21 Oct Newsletter October 2020
Dear Parents
This has been an interesting half term. I am delighted that we have got through it without incident. The children are evidently very happy and are making good progress in catching up with the work that they have missed. Attendance is around 95% which is remarkable in the circumstances. I am aware from feedback from parents that we can improve the organisation of departure at the end of the day. We are experimenting and will come up with an improved plan shortly. Thank you for the feedback.
The Virus
So far we have had no cases of covid-19 among staff or children. This is partly good luck and partly due to the social distancing, hand washing and other hygiene measures in place. I am very grateful for the part that parents have played in this. A slight change is being promoted by Islington. They are asking all parents to wear masks while dropping off children and picking them up. This is recommended even if you remain out on the street. The reason for this is that parents at the school gate, often come into closer contact with each other for a short while. Any reduction in risk is a good thing so Islington is recommending that you wear masks at these times.
Homework on SeeSaw
You will have noticed that we have been setting homework on SeeSaw. This is partly to practice for home learning should there be another lockdown. From 22nd October, the government have made it a legal requirement to deliver home learning electronically. Do not worry if you are taking time to learn how to use it. We are all learning together. Years 5 and 6 are finding it easier to use. Younger children will take longer. Some of you may have issues with access to the internet or with devices. Please let the school know and we will try our best to help.
I chose Seesaw from a number of products as it is the simplest to use and will work on any device; Tablet, mobile or PC. The most important feature is that the teacher can see the work that the children have done and can then give them feedback. Even if there is no further lockdown, we will be increasingly using Seesaw to extend children’s learning.
Oak Academy and Khan Academy
During the lockdown a number of you used Oak Academy. I can also recommend Khan Academy which is similar but provides more personalised learning. If you want your child to do extra work at home beyond that set by the school, both these resources are completely free and are of high quality. The easiest way to find them is to Google them.