Start 2 Finish: Message from Chris for our families

25th March 2020A Stelling

Hi everyone! I hope you are all safe and well.

Please see below links to our social media, and brand new YouTube channel where I will be posting regular PE skill challenges, as well as some follow along workouts and various other videos.

This is something that I am new to, so please be kind and accept that I’m not a pro at camera work or editing just yet!

There will be content that will help yourselves and school staff with ideas for PE (those that are open now and everyone once we return to the norm)! Plus ideas for parents to engage their kids at home, with very little equipment or space required.

Today’s challenge was a progression of throwing and catching drills, and the previous video was a series of basic jumping actions.

We’re also trying to engage our regular participants and social media followers, by offering a free prize for those that upload their progressions to our challenges with hashtag =  #s2fsportschallange

Thanks for your ongoing support and I hope you all find this useful

www.facebook.com/start2finishsports

Instagram @s2fsports

YouTube “Start 2 Finish Sports”

Chris

 

Day 3: A letter from Mrs Cunningham for our pupils

25th March 2020A Stelling

Hello everyone, it’s Mrs Cunningham here again. I hope you had a good Tuesday and enjoyed a little bit of blue sky and sunshine.

I have heard that lots of you are tuning into Joe Wicks’ exercises online. I joined in too with some of your teachers in the school hall and Joe was on the big screen. It was hard work, but really good fun.

We tidied the school garden today. You’ll never believe some of the things we found. Lots of tennis balls, a hat, a Barbie doll and…….. wait for it…..a sock! What was a sock doing in our school garden? And how did it get there?

I’m missing you all and looking forward to hearing some of your stories about what you got up to in your house.

Have a wonderful Wednesday.

Mrs Cunningham

 

Day 2: A message to all our pupils from Mrs Cunningham

24th March 2020A Stelling

Well hello everyone, it’s Mrs Cunningham here again. I hope you all had a really good first day with your parents as your teachers. I’m certain that I heard you singing today at 10:10, you all must have been singing very loudly!

I have seen some super pictures of lots of you doing P.E in your living rooms. They made me smile.

The Junior teachers have told me that many of you have already started some of your online work. Well done! A great start to the week.😀

Wouldn’t it be funny if your parents made their own staff room in your house where they could go for a cup of tea and you had to knock and wait for permission before going in.

Keep working hard. Have a super Tuesday.

Mrs Cunningham

 

Update 23.3.20 14:25

23rd March 2020Mr Bennett

23.3.20 Update

Dear all,

Just to update regarding the Mortimer Childcare.

 

We will continue to use Facebook events to help parents tell us who is coming.

Important!

For the next events please can you comment with your child’s name(s) in the event and their year group.

Please indicate by 5pm the day before to help us. We know some plans will change but that’s ok. It will just let us know any staff implications.

Form

Please fill in the key worker childcare form if you are planning on using the service even if not this week. Filling the form at home means you don’t have to wait around while we take your details.

Communication

Please only ring the school if you require urgent help. You don’t need to ring us to say you aren’t coming in, we simply close the register at 9:30. The office will not always be manned as we move through these next few weeks.

Signing in

If you have signed in your children today (Monday) then your name will be on a printed sheet from Tuesday. There is no need to show your evidence of key worker status again.

If you are using the child care for the first time you will need to sign in on the blank forms and show us your evidence.

 

Any issues please just ask. We are here to help each other!

 

#staysafestayhome

A letter for our pupils…

23rd March 2020A Stelling

Hello everyone, it’s Mrs Cunningham here. Well, this is your first day of being at school in your own house, with your parents as your teachers! How funny is that?

I am going to miss you all today. I will be singing our whole school assembly song at 10.10am, the time we should be singing it all together. Why don’t you sing it to your mams and dads at the same time….. “We’re in it together today”.

Now remember that your parents are your teachers. They might ask you to put your hand up to answer a question. Can you imagine if you have to ask to go to the toilet! They might even ask you to call them Mr or Mrs! I think this is going to be very funny and I’m looking forward to hearing some of your stories when you are back.

Your teachers have all set you work which they are looking forward to seeing. I know I can trust you all to work really hard and do your school work when your parents tell you to. If you don’t, they all know my phone number.

Don’t forget our school ethos:

Do your best and work with all your effort, as doing your best is more important than being the best.

Do something kind every day, as kind people are the best kind of people.

Be polite and always use your manners. Please and thank you are magic words

Have a lovely Monday.

Mrs Cunningham

 

 

A letter to all our parents…

23rd March 2020A Stelling

Thank you for your support at this unprecedented time. We have tried to make it as worry-free as possible. None of us know how long this will continue, but be assured we will keep you updated and let you know what is happening.

I have been teaching at Mortimer for 27 years, this is my Mortimer family, and with any family I am extremely protective. Please be assured that we doing our utmost to look after your children whilst working with the Local Authority and taking advice from the Government and Public Health England.

I would like to take this opportunity to truly thank every one of you for all of the kind messages of support. They are very much appreciated and keep us going during these uncertain times. Take care and we look forward to welcoming all children back as soon as we can.

Mrs Cunningham

Update 22.3.20 19:45

22nd March 2020Mr Bennett
22.3.20 19:45
Dear all,
I hope everyone is safe and well. Thank you for working with us at this difficult and worrying time.
Senior leaders have continued to communicate throughout the weekend and will begin the week early tomorrow to further cement plans to support our pupils and families.
Please see the key information points from my earlier update regarding using the Mortimer childcare.
Please continue to look after each other and stay safe.
Key information for next week
Application/Contact Form
All parents wishing to access the limited child care must complete the online form or a paper based version on the first day that they need access to the school. Current guidance is that only one parent needs to be a key worker to access this service. https://forms.gle/AodjDN4NVH21m3767
Monday – Friday
The school will be open at 8:50 until 3:30pm each day.
To avoid all parents and children arriving at once, we will allow a staggered opening from 8:50 until 9:30 via the main entrance.
Children can be collected from 2:45 until 3:30pm, again via the main entrance.
Can we ask that you exercise social distancing, as defined by the government, when entering and exiting the building. As the first day may be busy we will plan to help ease this.
Accessing each day
We will post a Facebook event for each day of next week and ask that you confirm your attendance for each day so we are aware of numbers. Please can you help us by confirming your attendance by 5pm the day before or as early as possible.
Employment evidence
On the first day of using the service we will need to see evidence of your employment as indicated on your form. Examples could be: staff badge, payslip or a letter from your employer. Please read the government advice carefully and we encourage you to speak to your employer to ensure you are a key worker.
It is essential that we see this evidence.
Flexible access
Some parents, may be unsure of their needs day to day. We will do our very best to accommodate this. Levels of priority may need to be adhered to regarding which families require the care most. We may also be limited by the numbers we are allowed to safely have on school premises. Original figures were 20% of the school and we continue to reference this figure whilst further guidance is sought.
Safeguarding
Parents MUST sign their child in and out of school each day. The yard will not be open for children to enter. All children must enter the school via the main entrance with their parent.
Children will not be allowed access to mobile technology during the day as per normal school procedures.
Lunch
Please continue to order and pay for lunches via Parent Pay. The kitchen staff will endeavour to meet the requests but please prepare children that their preferred option may not be available.
School uniform
We ask that children come dressed in school uniform, whilst attending.
Bright Kids
Wrap around care is available from 7:30am till opening of school and till 6pm after school. This is a paid facility. Any enquiries should be directed to [email protected]
Thank you for your continued support and I hope this update is comprehensive and clear.

 

20.3.20 15:20 Update New Key Worker Form

20th March 2020Mr Bennett

20.3.20 15:20 Update
Dear all, this the new form you must complete if you wish to access the child care provision at Mortimer Primary school. The first form was merely to gauge numbers; this one confirms your application for childcare. Please ensure you have read the 13:10 update before filling in this form.

This form will remain open, as I recognise some parents will not need to access our support straight away, but may need to at a later date.
We need the form completing before accessing the first session of child care. The easiest way to do this is via our electronic form but we will make provision for form to be completed in school.

Evidence – in exceptional circumstances where the parent is not bringing the child to school and is unable to send any form of evidence of being a key worker with the adult – evidence (photo/scans etc) can be sent to [email protected] Please use this as the last resort, questions and quires will not be answered via this means of communication.

The Facebook events to allow you to confirm your child(ren)s attendance will be live soon. Please help us by confirming your attendance by 5pm the night before.

I will be on and off Facebook over the weekend if you need help. Please ask other parents to join Facebook and our group, to stay up to date (even just for this situation).

Thank you

New form

https://forms.gle/fAzBM5Heff5ex51C9

20.3.20 13:10 Update

20th March 2020Mr Bennett
20.3.20 13:10 Update
Mortimer Primary School – CoronaVirus school opening information
Dear all, these are unprecedented and worrying times, yet as a school community we have responded with calm and precision. We are proud of our staff and pupils; they have not flickered in the face of this event.
School closures are aimed at supporting the social distancing advice and suppress the spread of the Coronavirus. Therefore, we are closed as an education provider from the end of Friday 20th March until further notice.
From Monday 23rd we will be open to vulnerable children and pupils of key workers. This is a very different type of provision than we usually provide; for these pupils, it will be about care, not education. This is about keeping children safe and allowing key workers (such as NHS staff) to go to work and care for the sick, or to keep food supply chains moving. All expectations regarding educational provision have been lifted. Mortimer Primary is free to determine what the provision looks like and what we deem to be best for the pupils we are supporting.
Parents whose work is critical to the COVID-19 response include those who work in health and social care and in other key sectors outlined on the Government website. Many parents working in these sectors may be able to ensure their child is kept at home. And every child who can be safely cared for at home should be.
This is an offer to parents and carers and there is no requirement for parents and carers to send their children to school if they do not need or wish to do so. However, if you are at home, even as a key worker, then so should your child(ren).
Please, therefore, follow these key principles:
1. If it is at all possible for children to be at home, then they should be.
2. If a child needs specialist support, is vulnerable or has a parent who is a critical worker, then educational provision will be available for them.
3. Parents should not rely for childcare upon those who are advised to be in the stringent social distancing category such as grandparents, friends, or family members with underlying conditions.
4. Parents should also do everything they can to ensure children are not mixing socially in a way which can continue to spread the virus. They should observe the same social distancing principles as adults.
If workers think they fall within the critical categories above they should confirm with their employer that, based on their business continuity arrangements, their specific role is necessary for the continuation of this essential public service.
Key information for next week
Application/Contact Form
All parents wishing to access the limited child care must complete the online form or a paper based version on the first day that they need access to the school. Current guidance is that only one parent needs to be a key worker to access this service. The form will follow later today.
Monday – Friday
The school will be open at 8:50 until 3:30pm each day.
To avoid all parents and children arriving at once, we will allow a staggered opening from 8:50 until 9:30 via the main entrance.
Children can be collected from 2:45 until 3:30pm, again via the main entrance.
Can we ask that you exercise social distancing, as defined by the government, when entering and exiting the building. As the first day may be busy we will plan to help ease this.
Accessing each day
We will post a Facebook event for each day of next week and ask that you confirm your attendance for each day so we are aware of numbers. Please can you help us by confirming your attendance by 5pm the day before or as early as possible.
Employment evidence
On the first day of using the service we will need to see evidence of your employment as indicated on your form. Examples could be: staff badge, payslip or a letter from your employer. Please read the government advice carefully and we encourage you to speak to your employer to ensure you are a key worker.
It is essential that we see this evidence.
Flexible access
Some parents, may be unsure of their needs day to day. We will do our very best to accommodate this. Levels of priority may need to be adhered to regarding which families require the care most. We may also be limited by the numbers we are allowed to safely have on school premises. Original figures were 20% of the school and we continue to reference this figure whilst further guidance is sought.
Safeguarding
Parents MUST sign their child in and out of school each day. The yard will not be open for children to enter. All children must enter the school via the main entrance with their parent.
Children will not be allowed access to mobile technology during the day as per normal school procedures.
Lunch
Please continue to order and pay for lunches via Parent Pay. The kitchen staff will endeavour to meet the requests but please prepare children that their preferred option may not be available.
School uniform
We ask that children come dressed in school uniform, whilst attending.
Bright Kids
Wrap around care is available from 7:30am till opening of school and till 6pm after school. This is a paid facility. Any enquiries should be directed to [email protected]
 
Thank you for your continued support and I hope this update is comprehensive and clear.

20.3.20 8:15am Update

20th March 2020Mr Bennett
20.3.20 8:15 Update
School is open today.
1.Please complete the Child Care Key Worker form by 10am if possible. Following Government advice “if it is at all possible for children to be at home, then they should be”
https://forms.gle/SJ8dyxQhAEtcU5Qb7
2.Home learning packs for children already absent from school are available to collect until 12pm today. We still have a lot left so please bear with us we get these up.
3. No after school clubs today.
 
Further updates will follow as required.