Unsworth Academy

Tuesday 5th January 2021

Dear Parents/Carers,

Good afternoon everyone. Another very busy day after the government’s announcement last night. I think we expected a delay to return to school for face to face teaching, but a full half term delay came as quite a surprise, and we were really looking forward to welcoming all our learners back sooner, rather than later. The ever changing landscape is a challenge to navigate; however we are doing our very best to keep you fully informed, without having to do too many last minute u turns. I continue to thankyou for your support and patience. (Full details and all the information for parents and carers about going back to school in January (last updated 31st December 2020) can be found on the DFE website.)

Year 11 update

The further announcement that year 11 exams will not go ahead as planned, but with as yet no alternative arrangements (the government is working on next steps with the exam regulator Ofqal) will be causing a great deal of concern and anxiety for many of our year 11’s. We really feel for them and will do all we can to support them through this difficult time. As I write the I Media exam scheduled for Monday 11th January is still going ahead. Mr Lamb has written to all year 11’s sitting that exam in a separate letter and will inform them of any ongoing changes.

I have received an e- mail from Bury College today confirming that they are intending to carry on with phone interviews for our learners who have applied to go there; these will take place after their school day finishes. I will share more details from colleges as they come through to me. Our year 11 ( and year 10) careers interviews, conducted by Mr Welsh our careers adviser will continue over the phone, with prior notice again being given.

Year 11 work will continue to be set by their teachers via Microsoft teams and it is vital that your child continues to engage with their on line learning as per the guidelines below.

Remote learning from home from Wednesday 6th January 2021

As per the latest DFE Guidance, and with the exception of the children of key workers and vulnerable learners, all other learners will now learn remotely until at least February half term, when the situation will once again be reviewed. On line learning and full attendance to lessons is expected and will be closely monitored by all our teachers and our attendance team. To enable all our staff to revise their planning, resources and assessments, for the three school days beginning Wednesday 6th January, teachers will set teaching assignments via Microsoft teams and there will be no live teaching. All assignments will be uploaded by 10.30am each day. From Monday 11th January we are aiming to move to interactive on-line lessons, in line with SET and our academy remote learning policies (please see website). From Monday 11th January lessons will follow the normal school timetable, almost as it would be if learners were in the school building.

Mrs S Armstrong Academy Principal Unsworth Academy, Parr Lane, Bury, BL9 8LP Tel: 0161 796 9820 Email: [email protected] Online: www.unsworthacademy.org.uk

The Shaw Education Trust Limited is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England (no 09067175) Registered address: Shaw Education Trust, The Lodge, Wolstanton High School, Milehouse Lane, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, ST5 9JU. The details of our academies registered as business names can be found at www.shaw-education.org.uk.

UNSWORTH ACADEMY

Remote Learning Lessons via Microsoft Teams

Please be reminded, Microsoft Teams lessons will follow the regular school timetable but will only be live for the middle half an hour. Video lessons will, thus, be as follows: Period 1 – 9.20-9.50am Period 2 – 10.20-10.50am Period 3 – 11.40am-12.10pm Period 4 – 12.40-1.10pm Period 5 – 2.20-2.50pm

Your teachers will set extra work to be finished after their sessions. If your teacher is ill then the lesson will of course not be interactive, but resources and tasks will be uploaded via Microsoft teams. If you encounter any difficulties using Microsoft Teams, please visit the 'For Learners' section of the school website where you will find help sheets and videos. You can also e- mail [email protected].

To ensure focused teaching and learning can take place can I remind learners, parents and carers of some guidelines around using Microsoft Teams: • the chat facility is to help teaching and learning and must be used to discuss learning only • learners must attend meetings (lessons) set up by their teacher only • contacting school via e mail must only be done via [email protected] education.org.uk for general enquires or [email protected] education.org.uk for specific remote learning enquires

We have a limited number of computer devices available for loan to support remote learning. Priority for these devices will be given to those eligible for free school meals and those with multiple Unsworth Academy learners in the household. These devices will need to be collected at reception by parents and a loan agreement form completed. If your child requires a device and meets the criteria, please e- mail [email protected] by Thursday 7th January to enable us to allocate devices as fairly as possible. You will be contacted by school to arrange collection if you are allocated a device. Exercise books are available to pick up from reception should your child need them.

On site learning for the children of key workers and vulnerable children

As per the DFE latest guidance, the above children are still expected to attend school full time (except if they are shielding, self-isolating or quarantining). As with vulnerable children, critical worker parents and carers should let school know if their child will not be attending. Learners will follow the times of the normal school day, arriving for a prompt 8.45am start and leaving at 3.05pm. Just as all staff are expected to follow our professional dress code, all learners will wear full school uniform. They will also need to bring at least one face mask, equipment, a water bottle, healthy snacks and a packed lunch. (Vulnerable and key worker children who are entitled to free school meals and attending school will receive a meal in school. Those who are not attending will receive FSM vouchers over the next few days.

Mrs S Armstrong Academy Principal Unsworth Academy, Parr Lane, Bury, BL9 8LP Tel: 0161 796 9820 Email: [email protected] Online: www.unsworthacademy.org.uk

UNSWORTH ACADEMY

In helping us to plan for the number of children who would fall into this category, we need your assistance with the critical worker element of the provision.

Please contact us as a matter of urgency (telephone on 0161 796 9820 - our phone line will be open from 8am on 06/01/2021 or email to [email protected]), if you work in one of the following areas of employment and you will need your child to be supervised in school: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining- educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining- educational-provision#critical-workers

Please state the name of your child and of your employer when responding to us. We may require evidence of this employment. If you previously registered as a critical worker when school originally closed in March 2020, then there is no need to re-register as we still have those records, and your child will be permitted to attend school.

It is important to note that in the circumstances where a parent has requested that a child is in school, the normal expectation of attendance every day will apply, and non-attendance will be followed up. This is in line with our safeguarding processes.

Anyone who has coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms, such as a raised temperature, a new continuous cough, or a loss of or change to their sense of smell or taste, should stay at home. They should not attend an out-of-school setting and should follow the guidance for households with possible coronavirus (COVID-19) infection and get a test.

Please note: There is no requirement for us as a school to implement mass testing before learners return to school. We are fully complying with DFE expectations and are currently working through a huge amount of DFE documentation (which includes information on training, risk assessments, consents etc.) Over the coming days we will put together a clear structure and timeline to roll out the testing and then share these plans with you in another letter.

Learner Well-Being

As always, the wellbeing of students is a priority and we are aware that this is an unsettling time for all. Kooth is a free online counselling service that is available to all students should they require support outside of school hours and can be accessed by using the website www.kooth.com. There is a lot of further information on the school website, so please use the safeguarding tab which leads to the tab called 'useful safeguarding links' to access more details. These will be updated with Covid specific links shortly. If you have any further concerns please contact Mrs Power on [email protected] or Mr Leyland on [email protected]"

Mrs S Armstrong Academy Principal Unsworth Academy, Parr Lane, Bury, BL9 8LP Tel: 0161 796 9820 Email: [email protected] Online: www.unsworthacademy.org.uk

UNSWORTH ACADEMY

Many thanks for your continued support. I will, as always, continue to keep you regularly updated as I have done so, so far, throughout this pandemic.

Yours sincerely,

Mrs S Armstrong Academy Principal

Mrs S Armstrong Academy Principal Unsworth Academy, Parr Lane, Bury, BL9 8LP Tel: 0161 796 9820 Email: [email protected] Online: www.unsworthacademy.org.uk