27 January marks the liberation day of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp.

In the years since, this date has become internationally recognised as the day we remember the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust, and the millions of other innocents killed under the Nazi regime.

 

We also take time to remember the lives lost in subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.

 

What is Holocaust Memorial Day? - BBC Bitesize

Do you know who your child is talking to online?

Do you know who their 'online friends are?'

 

We have received reports that some of our children are talking to 'young adults aged 14 and 18 years old' that they do not know in real life. This is clearly not safe behaviour and we are worried about the possible consequences, particularly when we hear stories in the news regarding adults posing as children just like this recent one from Derbyshire Police on their Twitter feed.

 

Derbyshire Police on Twitter: "A man from London who pretended to be a teenager on social platforms has been jailed for sending sexual photos and messages to a girl in Derbyshire, and two girls in Nottinghamshire. Anthony Lonsdale (21) even tried to enrol at a local school. More here: https://t.co/atTBtdMAF5 https://t.co/keUZMtRNNL" / Twitter

 

I cannot stress how important it is for parents to be responsible for their child's online behaviour and make sure you know who they are 'chatting' to.

 

Lion Class and The British Red Cross First Aid Training booked on 13.01.23 at 1pm

Click below for more details:

Free community education workshops for young people (redcross.org.uk)

 

 

Dear Brockley families

 

I am able to confirm that following notification from the NEU members in school Zebra Class will be affected by the intended strike action on the 1st of February.

 

 To try to minimise the impact on children and parents the following arrangements will need to be in place.

 

On Wednesday 1^st February ALL Zebra Class children should attend school as normal for the morning session, 8:40am gates open as usual.

 

Little Zebra children (nursery) should be collected at the usual time and place of 11:50am.

 

Big Zebra children (reception) should be collected at the earlier time of 12:45pm from the Green Gate, this enables the children to have their lunch before leaving.

 

With regards to possible further action and dates I will be in touch as soon as I am able to confirm staffing. 

 

Thank you for your support in this matter.

Dear Brockley Families,

 

You may be aware from media coverage that the NEU Teaching Union has declared strike action, which will take place on 01.02.23 as well as the 15 & 16.03.23. The strike is happening because of a national dispute between the unions and the government over teachers’ pay, and not because of any issues at our school. 

I’m getting in touch to give you as much notice as possible that learning may be disrupted on 01.02.23, 15 and 16.03.23. I can assure you we are considering several options as to how school will manage staffing and the safety of our community, and I will be in touch as soon as possible before the action is scheduled with the plan.

I’m sorry about the potential disruption to you and to your child’s education. I understand that this situation may be frustrating and ask that all members of our school community continue to treat each other with respect. Brockley Primary School remains committed to providing a safe and secure environment for our pupils and delivering high-quality teaching.

We are working closely with our staff union representatives to keep up to date with the situation, and I will inform you of the final arrangements as soon as possible via email, text, Facebook and the school website.

If you have any questions, please contact Mrs Rodgers directly.

Gentle reminder: School is closed to pupils on 30.01.23 for staff training 

Drinks and hydration at Brockley Primary School

The medical profession has been telling us for many years that children do not drink enough water during the school day – and that the resulting dehydration contributes to a number of short and long-term health problems.

The links between water, dehydration, health and learning

    How does drinking water link to health?

• Drinking adequate amounts of water regularly throughout the day can protect health and contribute to well-being.

• Drinking adequate amounts of water can help prevent a range of short and long-term health problems from headaches, bladder, kidney and bowel problems to cancer.

• Water has none of the health problems associated with drinks containing sugar, additives, sweeteners, acids or caffeine.

• To help keep teeth healthy, as well as brushing teeth regularly and visiting the dentist, we should cut down on added sugars. These are the sugars found in fizzy drinks, juice drinks, sweets, cakes and jam. It’s best to stick to having these kinds of foods and drinks at mealtimes.  It’s also important to avoid sipping sugary drinks or sucking sweets too often. This is because the longer the sugar touches your teeth, the more damage it can do.

How does drinking water improve learning?

• The key to boosting the capacity to learn is to keep well hydrated throughout the day.

• When we are thirsty, mental performance deteriorates by 10%.

• Pupils concentrate better because they are not distracted by the effects of dehydration such as thirst, tiredness and irritability.

• Can aid behaviour management by helping to settle pupils in the classroom.

• Children will achieve more when both their health and learning needs are met. Ensuring free access to water and promoting a regular water intake throughout the school day is a vital role for schools in promoting health and providing a healthy learning environment.

• Access to water bottles is at certain times to avoid disrupting learning.

• Water bottles are placed on the side in the classrooms – please make sure to LABEL your child’s water bottle.

• Please be aware orange squash and flavoured waters are permitted but blackcurrant is not, this is due to it being an irritant that causes tummy problems. Please also note that energy drinks and PRIME are not permitted.

 

We kindly ask that children bring a labelled drinks bottle every day

Dear Brockley Families

I am asking for your support in improving whole school attendance and punctuality here at Brockley Primary School.

The impact upon children’s education through lost learning is huge. After the time we've had when so much education was disrupted it is vital that we make every school minute count.  I urge you to ensure that your child is in school and on time every day to prevent them falling behind with their learning. 

Government departments track school attendance figures, and it is our statutory duty to ensure children attend school. When Ofsted visit and carry out an inspection, they will analyse the data and use this to inform their judgement of the school. 

It is considered that attendance of 90% or below is persistent absence which will be closely monitored by school staff.  Failing to improve on this 90% can lead to prosecution, which school want to help families avoid. 

Brockley Primary School have a whole school attendance target which is 96.5%. We share this information on our school website every week. Home - Brockley Primary School

There are things you can do to improve your child’s attendance and avoid falling into the persistent absence category:

• If your child is unwell and you are unsure whether to send them to school, contact the office to seek advice on 01246-823344
•  Please avoid taking any holidays during term times
• Keep up to date with what % attendance your child has so that you know if they are at risk of persistent absence (office staff will provide this for you, please just ask)
• Speak to school staff with any concerns
• Talk to your child about the importance of them being in school and let them know how important you feel it is.

The table below provides an example of the impact of lost learning through pupil absence:

So, a child who has an absence % of 80% has missed 38 days of school and has missed 190 lessons.

Punctuality is also highly important. Pupils who arrive late to school are not only losing learning but also disrupting the learning of others as they arrive late for lessons.  Pupils do not like being late into school and we witness how upsetting and embarrassing it can be for them.  We want to prevent this.

The table below provides an example of the impact of lost learning through pupil lateness.

At Brockley Primary School we send out lost learning letters to parents each half term informing them of the number of minutes of lost learning for their child due to poor punctuality. If your child's attendance or lateness falls into any of the categories mentioned above, you may receive a letter. As a school don't like sending the letters and we know they can be upsetting but as I mentioned earlier schools have a statutory duty to ensure children attend school.

If you are struggling to get your child to school, we are always willing to help, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

We want to help families get their child to school on time.  Here are some things you can try:

• Have everything you/your child needs for school prepared the night before
• Ensure that your child goes to bed reasonably, so they are not too tired to get up in the morning
• Ensure your child has a good night’s sleep by minimising their use of devices at bedtime.
• Have a consistent bedtime routine for your child
• Set an alarm to allow plenty of time for your morning routine in getting to school on time
• Bring your child to breakfast club (8am – 8.30am)
• Contact school if you need support - we can drop off and collect in cases where adults can't 

 I know you're all incredibly supportive of our school and can work together to continue to make improvements to attendance and punctuality at Brockley.

 

Dear Brockley Families,

Our aim is to establish the highest possible standards of behaviour at Brockley Primary School by working together - The Brockley Way.

At Brockley we feel that a positive peer culture is an important factor in a child's success at school - learning from each other and being good role models can have a huge influence on others. If our children value the culture of hard work and good behaviour, they will learn more and go on to have improved life opportunities and greater choices. Unsurprisingly, research has shown that children who complete their homework, put effort into tasks, are motivated, have good attitudes and make better progress.

The converse is true. Where there is a culture of failure or of opting out, this needs to be turned around, so that working hard and achieving our individual best is seen as desirable. It is also important that the school is always a warm, caring, friendly and happy place where learning can flourish, and children can succeed - The Brockley Way.

Childrens’ behaviour around the school should be impeccable; staff work hard to reinforce these expectations - The Brockley Way; every lesson should be characterised by a relentless focus on learning, free from distractions. Every child and member of staff should be able to feel relaxed and happy, confident that their working environment is one where people are kind, courteous and respectful at all times - The Brockley Way.

We have very high expectations of our children and a belief that every child is capable of meeting them.
The rules are there because we need them to help everyone ensure learning can happen in the best possible
conditions for all children. Everyone in our community must follow the rules so that the systems work, it is fair to all, and everyone benefits - The Brockley Way.

Our behaviour for learning system is based on the principle that, once children know the rules and the consequences,
they can make the right choices for themselves and for others. When children thrive at school and at home,
it is usually because the boundaries are very clear and there are clear consequences if they stray beyond
them. Clear boundaries and discipline are completely compatible with a caring and happy atmosphere full of
humour and love - The Brockley Way.

At school, in every situation where there are rules, children either choose to follow them or they make a
choice to break them and face the consequences. The rules have to be clear, and the consequences need to
be consistent for this to work and that is our aim in implementing this system - The Brockley Way.

Please encourage your child to follow The Brockley Way and be the best they can, by working together our children can excel and flourish.

If you have any concerns about behaviour at Brockley, please speak to a member of the team.

 

Many thanks for your continuing support.

 

Attendance is high on our school agenda and maintaining good attendance is important.

It can be tricky deciding whether or not to keep your child off school, nursery or playgroup when they're unwell. 

This information and link should help.

There are government guidelines for schools and nurseries about managing specific infectious diseases at GOV.UK. These say when children should be kept off school and when they shouldn't.

 

If you do keep your child at home, it's important to phone the school or nursery on the first day. Let them know that your child won't be in and give them the reason.

If your child is well enough to go to school but has an infection that could be passed on, such as a cold sore or head lice, let their teacher know.

 

If there are mitigating circumstances that you feel need further discussions regarding your child, please get in touch.

 

Is my child too ill for school? - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

 

 

 

 

Brockley Primary.