of school.
We will continue to operate our one way system. Please watch the video here if you need a reminder: https://drive.google.com/file/d/11bcc2-2nQ5Jh_D4hC75XOZorXGDoe2uC/view?usp=sharing
Teachers have been asked not to talk at length with parents at the end of the day to avoid hold ups. We also ask that parents and carers leave the school promptly after pick-up to avoid congestion.
It is important to remember that we will expect all adults to maintain the social distance rule while on site.
Masks
Mask should be worn at all times on school premises. We understand that not everyone is able to wear a mask. Those who are exempted can display their exemption tags/lanyards to reassure the rest of the community.
We expect that there might be times when individuals, classes or even the whole school is asked to self-isolate. To overcome further disruption to learning we continue to adopt our Learning Continuity Plan.
What to expect online:
Uniform
We will be wearing full uniform. Howveer, we have temporarily relaxed our policy on school shoes until all non essential shops are open. Children can wear alternative footwear, e.g. trainers, if their shoes no longer fit.
PE/Games
Our coaches will continue to provide 1 hour of PE per class. This will be mainly outside or in the main hall. They will remain socially distant from the pupils and thoroughly clean equipment between use.
Pupil wear their blue PE uniform on PE days.
Library Organisation
No staff or pupils will be able to visit the library this term. Each class will have a Library Book Box delivered each half term.
Breakfast Club
8.00am Breakfast Club will be available at a cost of £1.50 per day. Please register and book via the school office. Children will be seated within year group areas to maintain their bubbles.
Acorns After School Club
We hope Acorns after school club can return to running a restricted service from 15th March . But this is subject to sufficient numbers of parents requesting the provision. We will need to maintain social distancing between pupils from different year groups so this involved some detailed planning.
Extra Curricular Clubs
We are not planning on restarting any extra curricular clubs during the spring term. However, we are currently looking at ways to restart clubs run by external coaches later in the summer term.
Other Things to Remember:
If children exhibit any symptoms of COVID19 we request that they are kept home form school in line with Government guidelines.
Please inform the office immediately so that we can take any appropriate action to maintain everyone’s safety.
For children and families who have anxiety about returning the following presentation may be helpful …
click to view the slide show
Staff and governors have carried out a series of risk assessments and associated planning based on the latest guidance to ensure the school’s safe opening on March 8th. These documents are shared below:
If you would like to comment on any of the above plans please email: office@woodcroft.barnetmail.net
Well done to everyone for achieving so much both at home and in school this term – you have all done amazingly well.
Issue 402 has information about lots of online activities keep you busy this week. There is also information for parents and carers about ways to get support. Read it here: https://bit.ly/3tTgr4b. Don’t forget that you can read all of our back issues on the News Page.
Finally, Happy Chinese New Year, and a restful half term.
Barnet, along with other London Boroughs is listed in the contingency framework areas. This means that there are additional restrictions placed upon schools.
Note: Barnet website information here, https://www.barnet.gov.uk/news/return-school-january-2021
Note: Government information here, DfE School Contingency Plans
Primary schools, including Woodcroft, will only open to children of critical workers and vulnerable children for the first two weeks of term. A Government review will occur by 18th January in respect of planning to open for other children thereafter.
All families were sent an online application form on 31/12/20 to request a place, if eligible, in our Key Worker Provision. All applications will be reviewed on 4/12/20.
Pupils not attending school will have access to Woodcroft Online remote education via Google Classroom from the start of term. Please log on to your child’s school account on Tuesday 5th to access their daily schedule and assignments.
Two members of Woodcroft’s Dance Team achieved individual success in the National School’s Dance Competition on Friday 7th December. They submitted solo videos for judgeing and overjoyed to both place in the Top 10 nationally. What an achievement!
Danis and Atifa, both Y5, have been part of the Dance Team for the past year. COVID19 has prevented team events taking place, but this didn’t stop the girls representing Woodcroft in the solo dance category.
Imagine our excitement, when results were announced, to hear that both had finished at the top of the leaderboard. Congratulations to both of our amazing dancers!
Take a look at a snapshot of their entries on Twitter …
Take a look at our fantastic dance entries to the @DanceUDOIT National Schools Dance Championship @BarnetSport pic.twitter.com/edvDOfF4GH
— Woodcroft Primary (@WPS_Success) December 14, 2020
Both Woodcroft entries placed in the top 10 of the @DanceUDOIT Winter Solos National Competition – an amazing result! @BarnetSport pic.twitter.com/YoINhBRkc9
— Woodcroft Primary (@WPS_Success) December 14, 2020
One one week to go until the Christmas break and Woodcroft is getting very festive! Next week we have our Christmas lunch, year group parties, a special online panto!
Download the full PDF issue here … Woodcroft Weekly Issue 398
Another busy week at Woodcroft. Keep up to speed with everything happening in school by reading the Woodcroft Weekly News.
Download the full PDF version of Issue 397 …. click here
NEWS UPDATE: Following the Government announcement on Tuesday 7th December, asking schools to close on 18th December, the last day of term will now be Thursday 17th December. We will finish lessons at the normal time of 3.00pm on the final Thursday.
