Communication between home and school is very important. At Brockley Primary School we do not always produce ‘Newsletters’ instead we regularly send letters, leaflets, text messages and update our school website almost daily.
Despite COVID-19 we want all our families to feel involved even though we are all working differently.
Family Support during COVID-19
If you are a family on a low income you could get food vouchers for your children over the Christmas period. The money to pay for these vouchers has come from the government through its COVID-19 winter grant scheme which is over and above the other support schemes already provided by Derbyshire County Council.
The family of every child who gets free school meals in Derbyshire schools because of low income can get a £30 food voucher for the Christmas holidays. You will get another voucher in February if you are still eligible, the amount will depend on the number of children who qualify at that time.
Some other families are also eligible based on financial hardship. You will receive vouchers if you meet one of the following criteria:
• Have a child aged 3 to 18 in a Derbyshire school (nursery to year 13), eligible for free school meals because of low household income.
• Have a child aged 3 or 4 not in a Derbyshire school nursery that receives free childcare and qualifies for ‘pupil premium’ based on low income (this is sometimes called ‘economic funding’).
• Have a child aged 2 that is eligible for free 2-year-old childcare because of low household income.
ou do not need to do anything if your child already meets these criteria (see our website for full terms and conditions). We will contact you and you should receive a payment by email or text message that should arrive by 21 December 2020.
If you have children and you do not currently claim free school meals or means tested free childcare you may still be eligible. For full details of the scheme or to see what help and support is available, please visit www.derbyshire.gov.uk/winter
Below are a variety of webpages and support services to try and help all our families at this difficult time.
Please follow the link below for a short video about e-safety whilst our families are at home during this period:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhLWwQ4Ay5s Please read the document below for advice on where to get support for domestic abuse during the outbreak of Covid-19:Domestic-abuse information
Please see the updated family support service document below from Bolsover and North East Derbyshire containing numerous links and support services for families during this time: Community update vol3(Updated 14.10.2020)Derbyshire Library Online Events PosterSafeguarding AdviceDerbyshire County Council: If you are concerned that a child is suffering or is at risk of significant harm please contact Call Derbyshire/Starting Point. Call Derbyshire 01629 533190 Starting Point 01629 535353 www.derbyshire.gov.uk/startingpoint On-line Resources / links for supporting young people
Ensuring that illegal money lenders (loan sharks) do not take advantage and profit from other people’s hardship is fully operational during the COVID-19 pandemic-
Trussell Trust (Referral from agency) www.trusselltrust.org Email: enquiries@trusselltrust.org
Phone: 01722580180 (All enquiries)
They are currently operating from two distribution centres only on Tuesday and Friday.
Tuesdays 1:00pm – 3:00pm The Compass, West Bars, Chesterfield (Town Centre) S40 1AZ
Friday 1:00pm – 3:00pm Loundsley Green Community Centre, Cuttholme Road, Chesterfield S40 4QU
The Monday and Wednesday centres will remain closed. Clients visiting our centres will wait outside for food packages, only being allowed in one at a time to briefly look at out of date items. We regret that this drastically reduces the close social interaction we would normally have in providing emotional support and advice to our clients, however we cannot ignore the guidance we have received.
Cooking on a budget
Jack Monroe’s recipes provide families who are struggling on a tight budget might benefit from having some very inexpensive and easy recipes to use. https://cookingonabootstrap.com/
Childrens Centres Support for 0-19 yrs
(Please phone these centres if you require support or advice. Due to the current situation drop-in’s are not advised. Screening questions will be asked prior to contact with staff.)
Alice’s View 01629 533622
Bolsover 01629 533851
Creswell 01629 537396
Eckington 01629 537169
Shirebrook 01629 537398
Starting Point /Safeguarding 01629 535353
Call Derbyshire 01629 533190
North East Derbyshire District Council
Many of the council’s services can be accessed through using the website forms which can be found
Men-Talk is all around the subject of improving men’s mental health, raising awareness, removing the stigma and ultimately reducing male suicide. Men-Talk are continuing to offer mental health support to anyone who needs it. They are providing talks, listening, sharing and signposting online. You can email mentalkmeeting@gmail.com
Supporting young people impacted by self-harm, providing a safe space to talk, ask any questions and be honest about what’s going on in your life. www.selfharm.co.uk
The idea is that we are here to give emotional support, reassurance, a listening ear, signposting.
The Helpline is open Monday to Friday, (but will be reviewed regularly and times/days could be expanded). 9:00 till 17.00 Monday to Friday.
Parenting Support
Boredom Busters
Keep your family informed and entertained during the coronavirus shutdowns with parenting articles, study tips, science experiments, homework resources, cute videos, and more.
Story Time – Monday morning story time at 10:00am live on Facebook
Bear Masks – We’d love to see lots of you making your own bear masks! If you do, please feel free to send it directly to us on Facebook, or email it to ask.library@derbyshire.gov.uk and we’ll share your fantastic creations with everyone else!
https://www.facebook.com/DerbyshireLibraries/
PressReader
Subscription to eMagazines and eNewpapers https://www.pressreader.com/catalog
Covibook–An interactive resource designed to support and reassure children aged 7 and under, designed to help children explain and draw the emotions that they might be experiencing during the pandemic: https://www.mindheart.co/descargables
List of organisations and local groups offering support
Derbyshire Community Response Unit CRU
We’re co-ordinating a massive community response across the county to make sure vulnerable residents are supported through the coronavirus outbreak.
We’re calling on Derbyshire’s strong network of community groups, voluntary organisations and businesses to help by joining the Derbyshire Community Response Unit. Do you belong to a business or group that could help supply goods or services?
The Community Response Unit will help those in need by delivering services such as:
foodshopping and delivery
checking up on people who are isolated with a phone call or online help to prevent loneliness and check whether there is anything they need
collecting and delivering prescriptions
preparing meals.
Residents who could be helped by the Community Response Unit include those who are self-isolating because they, or a member of their household, is at risk from coronavirus. Support will be offered to residents struggling to meet their basic needs because of financial, social and health restrictions – including pregnant women, people with some underlying health conditions and those aged 70 or over.
If you’re involved in a community group, voluntary organisation or business and you have members who are below the age of 70 who are fit and well then we want to hear from you.
Also, don’t forget everyday we operate a ‘Meet & Greet’ system which means there’s always someone available to speak to from the team.
We are such a busy school and like to keep you informed as much as possible. Therefore remember to check your child’s bag regularly, update the office if you change your mobile number and visit the website – we don’t want your child to miss out!
Online safety is in the news more than ever and with the endless choice of apps and websites to visit as parents you can never have enough advice. Please follow the links below as to how to keep your child safe.
Schools have a statutory duty as outlined in the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 to record and report all incidents of a racial nature to the Local Authority (LA). Racism is a problem affecting society as a whole: it is not something that occurs in isolation in schools and one key step towards creating a safe learning environment is ensuring that all forms of racism (and other discriminatory behaviour) are tackled firmly as and when they occur, because no child can feel safe in an environment where racism, sexism, disability harassment, and homophobia is not challenged. If racist and other incidents are not dealt with in schools, then this will send a powerful message to children that such behaviour is acceptable – not only in schools but in society as a whole.
Keeping a record of racist incidents is important because it shows both the victim and the perpetrator that the school takes the issue of racism seriously. It also demonstrates the way in which the school is meeting the legal requirements of the Race Relations
(Amendment) Act
Reporting systems should be made easy so that all staff and pupils know the systems and feel encouraged to use them.
It is important that reports on incidents should be kept confidential to minimise repercussions for the victim.
It is good practise for schools to regularly analyse their recorded information to identify trends or patterns regarding the nature of incidents, who is involved and where incidents are happening. This will enable schools to take a proactive approach in preventing racist incidents.
In relation to each incident schools should consider whether it is appropriate to contact the LA and/or other agencies for support and advice. If an assault takes place and the head teacher considers it to be serious, the matter must be reported immediately to the police and the LA.
In the case of serious incidents, an assessment will be needed to find out:
whether the incident was so serious that the whole school community needs to be informed
whether teachers should explain the circumstances to all pupils
whether all parents/carers need to be informed
The LA has a duty to collate and report all racial and other incidents reported by schools. This is an authority wide report on the number and nature of incidents and does not identify individual schools or pupils. The LA, on an annual basis will publish a report feeding back to schools information on its findings.
investigating Racist Incidents
All racist incidents, no matter how trivial they seem, should be investigated as quickly as possible. Nominate a lead person responsible
for investigating racist incidents. This person does not have to be a headteacher but should be a senior member of staff.
Adopt an agreed approach for investigating racial incidents. For example, in the case of minor incidents it may be sufficient to obtain a
verbal account from those involved. For more serious incidents, schools may wish to obtain a written statement that both victim and perpetrator sign and agree to as an accurate record of the incident. This will be particularly helpful in cases where there are no additional witnesses to the incident.
When investigating the incident, the school should respond appropriately to both the nature of the racist incident and to its level of seriousness. The school should be mindful of factors such as:
the age and level of understanding of the perpetrator
whether the perpetrator intended to inflict physical or emotional harm on the victim/s and whether they were aware of the
effects of their action
whether actual and/or serious physical or emotional harm was inflicted on the victim/s
whether the incident was a one-off or part of a pattern
I am writing to inform you that we are able to offer your child an exciting opportunity to participate in a nationally funded scheme designed to support the health and well-being of all groups of people.
Restart a Heart Day has been designed to train young people in CPR techniques in the event that they were ever to find themselves in a situation where someone has collapsed and their heart has stopped beating. We have enclosed some information from East Midlands Ambulance Service regarding the training day.
The training, which takes approximately half an hour, will take place on Tuesday 16th October. We hope that all pupils will see the benefits of being involved in this project, but if you have any concerns please do not hesitate to contact school.
Please be aware that during the day, there is the potential for photographs to be taken by the Ambulance Service, which they may use in briefing papers for the local media.
Online Safety for Parents October 2018
Parents Evening Thursday 18th October – Link has been sent via text.
Sikhism developed from Hinduism in the 16th century. It is the youngest religion that believes in one God.
What do Sikhs believe?
Sikhs believe in one God. They think religion should be practiced by living in the world and coping with life’s everyday problems.
Who is the founder?
Sikhismm was founded in the Punjab by Guru Nanak
Why is Guru Nanak important to Sikhs?
Guru Naka was the first Sikh Guru who’s teachings are the basis of Sikhism. Nine Gurus followed Nanak and developed the Sikh faith and community over the next centuries.
Symbols in the Sikh religion
The Sikh symbol is called the Khanda. The circle means God is always there. The sword means Sikhs believe in truth and must help people in need.
Where do Sikhs Worship?
Sikhs worship in a Gurdwara, Punjabi for residence of God or the door that leads to the Guru. Although a Gurdwara is called the residence of the Guru Sikhs that God is present everywhere.
What is the sacred text (holy book) of Sikhs?
The Sikh holy book is called the Guru Granth Sahib. It is the only scripture of its kind which not only contains the works of its own religious founders but also writings of people from other faiths.
What are the central beliefs in Sikhism?
The central beliefs are:
There is only one God
God is without form, or gender
Everyone has direct access to God
Everyone is equal before God
A good life is lived as part of a community, by living honestly and caring for others
Empty religious rituals and superstitions have no value
The 5K’s
The 5 Ks taken together symbolise that the Sikh who wears them has dedicated themselves to a life of devotion and submission to the Guru.
The 5 Ks are 5 physical symbols worn by Sikhs who have been initiated into the Khalsa.
The five Ks are:
Kesh (uncut hair)
Kara (a steel bracelet)
Kanga (a wooden comb)
Kaccha – also spelt, Kachh, Kachera (cotton underwear)
Kirpan (steel sword)
Parents Guide to Fortnite: https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/blog/parents-guide-fortnite-battle-royale – June 2018
Communication between parents and school is vital. To help ensure school hears the messages from parents we have developed The Parent Voice Committee here at Brockley Primary School. All parents are automatically members when their child enrols.
If you would like to lead this committee then please committee the nomination form below. A copy of the constitution is also provided for you to ensure you understand the role of the committee.
stay – This letter contains all the details about our new club ‘Stay and Play.’ It is held every Thursday afternoon during term-time from 1:30pm until 3:00pm. Children attending morning nursery are permitted to attend the session in an afternoon. Parents must stay on site and be responsible for their child at all times.
1. Are schools obliged to admit children who are not toilet trained?
Schools must not discriminate against or disadvantage disabled children or those with special educational needs. This is in line with the Equality Act 2010 which states that a person has a disability if they have a physical or mental impairment, which has a substantial and long term adverse effect on that person’s ability to carry out day to day activities.
A delay in achieving continence can be considered a disability. It is therefore not acceptable to refuse admission to school to children who are not yet toilet trained.
The Children and Families Act, which came into force in September 2014, places a statutory duty on schools to make arrangements to support pupils with medical conditions, in terms of both physical and mental health. Medical conditions include bladder and bowel problems. If a continence issue has been identified and will not be resolved before the child starts school (whether related to toilet training or not), the child cannot be refused entry to the school.
Schools therefore can’t turn away children that aren’t continent, but must work to support those children in the school environment so that they can play an active role in school life, remain healthy and achieve their academic potential.
School governing bodies should ensure that school leaders consult health and social care professionals, pupils and parents to ensure the needs of children that aren’t toilet trained are effectively supported.
2. Do two adults need to be present when changing a child who’s had an accident?
Children that start school and are not toilet trained will undoubtedly have accidents and will need to be changed. Staff who are going to help a child with intimate care should make sure another member of staff is aware of their intentions and is in the vicinity and visible or audible (see page 14 of the ‘Guidance for safer working practice for those working with children and young people in education settings‘, 2015). There is no written legal requirement for two members of staff to be present when a child is being changed.
3. Can parents be asked to come into school to change their child?
Although school staff should use their discretion and judge each case on its merits with reference to a child’s individual healthcare plan, it is not generally acceptable practice to oblige parents to come into school in order to change their child after they have wet or soiled themselves.
4. Isn’t it the parent’s responsibility to toilet train their child?
Schools do not have a legal duty to toilet train children, but they can support children who are being toilet trained at home and can signpost parents to information to help them with toilet training.
If a parent knows that their child will not be fully toilet trained in time for the start of school, or if they suffer from a specific continence condition such as constipation or urgency, parents should let the school know well in advance so that the school can be prepared.
For instance, the school might need to arrange additional training for staff, or might need to ensure there is an appropriate place for children to be changed or for spare clothes to be stored.
If a child has a continence condition such as severe constipation, the school will need to work with the parents and key health professionals involved in the child’s care to create a healthcare plan so that they can effectively support the child.
If a parent has notified the school that their child is not toilet trained, the school can direct them towards ERIC for information about toilet training and other continence problems.
Schools and nurseries can also signpost parents towards ERIC’s resources, in particular:
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