Verwood Cofe First School

Verwood CofE First School Howe Lane, Verwood, Dorset, BH31 6JF [email protected] www.verwoodfirst.dorset.sch.uk Tel: 01202 822652 Headteacher: Mr Adam Parsons [email protected]

8.1.21 Dear Parents,

Can I first start by thanking you all for your tremendous hard work and support this week. As parents you are being put under a lot of pressure and we appreciate your great efforts, whether you are a critical worker helping our community, or a parent committing to engage with home learning.

I have had some very sobering emails from our front-line workers describing the position we are in locally in our hospitals and the need for us to be very careful at this particular time. Like all schools, we are working through complex issues, trying to keep everyone safe and everyone learning.

The central message of the Government advice is that schools must be as COVID secure as possible with minimal interactions between staff and pupils, maximum social distancing of adults, plenty of hand hygiene and lots of ventilation in spite of the cold weather. There are many conflicting demands being placed on schools and on families at home.

Schools are being asked to be COVID secure but at the same time remain open to eligible pupils; we must provide a full curriculum but without too much interaction and they must provide a high quality remote learning experience which is similar to the education children would have in school.

With these very challenging expectations, these are ways you can help us:

Even if you are a critical worker, only elect to send your child to school if you really have no other option. Please contact the school office via email if you are in the position of being able to change your mind and keep your child at home.

If you have been notified by the school that your child is vulnerable in some way, please send your child to school as normal. It is important that our vulnerable children attend each day.

Allenbourn Middle School Colehill First School Emmanuel Middle School Hayeswood First School Hillside First School Lockyer’s Middle School Merley First School Queen Elizabeth’s School St John’s First School St Michael’s Middle School Verwood First School Witchampton First School

Wimborne Academy Trust, a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales with company number 09362004. Registered office address: ℅ Allenbourn Middle School, East Borough, Wimborne Minster, Dorset BH21 1PL. Wimborne Academy Trust is an exempt charity.

Please be patient with home learning, we are trying to make this manageable for you whilst meeting the vastly increased expectations of the government for home learning during this lockdown. My teachers will continue to talk with you, message and email to help resolve teething issues. It has been interesting to observe that running a remote class has been more time consuming this week than physically teaching a class. We are aiming for live registers, live story times, and 2 live worships next week and meet ups using the google meet app next week if possible but we recognise that perhaps with more than one child in a family or tech sharing, we need to ensure this can work for you. Please don’t feel under pressure, you are all doing a great job, and we will be here to help you!

For families still going on to site, please follow COVID expectations very carefully. Please keep exactly to the staggered entry and exit timings. Please wear a mask on site, unless you have a medical exemption. Please keep to social distancing and leave site as soon as possible.

Parents with siblings Parents with siblings can choose to collect both together at first collection time or collect at their actual finish times. Please email the teachers directly so that they are aware of your approach and please keep this consistent arrangement going forwards.

Technical support We have had a strong response to our technology questionnaire and are now working to prioritise the school’s allocation of chrome books. We will be in touch with you next week, if you qualify for a loan on this tech.

Maths No Problem Look out for an email with information for parents on Maths No Problem for Y1 to Y4.

Wimborne Academy Trust - Lockdown parental satisfaction survey Please find a link here to give your feedback to the Wimborne Academy Trust about how we are doing…when you have a moment to spare!! https://forms.gle/KCgZz1PhZUneh8qn9

Thank you everyone once again for your support this week. We hope you have a safe and relaxing weekend. Kind regards

Adam Parsons

Head teacher