School Updates and Latest News

• Kidderminster Food Bank

  Thu 26 Mar 2020

  Message from Kidderminster Food Bank:-

  During this current Coronavirus crisis, we are having to close the foodbank for face to face collections as from this Friday 27th March. Referral agents will have to contact us by email to kiddyfb188@gmail.com. 

  If you have voucher you can email, we would be glad to receive them, otherwise if you can give us their full names and addresses, including post code, family size details and their present situation, we will endeavour to fulfill their needs as far as is humanly possible. 

  Pre-packed parcels will be delivered to their address sometime between  12.30 and 2.30pm on a Wednesday or Friday. The volunteers will be observing the mandatory social distances and if no response is received to their call the pack will be taken back. 

  We value your support during this crisis and thank you for helping those in need. 

  Many thanks 

• Ed City update

  Wed 25 Mar 2020 Mrs Harrison
  

• Message from WHP

  Wed 25 Mar 2020

  WHP LInk Worker

   

  Our priority is to help keep everyone, including our staff, safe and healthy while also continuing to provide help and support to local children and families during this challenging time.

   

  We are here to help. WHP Link Workers are at the end of the phone, email and text. All our staff are now only working from home and doing things differently. We are not school or home visiting. We are working flexible hours and still here to help. Familiar routines are changing for us all as we work together to reduce the spread of the virus.

   

  For now, our office is not being manned and we have cancelled Summer term courses for parents and our drop-ins.

   

  Your child’s primary school website provides information about the WHP support service so that you can contact your Link Worker direct.

   

  You can also email us at whp@continu.org.uk or call 01562 851292 and we will pass your message on to the right Link Worker.

   

  WHP Link Workers can help with things like putting new routines into practice at home, tips and strategies for managing children’s behaviour, helping siblings to co-operate more, working together better as parents and much more…

   

  If you need help and support for your family then contact your WHP Link Worker

• Message from Headteacher

  Tue 24 Mar 2020

  Dear Parents and Guardians,

   

  I hope you are coping, as best you can, with the changes to everyday life which we are all now experiencing. And I hope that your children are, too. There is a real value in routine in a young person’s life. Routine will now take on a bigger importance as we make sense of working differently as we get to the other side.

   

  Pupils need to get into the routine of using their learning packs and accessing their class page on the school website.  They are becoming more familiar with the online portal of Wonde and Google classroom, as you know. Teachers have posted resources, tasks and exercises which will enable our pupils to follow their curriculum.

   

  Our Twitter and Instagram accounts @Wolverley_SAET will also contain regular updates about new resources, school updates and key messages.

   

  If your child is having difficulties understanding the work then you can message their teacher through it or email the teacher direct to get advice on what to do next.

   

  At the same time, there are fewer better things than a good book to read or listen to. 

   

  Here are ten pointers which you might want to discuss with your child:

   

  1. It’s OK to find all of this difficult. It’s a change, so it will take time to get used to. But you are also more resilient that you know. Despite occasional irritation with the work set and all that’s going on around you, you can do this.

   

  2. You’ll work more slowly at home and online because it’s not your usual way of working. So, you will be less productive at home than at school. But that’s OK, and another good reason to stick at it. If you feel you are making slow progress don’t worry.

   

  3. And you’ll need to take regular breaks. Studying will make you feel tired, so go outside and get some fresh air, go and get a glass of water or do 20-star jumps.

   

  4. Do stay off the sugar. You’ll only get a big sugar rush and then feel rubbish after about 20 minutes. If you find you’re getting tired at a certain part of the day, have a piece of toast or a banana (or bananas on toast) about 40 minutes beforehand. Then you’ll get a healthy energy release at the right time.

   

  5. Think about each study session as having a beginning, a middle and an end. The beginning: spend five minutes telling yourself what you are going to do. Make sure you understand the instructions. Read them out loud. The middle bit: spend 45 minutes working. The end: spend ten minutes talking yourself through what you just did. Consolidate.

   

  6. If you do (5) then you’re actually doing 45 minutes work with a beginning and an end on either side, so it’s not really an hour. 45 minutes is much more manageable! Just do make sure that on either side of the 45 minutes you have a beginning (5 minutes) and an end (10 minutes).

   

  7. Get some exercise when you can. It is as important as your work. It is also as important as a good night’s sleep.

   

  8. Try and limit screen time if you can. If you have had a big chunk of time using your computer to get  tasks then stay off the PS4 or Xbox in the evening. Equally, if you’ve had a day away from the screen, then access to screens for games is not as bad. 

   

  9. Give yourself little rewards once you have finished your planned work for the day.

   

  10. We cannot expect parents to transform themselves into teachers they are there to encourage and support. Asking questions is key: what went well? What can you remember? What did you enjoy? And offering praise. 

   

  We’ll get some feedback from pupils about how they have found things this week and next week and report back to you. They are quite good at finding their own way, with a little guidance of course.

   

  In the meantime I will continue to be based at school and will provide updates on a regular basis. 

   

  Best wishes to you all,

   

  Shelley 

• Facebook Page - Wolverley Sebright Primary Academy Group

  Mon 23 Mar 2020

  Message from the PTA:-

  During these uncertain and scary times we, as your PTA, want to try and offer the parents of our lovely school a place of comfort and support. Please use this facebook group as a place to share ideas for activities, arrange with your children's classmates mum's/dad's opportunities for them to have video chats so they can keep in touch. If you are feeling sad or stressed use this group to reach out for support, we will all be going through the same emotions and difficulties.

  
  If you can't get out and about and need anything, someone in this group may be able to help.

  
  A little chat on the playground or a kind word sometimes means so much in a person's day - let's try and keep that going here. 

• Remote Learning Guidance

  Fri 20 Mar 2020

  Remote Learning Guidance

   

  Welcome to Remote Learning...

   

  Please follow this step by step guide for your child to access resources and regular updates. 

   

  Step 1: Go Pupils tab along the top of the Home page

  Step 2: Click on Class pages

  Step 3: Click on your child's class page

  Step 4: Scroll down to the Remote Learning Star and click

  Step 5: Each icon leads you another page 

  Step 6: Read through Parental Guidance - this includes information on Google classroom and Wonde

  Step 7: Access resources in Maths, English and Topic

  Step 8: Use the website links for additional resources and games

  Step 9: Apply for a teachers post when we are back!!! 

  Step 10: Stay Safe!  

   

• School Closure update

  Fri 20 Mar 2020

  School Closure Update

  20.3.2020

   

  Please read carefully the updated information below. School will only remain open to children who absolutely need it - if children can please keep them at home. 

   

  We will be working with a very reduced staff - which may change daily. Please keep monitoring all forms of communication from school throughout this time.

   

  The government has asked parents to keep their children at home, wherever possible, and asked schools to remain open only for those children who absolutely need to attend.

   

  It is important to underline that schools, colleges and other educational establishments remain safe places for children. But the fewer children making the journey to school, and the fewer children in educational settings, the lower the risk that the virus can spread and infect vulnerable individuals in wider society.

   

  Schools are, therefore, being asked to continue to provide care for a limited number of children - children who are vulnerable and children whose parents are critical to the Covid-19 response and cannot be safely cared for at home.

   

  Vulnerable children include children who are supported by social care, those with safeguarding and welfare needs, including child in need plans, on child protection plans, ‘looked after’ children, young carers, disabled children and those with education, health and care (EHC) plans.

   

  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 below. 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.

   

  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 your work is critical to the COVID-19 response, or you work in one of the critical sectors listed below, and you cannot keep your child safe at home then your children will be prioritised for education provision:

   

  Health and social care

  This includes but is not limited to doctors, nurses, midwives, paramedics, social workers, care workers, and other frontline health and social care staff including volunteers; the support and specialist staff required to maintain the UK’s health and social care sector; those working as part of the health and social care supply chain, including producers and distributers of medicines and medical and personal protective equipment.

   

  Education and childcare

  This includes nursery and teaching staff, social workers and those specialist education professionals who must remain active during the COVID-19 response to deliver this approach.

   

  Key public services

  This includes those essential to the running of the justice system, religious staff, charities and workers delivering key frontline services, those responsible for the management of the deceased, and journalists and broadcasters who are providing public service broadcasting.

   

  Local and national government

  This only includes those administrative occupations essential to the effective delivery of the COVID-19 response or delivering essential public services such as the payment of benefits, including in government agencies and arms length bodies.

   

  Food and other necessary goods

  This includes those involved in food production, processing, distribution, sale and delivery as well as those essential to the provision of other key goods (for example hygienic and veterinary medicines).

   

  Public safety and national security

  This includes police and support staff, Ministry of Defence civilians, contractor and armed forces personnel (those critical to the delivery of key defence and national security outputs and essential to the response to the COVID-19 pandemic), fire and rescue service employees (including support staff), National Crime Agency staff, those maintaining border security, prison and probation staff and other national security roles, including those overseas.

   

  Transport

  This includes those who will keep the air, water, road and rail passenger and freight transport modes operating during the COVID-19 response, including those working on transport systems through which supply chains pass.

   

  Utilities, communication and financial services

  This includes staff needed for essential financial services provision (including but not limited to workers in banks, building societies and financial market infrastructure), the oil, gas, electricity and water sectors (including sewerage), information technology and data infrastructure sector and primary industry supplies to continue during the COVID-19 response, as well as key staff working in the civil nuclear, chemicals, telecommunications (including but not limited to network operations, field engineering, call centre staff, IT and data infrastructure, 999 and 111 critical services), postal services and delivery, payments providers and waste disposal sectors.

   

  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.

   

  If your school is closed then please contact your local authority, who will seek to redirect you to a local school in your area that your child, or children, can attend.

   

  We are grateful for the work of teachers and workers in educational settings for continuing to provide for the children of the other critical workers of our country. It is an essential part of our national effort to combat this disease.

   

   

• School Closure Update

  Thu 19 Mar 2020

  Dear Parent/Carer,

   

  Following on from yesterday’s Government announcement, Wolverley Sebright will close from 3.00pm this Friday 20^th March and will remain closed until further notice.

   

  Gavin Williamson, Secretary of State for Education has confirmed that schools will remain open for the children of key workers, and those who are most vulnerable. He stated that, “The scientific advice shows that these settings are safe for this small number of children to continue attending.”

   

  Since this announcement regarding provision for vulnerable students and those of key workers, I provided my email address for parents to contact me with their details in order to plan ahead. I will contact those parents and carers who this affects by Friday afternoon with an overview of how we can support from Monday.

   

  I am mindful that our plans will need to reviewed over the coming weeks. There will be staff unable to be in school following the updated advice of at-risk groups however, we will monitor this daily and will maintain all forms of communication: email, text, website, Twitter and Instagram.

   

  In line with the Government announcement, children who are in receipt of free school meals will be supported. Further information regarding this will be shared as soon as we are notified of how this will be provided. Any children attending school who are eligible for free school meals will continue to receive their meals as normal.

   

  Please can you encourage your son/daughter to contact school staff if they have any concerns. Emails have been shared for your child’s class teacher so please feel free to email any queries you may have in regard to remote learning we have provided. Staff will continue to provide resources and work for all students to complete. Please encourage your son/daughter to complete these tasks.

   

  Thank you to those of you who have followed the self-isolation guidance. This is helping to keep our community safe and well. The most up to date guidance regarding self-isolation can be found here. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-advice/

   

  Please do not hesitate to contact the school If you have any questions or concerns, via either Mrs Hackett on office@wolverleysebright.worcs.sch.uk or myself on head@wolverleysebright.worcs.sch.uk

   

  We are incredibly grateful for the support that we have received from our school and local community during this unprecedented time. 

   

  Please stay safe and well - I look forward to welcoming you all back soon! 

   

  Yours faithfully

  Shelley Reeves-Walters

  Headteacher

• Remote Learning

  Wed 18 Mar 2020

  Remote Learning

   

  In light of School closures all staff have been and will continue to provide resources and links for all children to access. 

   

  On your child's class page you will find a 'Remote Learning' section. Click on and navigate through this section of the website for parental updates, activities and website links. 

   

  I will text parents the email addresses for your child's teaching staff who will be available to answer any questions you may have. 

   

  Our remote learning online will also include video messages and easy to follow guidance for learning to take place at home. 

   

  All children will be issued a pack of goodies that they can take home to use this Friday. 

   

  In light of the news this evening we will provide a detailed overview before Friday of how we can and will support all families with remote learning as well as providing provision for our families who work for the NHS, police, delivery drivers and for pupils who are classed as 'vulnerable'.

   

  In the meantime start to familiarise yourself with the class page (all items will be uploaded by Friday). 

   

  Please stay safe, look after yourselves and please see any member of staff if you are unsure about anything. 

   

  Mrs S Reeves-Walters

• Excellent advice available from Mind

  Wed 18 Mar 2020

  Useful link and support

   

  Please do consider the potential impact of self-isolation on your children and you from a mental health perspective. There is excellent advice available from Mind www.mind.org.uk/information-support/coronavirus-and-your-wellbeing and also from the World Health Organisation (WHO). Continued communication with friends and family by video-link, phone or text, varying activities at home including reading and writing, quizzes, radio programmes, arts and craft, cards and board games and toys, are all beneficial. We advise restricting screen time for computer games/ TV to limited rather than long periods. Exercise for those who are well, remains important and permitted under government advice. 

  
   In order to reduce anxiety, advice is that children (and adults) should not constantly look at updates about the coronavirus situation on the news and social media and they should switch off electronic alerts. Watching the news once per day is suggested.