Hi Wolverley Sebright Primary Academy 

I'm delighted to send you link to the digital Summer issue of Raring2go! for our area:

https://magazines.raring2go.co.uk/kidderminsterandstourbridge/summer/

As venues start opening up, the magazine will be a source of up-to-date information on what's available for families (it is linked directly to the Raring2go! online What's On calendar, so I cam keep it up to date with any new events and make changes as they occur).

I've filled this issue with lots of ideas for families to have fun close to home, as I know many will feel more comfortable with that at the moment. Ideas include den building, craft, healthy picnic ideas, and even a sports day in the garden! But there are also details of venues/attractions that are now open - and need our support.

With a lot of holidays cancelled, parents/carers will be looking for fun activities to fill the summer break, so I hope your families find this a useful resource. 

Thank you very much for your support,

Sally Walters

Editor, Raring2go! Kidderminster, Wyre Forest & Stourbridge

As lockdown eases, we are increasingly conscious that many families have been and continue to struggle financially. It is an unfortunate but real consequence of the pandemic that many more families may need additional financial assistance and may now be entitled to Free School Meals. It is very easy to check your eligibility and apply online. If you are eligible, thanks to the recent campaign, you will receive vouchers to support you and spend over the summer as well as during term time.

If you would like to check your eligibility, please follow the link below:-

http://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/info/20062/schools/684/applying_for_free_school_meals/2

If you need any additional support, please do not hesitate to contact the school on 01562 850268 or office@wolverleysebright.worcs.sch.uk

Many thanks

Mrs Hackett

Nursery provision update

Regrettably as you will all be aware, the private nursery on site, which has been closed due to COVID-19 since March, will say a fond farewell at the end of this term. This is not a decision anyone had wished for and we will only keep happy memories of their time in our school. Sadly, it was only via our parents that the school learnt the private Nursery had chosen to permanently close and not seek a temporary alternative. The decision to close was a shock and not something we wanted in the interest of the families of our community.

Whilst the delayed building works are being completed we will now begin exploring how we can support our families and their younger children in the long and short term. Recent events and speculation have caused great upset not only for our community, but also for my staff and myself. Throughout this challenging period the focus as it has always been, has solely been on the pupils and families of this community, keeping everyone safe and trying to manage issues beyond our control.

With our school already heavily oversubscribed we were left with no alternative to ensure our school remained compliant and safe.

If there was any way of housing all of our school pupils and allocating sufficient space for the nursery to safely be on this site from September, then we would have done this.

As Head Teacher I along with my governors were left with an impossible decision to make but these are the facts:

• Due to COVID-19 a national and international lockdown has been in place.

• The Schools & Early Years settings remained open only for children of Key Workers, we stayed open and became a ‘Hub’ for children of this school, Far Forest and Cygnets Nursery

• Planned works on the modular build and future internal works were halted.

• The company involved with the modular build went into administration then liquidation.

• As a School we learnt the new classrooms would not be ready by September, therefore we needed to find an alternative plan.

• During the lockdown I have worked tirelessly in partnership with SAET to try and find a solution for everyone.

• Sadly, building works in the area of the existing nursery were delayed and will now take place throughout the Autumn term (originally this was due to start in April & finish by August.)

• For the safety of our pupils and operational reasons the school cannot use alternative public sites to teach classes in September as this would be impractical.

• Even if social distancing rules are relaxed, without using the modular build there would not be the legal space for our school pupils until internal building works are complete.

• The private nursery has only ever rented the large space within the school building with a long standing 4 week notice period, agreed by all trustees.

• At the earliest opportunity we met with the Nursery and alternative options were explored and help offered to the nursery.

• Construction will now need to begin in the area currently occupied by the nursery during the summer holidays.

• With over 60% of our pupils having not been in school since March, it is critical we limit any impact on pupils when they return.

• Applications for this school in 2011 were 13, this year there were 104 applications.

• We have waiting lists for each year group and our priority always has and will be the success of pupils in our community.  

• As part of an Academy Trust the school has received capital funding of over £500,000 to improve our school and originally the facilities available to the nursery.

• Moving forward as a Leadership Team with the Governing body we will work with our community to make sure our school continues to provide the best for our children.

• The Early Years Team within the local authority has contacted the school with the offer of support for the future so I can assure our community, the lack of nursery provision in Wolverley will only be a temporary measure.

In addition, we have had several parents already contact us and I have said that we will do everything we can to make sure Before and After School Care is available from September and Nursery provision is on our site as soon as possible.

If you would like to discuss any aspect of this or your own individual family needs, as always I am here to help.

Mrs Reeves-Walters

Dear Parents, 

Following the news that the private nursery will not be relocating due to delayed building works on the school site we have been approached by parents looking for a temporary solution from September. We are in touch with other private nurseries and childminders. Please find below details of local childminding services that currently have spaces available:-

Lynn Deubert 07763 409433

Penny Buncle 07833 950286

Charlotte Deubert 07870 973500

In the meantime we will keep all parents updated with the building works on site and how we can ensure our village does have Nursery provision as soon as possible. 

School update regarding Nursery

The school is now able to share measures being put in place as a direct consequence of the delay to building works caused by COVID-19. As we had previously communicated, our original plan had been to house a nursery on the school site using a modular build and to repurpose areas of the school building to accommodate larger learning areas.

Unfortunately, the building company undertaking the work has since gone into administration. This delay means that we are unable to house the number of school children without using the modular build from September. As a result, there will not be space for both our children and a nursery until the second phase of building work can be completed.

We have explored various alternatives, but with school being unable to use other sites (something we feel would be best avoided even if we could), we need to minimise the disruption as much as we are able to. This is particularly pertinent given that over 60% of our pupils have not been in school since March.

This has not been a decision that has been taken lightly, but due to circumstances beyond our control our primary concern at this time must be to the children of this school. Please be rest assured that once all building works are complete, it is our intention to have nursery provision on this site.

At present we are working on a plan to be able to offer before and after school provision from September. More information will follow shortly to all our parents.

Many thanks

Worcestershire Children's First have created a short film which talks about returning to school. 

It's worth taking a look...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1JJwZN1ZtQ&feature=youtu.be 

Message from Worcestershire Highways - 

We are writing to inform you that we will be carrying out carriageway patching works at the above location. 

The works are programmed to start 2nd June to last approximately 4 days. Please note that these dates may change due to reasons beyond our control. 

Please do not park on this road between 7.30am and 4pm as we will need the area free of vehicles. A road closure will be in effect throughout the duration of the works. When driving through our road closure please keep your speed below 10mph, drive with caution and follow any instructions given by our operatives. 

We will endeavour to keep disruption to a minimum during this period and would very much appreciate your patience and cooperation during the completion of the works. 

Please avoid walking or driving over hot bituminous material, as it may cause burns or stick to your footwear, pets feet or tyres. In the interests of health & safety, depending on the type of works, safety bunting and cones or barriers may be placed around the working area.  

Phasing specified year groups back to school. 

Dear parents, 

As we begin the last half of the summer term we do so in a very different way. Over the course of the past 10 weeks we have remained open for pupils of critical and key workers and provided remote learning opportunities for all pupils. 

Following Government recommendations we will start to phase specified year groups back into school from 1st June. We will do this gradually and will review our provision each week.

The first group to return tomorrow (1st June) will be the pupils of critical and key workers. Guidance has been provided to those who continue to need us and staff will be there from 8.45am to welcome our children safely into school. 

Our second group of pupils joining us will be Year 6 on Tuesday 2nd June. For those returning this will be their first time in school since March. Again, guidance has been provided so pupils and parents understand the expectations and procedures we all need to follow. 

When parents and pupils arrive at school they will notice white markings which are spaced 2m apart from the footpath and around the school grounds. These must be followed at all times and children will need to wait on a marking until they are able to come into the building (don't worry staff will be there to help) 

Once inside school children will follow the yellow and black markings along each corridor to the nearest wash basin where they will wash their hands - again staff will be there to guide our children. 

The children in Year 6 and pupils of Key workers will be directed to their classroom base. Each of these classrooms has been set out with desks 2m apart with a tray or pot containing resources the children will need. 

For the children returning to Year 1 and Year R, their rooms are being designed to encourage and maintain social distancing with table top activities prepared to avoid 'free play' 

We will be providing the families of these two year groups further guidance this coming week before the children return to school on Tuesday 9th June. 

We are mindful that many parents have chosen to delay sending their child back to school and want to wait. We respect and understand this - school will feel and look different to what all our pupils are use to. They may not return to the same classroom, they may not be taught by their current teacher, they may not be able to spend time with their friends. It will be different but we will continue to support all our pupils and their families in this transition and in their choices at this time. 

The past week has been spent carrying out and updating risk assessments, ensuring the building, classrooms, corridors, toilets and outside grounds are safe for our children. 

I will ensure all risk assessments, guidance and expectations are uploaded to our school website 'COVID 19' page. In the meantime just a couple of main points everyone must follow: 

• No child is able to return to School if they or anyone in their household is displaying COVID-19 symptoms or has not been symptom free for over 2 weeks. 
• If your child or anyone in your household has tested positive for COVID-19 you must inform school. Again, your child will not be able to return until medical advice is provided that it is safe to do so. 
• We will provide all parents with guidance of the actions that must be taken if a pupil or staff has COVID-19 symptoms also if there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 in school. 
• No child can just turn at school - attendance must be agreed with the headteacher at least one week prior to their starting date. 

All communication will be via text, email or phone - if you need to speak in person to a member of staff please follow the instructions in the lobby. Only one person at a time in the lobby and you must wait behind the white and red line. 

Parents of children in our other year groups will be able to collect paper copies of remote learning on set days at set times. More information to follow from class teachers. 

We have missed how we work together with our children and families and know this coming half term will pose challenges in managing disappointments in not being able to carry out all the activities we are so use to. However, as always we will work together to support and to keep everyone safe. 

Take care

Mrs Shelley Reeves-Walters

A message from the PTA Team:-

Dear Parents

We have put together 8 fun challenges for families to have a go at - Singing, dancing, creating, searching etc... The funniest entries or entries from the families who have put the most effort or fun in, will win a prize when we are back at school. It is really about the school community coming together again and for us all to have some fun! 

Please follow this link:-

https://m.facebook.com/groups/569394376562366view=permalink&id=1544208412414286

We hope you have fun with it and can't wait to see the responses

Lots of love and keep safe & well 

From the PTA Team